Utley's agent calls suspension 'outrageous and completely unacceptable'

Major League Baseball has dropped the hammer on Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley for his illegal slide in Game 2 of the NLDS, and reaction is pouring in from the parties involved.

Utley's agent, Joel Wolfe, is livid with Major League Baseball's ruling:

A two-game suspension for a legal baseball play is outrageous and completely unacceptable. 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 no resulted in suspensions. Chase feels terrible about Ruben Tejada's injury and everyone who knows him knows that he would never intentionally hurt anybody. We will be appealing this suspension immediately.

Joe Torre, the MLB executive responsible for player discipline, said Utley was in violation of Rule 5.09(a)(13), which exists to penalize a baserunner for deliberate, unwarranted, and unsportsmanlike action while crashing a double play.

Related: Utley suspended two games by MLB

Torre, who was taking in Sunday night's clash between the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays, responded to Wolfe's comments during an interview with FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Utley's appeal is expected to be held prior to Game 3 on Monday, and it's possible the veteran could suit up if the ruling is overturned. A reduction to a single-game suspension is also an option for MLB.