Utley's appeal hearing scheduled after NLDS
Chase Utley won't have an appeal hearing for his suspension until after the conclusion of the National League Division Series, commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed Tuesday.
Utley was in uniform for the Los Angeles Dodgers' 13-7 loss to the New York Mets on Monday, but didn't play.
Manfred told reporters that Utley's hearing has been scheduled for Monday, Oct. 19, an off-day between Games 2 and 3 of the NL Championship Series, despite the league's best efforts to hold it sooner.
"We actually went in front of John McHale, the hearing officer," Manfred said prior to Game 4 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports. "We argued for a hearing date (Tuesday) or (Wednesday). The union wanted longer time to get ready and John decided that he would give them until Monday in order to get ready."
Prior to Monday's game at Citi Field, Manfred said he'd hoped to have the hearing done before the conclusion of the NLDS, but with the Dodgers facing elimination ahead of Tuesday's Game 4, the two sides ran out of time.
"Look, we have a process and the process has worked pretty well in terms of handling these sorts of disputes so we'll be ready to go on Monday," he said.
Utley was suspended two games after breaking Ruben Tejada's fibula with a takeout slide Saturday at Dodger Stadium. The 36-year-old was treated to a chorus of boos - and eventually, chants of "We want Utley!" - when the two clubs met in Queens on Monday for Game 3 of the best-of-five showdown.
Manfred said the league is exploring new rules to protect middle infielders and also mentioned the possibility of expediting the appeal process during the playoffs.
"We haven't had a suspension in the postseason for a very long time," Manfred said. "I think what this current situation has brought to light is that we may have a little difficult scheduling issue that a little shorter frame time would help us. And I'm sure that will be a topic that we'll talk to the MLBPA about the next time we're around them."