It was one of those things that you won’t find in the box score or on any baseball analytics website. In fact, in the big scheme of things, it had no bearing whatsoever on the final outcome of the Dodgers 9-4 win over the defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs on Sunday afternoon to complete a three-game sweep of the North Siders – but it most certainly could have.

It was during the bottom of the sixth inning with one out and the Dodgers nursing a then 7-4 lead. Cubs right-handed reliever Pedro Strop had just struck out Dodgers left fielder Brett Eibner on three pitches and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sent 38-year-old / 15-year MLB veteran Chase Utley up to the plate to pinch-hit for Dodgers reliever Josh Fields.

As he so often does, Utley turned an ordinary at-bat into a great at-bat by working a 1-2 count into a six-pitch 3-2 count. Although it went unnoticed by most of us – even the Dodgers broadcasters – Strop was working rather quickly, undoubtedly to keep his rhythm and momentum in sync, but even more so to keep the Dodger hitters off balance.

It did not go unnoticed by Chase Utley.

After settling into the box for the seventh pitch of the at-bat, the cagey veteran waited for Strop to begin his windup and immediately called “time,” raised his left hand, turned and looked directly at home plate umpire Dan Iassogna and immediately backed out of the batters box. Iassogna immediately threw his hands into the air indicating that he had granted Utley’s (late) request for a time out and he himself bailed out from behind the plate in the event that Strop continued with his pitch.

Cubs right-hander Pedro Strop was clearly already into his windup when Utley asked for and was granted timeout by home plate umpire Dan Iassogna.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

It was a gamble that very easily could have backfired on Utley, but it did not. But what it clearly did do was annoy Pedro Strop, who walked Utley on the next pitch. Unfortunately, Utley’s well conceived (and connived) base on balls was immediately followed by an inning-ending 6-3 double play by Dodgers third baseman Logan Forsythe.

Like I said, in the big scheme of things Utley’s risky but successful veteran move ultimately had no bearing whatsoever on the final outcome of the game. But like I also said, it most certainly could have.

Well play, sir. Well played indeed.