Comments on: Utley Became Complete Player In 2008

By: CWEBB

CWEBB — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:55:30 +0000

RICHIE: HE WASN’T “QUIET ” WHEN I SPOKE WITH HIM. I APPROACHED HIM, HE DIDN’T APPROACH ME.

I THINK EVERYTHING YOU HEAR ABOUT THE GUY IS ALL FABRICATED BS THAT THE MEDIA PUTS OUT AGAINST HIM.

By: Georgie

Georgie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:28:11 +0000

Chase’s instincts for the game are amazing, I’ll never forget that play. And it seems like he doesn’t even have to think about it, plays like that just come naturally to him.

By: bigbobster

bigbobster — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:26:47 +0000

One of my favorite plays of all time — the pump fake and then the throw home. But on MLB.com they have a clip with a camera angle that made it seem like Utley actually fooled the 3rd base coach, rather than Bartlett. That even makes it more incredible!

By: Keith

Keith — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:01:10 +0000

Let’s not forget the double play he turned on Monday night of game 5. That guy is a baseball genius. I almost crapped myself when I saw him sucker Bartlett into trying to score. Utley is the SH#T!!!

By: dan

dan — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:28:14 +0000

someone explain to me how in that article, Brandon Phillips got a 10 for defense. Utley got a 21. Who got the gold glove? Phillips.

Shaft.

By: SJ Mike

SJ Mike — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:17:28 +0000

The one play Utley made outside of that smart one on Game 5 was during the NLCS when he had the diving double play. That was pure athletic ability and I’m still amazed he got that.

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:10:10 +0000

You know what? I’m really not at all surprised the phillies’ pitchers all had such good years. Between Feliz, Rollins and Utley, we had a remarkable infield defense (aside from Howard).

I really can’t remember Rollins or Utley looking so good in the field before.

By: RichieAllen

RichieAllen — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:01:29 +0000

CWEBB….Is Chase as quiet a guy as he seems ? He is the Philly player I most like to watch,Im sure a lot of people out there feel the same.
Good story.

By: DD

DD — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:47:51 +0000

Chase is one of a handful of players that is worth the price of a ticket to watch play whether it’s game 1 of the season or the final game of the World Series. I really appreciate how much he worked on his defensive skills to become such a complete player. I wish that example would rub off on a certain first baseman who could also become a “complete player” if he was willing to put that work in with his glove.

By: Richie

Richie — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:29:40 +0000

Tim, we all know how discredited the Gold Glove award is and has been, but the thing that scares me is that the HOF really takes them into account. I don’t think it will come down to how many GG’s Chase has to get him in, but he is turning thirty this year. Hopefully he will have a handful of rings and MVP’s to make him a shoe-in because he would get my vote right now if he keeps this up. Which I know he will.

By: CWEBB

CWEBB — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:26:49 +0000

A FEW YEARS BACK BEFORE CHASE UTLEY BECAME A SUPER STAR AND A CHICK MAGNET IN THIS TOWN, WHILE HE WAS PINCH HITTING AND PLAYING SOME 1ST BASE I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING HIM IN A BAR.

WHILE HE BUMMED MY LAST CIGERETTE FROM ME, I INTRODUCED MYSELF AND TOLD HIM THAT HE HAS THE BEST SWING THAT I HAVE EVER SAW IN MY LIFE. HE IS SUCH A COOL GUY. I TOLD HIM TO HIS FACE THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE SOMEONE IN THE MLB. HE DIDNT BELIEVE ME AND I STILL SEE HIM TODAY AND HE CALLS ME “THE SCOUT” EVERY TIME WE CROSS PATHS.

By: Sky

Sky — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 20:10:15 +0000

Thanks for the link. I’d like to mention that Utley did not turn into a complete player this year. He’s been this good for the past three years. He’s always been one of the best defensive second basemen, and his offense was just as productive last year (better rates, less playing time). 2006 offense was a step down, sure. The reason people noticed his 2008 season more was the hot start. In 2007, he was MUCH more valuable than Rollins. In 2006, he was MUCH more valuable than Ryan Howard. Both won MVPs those years. Last year, he was a top-four NL player, tied with Chipper and a tier behind Pujols and Wright.

You guys might also like this article, which takes the same data used in the article linked above and goes through the Phillies roster, player by player:

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2008/11/3/652052/2008-team-reviews-philadel#comments

By: NEPA

NEPA — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:37:42 +0000

I think I saw an interview with Chase saying that he actually purposely bounced the ball to Ruiz because it would be an easier play for Ruiz to field the ball by keeping it lower for a quicker tag. If this is true then it’s just unbelievable how quickly this guy reacts and how smart of a baseball player he truly is.

By: Matt Kwasiborski

Matt Kwasiborski — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:28:58 +0000

That play in the WS should go down as one of the best in WS history. Seriously! I mean, to be that aware of what is going on and make that strong, accurate throw is unbelievable. If it is the regular season he probably eats it and lets the run score. That play saved the Series for us because if the Rays score, the game and momentum swing to their side. And we all know in a 3.5 inning game, momentum put us over the top.

I hope Chase’s hip problem heals over the winter because if we lose Burrell and don’t replace his bat, we will need Chase more than ever next season.

By: Lewisauce

Lewisauce — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:26:41 +0000

I hope he gets that hip injury taken care of. We all know he’s capable of .321/36/110, with 25 bags to boot. That’s when the MVP finally happens for him. That is, if there is a hip injury …

By: NEPA

NEPA — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:26:23 +0000

Yea, the year Abreu won a Gold Glove it seemed like the only people that knew the real story were Phillies’ fans. We all knew he was far from Gold Glove caliber and had nightmares of running anywhere within 20 feet of the right field wall. It seems like the same sort of situation is going on with Wright. He’s now got two straight gold gloves but all the Mets fans I know agree that he is not of that caliber defensively.

By: Tim Malcolm

Tim Malcolm — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:06:40 +0000

I try not to put stock in Gold Gloves. In fact, I stopped caring about them when Abreu won one.

By: Manny

Manny — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:06:10 +0000

Great article. Utley truly is the definition of “a complete player” and is stellar as a second baseman…

And that out in Game 5 of the World Series: SPECTACULAR! That’s the kind of play that makes you love baseball.

By: Chutley

Chutley — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:03:02 +0000

And yet he doesn’t win the Gold Glove Brandon Phillips does, meanwhile Pedroia wins the Gold Glove and is an MVP candidate. Somethin’s worng there