Utley Reminds Us Just How Good He Is

Sometimes a player needs to remind the world just how good he really is. Last night was just such an occasion as Chase Utley blasted his fourth and fifth homerun of the 2009 World Series. But, if one was paying attention earlier in the series, he already gave that reminder. When Utley walked in the first inning of game one, he set an all-time Major League record for reaching base in his 26^th consecutive post-season game. He then proceeded to hit solo homeruns in his next two at bats.  He extended that mark to 27 straight games before Andy Pettitte put an end to the record-breaking streak during game three. In all, Utley got on base in 27 consecutive post-season games, collecting 25 hits and 25 walks during that span. While Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, and Jayson Werth have garnered most of the headlines this season, Utley has once again provided a dominant season. Many may have forgotten the fact that Utley, just like the more publicized Alex Rodriguez, had hip surgery during the off-season. Because he doesn’t put up the prodigious homerun totals of Howard, he isn’t as recognized. That’s a shame, as Utley is the best player on the Phillies.

He seems to be one of the best-kept secrets in Baseball as most view Ryan Howard or Jimmy Rollins as the Phillies’ most important players. Not only is Utley the most important player, he is their most talented player. Game one allowed Utley to be recognized on a large scale as this World Series has been viewed infinitely more than last year’s against the Tampa Bay Rays (call it the Yankees factor). The world got the first glimpse with that first inning walk that broke the consecutive games mark for reaching base in the post-season. Think about it; Utley had reached base in 28 of his first 31 post-season games. Even more impressively, Utley’s two homeruns last night has tied him with Reggie Jackson with most homeruns during a World Series. Jackson hit his five during the 1977 World Series. His seven career homeruns in World Series action also pads his all-time mark of most World Series homeruns by a second baseman. Further illustrating his excellence at the plate, of Utley’s five World Series homeruns, four of them have come off of left-handed pitching.

Well Rounded Excellence

The 30 year-old Utley is one of the few players in the league that is stellar in all facets of the game. His 2009 season gives a snapshot of his entire career. Coming off of hip surgery, Utley hit .282/.397/.508 with 31 homeruns and 93 RBI out of the second spot in the Phillies’ order. He led the team with 112 runs scored and chipped in with 28 doubles and 4 triples. His extra base hit numbers are slightly down from past seasons, but that could be explained by two factors. One, the effects from hip surgery could’ve taken a toll. More likely, it is because of his new found patience at the plate. Utley walked 88 times during the season, setting his career high by more than 19 walks than any previous season. His 28 doubles breaks a string of four seasons with at least 39 two-baggers. Since becoming a starter, Utley has ranked in the top-five with at least 130 runs created in three of the previous four seasons. Additionally, Utley has led the league in hit by pitches for the past three seasons.

To compensate for the slight dip in doubles, Utley ran more this season, swiping 23 bases, also a career high. Even more impressively, he was perfect as he had just 23 attempts. While he is quite impressive offensively, Utley is just as good as a defender. His 12.0 UZR led National League second basemen and was just behind overall leader, Placido Polanco’s 12.1 UZR. While many overreacted to his two throwing errors during the earlier rounds of the post-season, Utley remains the best overall defensive second baseman in the game. In other words, Utley is an elite level performer in all phases of the game. He is an elite level run producer and hitter, an elite level fielder, and an efficient base runner. Few players offer the complete game that Utley plays on a daily basis. It seems that a player who has produced this type of season over the past five seasons is a bit underrated and under-covered. Perhaps it is because he is already 30 years old, waiting until he was 26 years old before becoming a full-time player. Whatever the reason, perhaps the national baseball audience is finally getting a look at baseball’s most complete players.

His Manager, Charlie Manuel agrees that Utley is one of the best players in the game. In fact, he builds his team around Utley’s mentality. “You know, I say this all the time, sometimes I don’t even like to talk about him because he don’t want me to. Actually he don’t like for you to say a whole lot of things about him. But he’s one of the most prepared, one of the most dedicated, he has the most desire and passion to play the game that I’ve ever been around. I used to say Kirby Puckett was my favorite player, and all those things I just said, I used to say those about Kirby Puckett, and I said Kirby Puckett was my favorite player. The only thing Kirby might have on Chase is he’s a more flamboyant because he smiles a lot, and Chase is a little bit different. He’s quiet and he goes about his business in a real good way. But Chase Utley is one of the most he’s a pleasure to be around and he’s a pleasure to manage. I mean that, and I could not say enough about him because that’s what I think about him. I don’t want to embarrass him or nothing like that, but sometimes I tell our players, “Just play with Chase,” because if you play with Chase, you’ve got a chance to be a pretty good player.” That is high praise from a manager who usually doesn’t talk about how great his players are. While he may prepare like Puckett, Utley is a better hitter/run producer, a more efficient base stealer, and plays a more demanding position. Puckett was a great player, but Utley just may be better if he can continue this elite level production for the next few seasons.

Perspective

Chase Utley is finishing up his age 30 season. His late start as a full-time player may hinder his final overall statistics. He may not catch Jeff Kent’s 377 homeruns (he’s 216 be behind). He will not play long enough to have some of the statistics that Joe Morgan compiled in 22 seasons. But, he is every bit as a good as Kent and Morgan as well as Hall of Fame second baseman, Ryne Sandberg. If he can continue his current level of production for the next five, six, or seven seasons, he will accumulate enough to be able to be discussed in terms of the best at the position of all-time. That’s not too bad for a player who is often overshadowed by his lesser talented teammates on a consistent basis. Maybe the 2009 World Series can take away those shadows once and for all.