Pirates fans are irate Chase Utley was suspended and Chris Coghlan wasn’t

By Kyle Thele

Almost a month ago, Chris Coghlan changed the Pittsburgh Pirates season. While sliding into second base, Coghlan collided with Pirates shortstop Jung Ho Kang, breaking his leg and ending his season.

Saturday night, the Dodgers’ Chase Utley slid into Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada, ending his season. Sunday, Utley was suspended for the next two games.

Chase Utley slide. Dayum! pic.twitter.com/m4mlQSEsVd — BLACK ADAM SCHEFTER (@B1ackSchefter) October 11, 2015

Because of the similar results from both slides, plenty of Pirates fans expressed their anger that Coghlan wasn’t given a similar punishment.

Twitter exploded with Pirates fans anger.

Yep doc. Y wasnt coghlan suspended https://t.co/1nmN3zMJ0H
— Corey Jones (@bucfancj29) October 12, 2015

Utley and Coghlan should be suspended until Tejada and Kang return to the starting lineup of their respective teams
— CHRIS ARCHER SZN🏹 (@BuccoMania) October 12, 2015

How come coghlan wasnt suspended for his slide on kang
— Corey Jones (@bucfancj29) October 12, 2015

Chris Coghlan received death threats following controversial slide

Hey everybody, Coghlan wasn't suspended for no other reason than Joe Maddon said it was part of the game. I mean, it must be true
— Buckles (@MusefulBuckles) October 12, 2015

Chase Utley gets suspended 2 games. Chris Coghlan gets zilch for doing the same thing to Kang. Gotcha MLB.
— John (@steelirish33) October 12, 2015

Tweets by hmains20

Why wasn't that degenerate Coghlan suspended for breaking Kang's leg? Smh
— Jimmy (@jk13_pgh) October 12, 2015

So if Kang got injured in a playoff game, Coghlan gets suspended.... I mean Utley deserved the suspension, but so did Coghlan.
— Erik Lechner (@LechALection) October 12, 2015

@MLB so why wasn't Coghlan suspended for his slide on Kang?
— Jennifer (@itsjennyv3) October 12, 2015

@NeilWeinberg44 Coghlan not suspended. This has gone unpunished forever. Going forward torre should have said its a suspendible offense.
— WanderFrancophile (@ccsawruthgibson) October 12, 2015

@MLB when is coghlan getting suspended?
— JH (@JonnyBlaze18) October 12, 2015

Tweets by FrPBehm

Clearly, the pain from how the Pirates season ended is still fresh for many Pirates fans. The fact that they lost in the Wild Card game against the Cubs likely makes it even worse.

Of course, assuming that removing Coghlan from the Cubs or adding Kang would have changed the five run game seems unusual. Coghlan hit well below .200 after the injury and Kang’s replacement Jordy Mercer finished the season strong.

Next Up In News

Netflix looks to curb password sharing, considers ads

Aiming to predict COVID, future pandemics better, CDC opens infectious diseases forecasting center

Joliet farmers wrangle cows thrown from semitrailer after crash on Interstate 80

1 killed, 3 wounded in shootings Tuesday in Chicago

Obama relatives sue Milwaukee school alleging racial bias

Unmasked transit: Pritzker ends mask mandates in public transportation, airports