Chase Utley's appeal hearing for his two-game postseason suspension stemming from a collision that injured Mets shortstop Rubin Tejada was not conducted Monday, which means the Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman is eligible to play in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the New York Mets.
MLB and the players' association were working to schedule the hearing before special assistant to the commissioner John McHale Jr., a person familiar with the process told The Associated Press. The person was speaking on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized, the AP reported.
Utley, who was not in Game 3's starting lineup, issued a statement Monday morning.
"The Players Association and my agent are handling the appeals process," Utley said in the statement. "I have nothing more to say other 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."
Utley was suspended Sunday by MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre, who said Utley's takeout of Tejada in Game 2 during a Mets double-play opportunity in a close game on Saturday was an "illegal slide." Tejada's right leg was broken, and he will miss the rest of the postseason.
"I'd hate to think that Utley tried to hurt somebody," said Torre. "It certainly was late. That concerns me. The lateness of the slide. ... I'm looking at it to see if anything should be done."
McHale had been MLB's executive vice president of administration from 2002 until April, when he received his new title. He has continued his role of hearing appeals of on-field discipline.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
The takeout slide propelled Los Angeles to a 5-2 win, evening the series at 1-1. With one out in the seventh inning, Utley ran into the legs of a leaping Tejada to break up a double play.
A comment in the Official Baseball Rules to Rule 5.09 (a) (13) says umpires could have called an inning-ending double play if they decided Utley had gone outside the baseline and interfered with Tejada fielding the throw.
Second base umpire Chris Guccione ruled it was a legal slide on the field.
Torre, a former manager of the Dodgers and New York Yankees, was at Dodger Stadium for the game.
"That's a judgment call," Torre said. "I'm still watching replays of it. They get a chance, one shot to look at it. ... I can't fault the umpire for everything he had to look at."
Torre also said umpires were correct to award Utley second base after the Dodgers asked for a video review, which determined Tejada did not touch the base on the play. Utley did not touch the base on the slide.
"The Dodgers stand behind Chase Utley and his decision to appeal the suspension issued tonight by Major League Baseball," The Dodgers said in a statement released following the suspension decision.
