MLB drops suspension against Dodgers’ Utley
Major League Baseball has dropped the two-game suspension against Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley for his controversial slide, according to multiple reports Sunday.
Utley, 37, will be available to play on Opening Day, sources told the Los Angeles Times and ESPN.
Utley was suspended after his hard slide in Game 2 of the National League Division Series left New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada with a broken leg.
Tejada did not offer much reaction to Utley’s suspension being dropped.
“I don’t care really,” Tejada said Sunday. “I don’t care. I care about me. I’m healthy here. I’m happy here. So I don’t care about what’s going to happen there or what’s the decision they take there.”
At the time of the suspension announced on Oct. 11, MLB chief baseball officer Joe Torre called the slide illegal for a “rolling block that occurs away from the base.”
On Feb. 25, MLB and the players’ union adopted a new rule that banned rolling block slides to break up potential double plays.
Utley declined to comment before the Dodgers’ spring training workout Sunday in Phoenix.
NHL’s Jets-Oilers to play outdoor game
The Winnipeg Jets will host the Edmonton Oilers in an outdoor regular-season NHL game next season.
The 2016 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic will return on Sunday, Oct. 23 at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg, the NHL announced Sunday.
There were NHL Heritage Classic games in 2014 in Vancouver, 2011 in Calgary and 2003 in Edmonton. It will mark the Jets’ first appearance in an outdoor game and the Oilers first appearance (second overall) since hosting the first NHL regular-season game played outdoors at Commonwealth Stadium in 2003.
As part of the Heritage Classic, legendary players from both the Jets and Oilers will participate in a special alumni game on Saturday, Oct. 22.
Colts’ Johnson still wants to play
Wide receiver Andre Johnson said there is “no question” he will play in 2016.
Speculation about Johnson’s future arose with the 35-year-old coming off a disappointing season with the Indianapolis Colts in which he caught just 41 passes for 503 yards and four touchdowns. The team informed Johnson that he won’t be back with them next season.
The 13-year veteran spent his first 12 seasons with the Houston Texans and has caught 1,053 career passes for 14,100 yards and 68 touchdowns.
Nationals’ Ramos back after laser eye surgery
Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos returned to the team on Sunday after undergoing Lasik eye surgery.
Ramos had the laser procedure on Thursday in Washington D.C. and said his vision was vastly improved upon returning to spring training at Viera, Fla.
“Right now I can see the difference,” Ramos told reporters. “It will probably help me behind the plate, and in front of the plate as well.”
Ramos, 28, said he began experiencing vision issues about two years ago. He was able to correct the issues with contact lenses but often had trouble putting them in and out of his eyes and a doctor suggested the laser surgery.
Ramos batted .229 with 15 homers and a career-high 68 RBIs last season.