Should Mets Retaliate Against Dodgers in Game 3? Buster Olney Answers

It was a dirty slide that caused baseball to react with a suspension and knocked out the Mets’ Ruben Tejada for the year. But, should New York retaliate?

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 10: Matt Harvey #33 of the New York Mets in the dugout in the ninth inning as the Mets take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

“I can tell you flat out, the Mets players, the staff, they were furious about Utley’s slide,” said Buster Olney, to Mike and Mike on 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio. “If this was a regular season game, I would tell you that the chances of something happening tonight with retaliation would be close to 100%, but this is a playoff game.

“Terry Collins talked about this the other night, he said, ‘You have to keep that under control.’”

The series is tied up 1-1, in part because of the 7^th inning on Saturday night in which Utley was eventually ruled safe at second base and the Dodger preceded to blow the game open.

Now, at CitiField, the Mets should have the advantage, and not just because of the crowd.

“Matt Harvey represents their greatest advantage. He’s the type of number three starter that the Dodgers don’t have. They need to win this game tonight and we know how much focus is on this game and we know that the umpires are going to be heavily involved.”

It doesn’t seem smart to retaliate, but then again, the un-written rules of baseball often take of players emotions and thought processes.

“I think the chances of something happening get greater if the score gets one-sided on either side.”

The Mets – Dodgers Game 3 can be heard on 104.5 The Team tonight with an 8:37 first pitch.