Report: Utley's appeal won't be heard Monday; will be eligible for Game 3
If Major League Baseball has its way, Chase Utley's appeal of the two-game suspension he received Sunday will be held as soon as possible, ideally before the Los Angeles Dodgers take on the New York Mets in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Monday.
Apparently, though, the players' union isn't so keen on that idea.
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the MLBPA wants more time to prepare a case for the 36-year-old second baseman, who was suspended after breaking Ruben Tejada's fibula with a takeout slide in Game 2.
One source said he'd be "very surprised" if Utley's appeal is heard Monday, while another told Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times that Utley's hearing won't happen before Game 3 and it's "unlikely" it'll take place Tuesday, either.
A deferral of even one day, though, would allow the six-time All-Star to play Monday, when the Dodgers head to Citi Field eyeing a 2-1 series lead. And if the union can delay the hearing for two days, Utley would be eligible to play Tuesday night in Game 4, as well.
Though the league has yet to confirm when his appeal will be heard, Utley released a statement hours before Monday's contest in Queens, reiterating how "terrible" he feels about hurting Tejada while noting that his focus remains on Game 3.
"The Players Association and my agent are handling the appeals process," Utley said. "I have nothing more to say than to reiterate that I feel terrible about Ruben's injury. Now my teammates and I are focused on Game 3 and doing everything we can to win this series.
Joe Torre, MLB's chief baseball officer, said in a statement Sunday that Utley's behavior "warrants discipline," but the veteran's agent noted shortly thereafter that, in cases of this nature, a two-game suspension is pretty much unprecedented.
“A two game suspension for a legal baseball play is outrageous and completely unacceptable," Joel Wolfe said. "Chase did what all players are taught to do in this situation - break up the double play. We routinely see plays at second base similar to this one that have not resulted in suspensions. Chase feels terrible about Ruben Tejada’s injury and everyone who knows him knows that he would never intentionally hurt anybody."