Comments on: Utley the Hero In Long Night

By: » Phillies Edge Florida in 12 Innings | Blogging-Baseball.com

» Phillies Edge Florida in 12 Innings | Blogging-Baseball.com — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 23:04:46 +0000

[...] Nation’s Amanda Orr notes how the Phillies have been plagued this season by former Phils: Former Phillies that struggled in their stint with the Phils seem to go wild when they face their [...]

By: Chuck

Chuck — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:57:09 +0000

Agreed…it shouldn’t. It’s not even anywhere close to Pete Rose’s issues or the steroid players like McGwire or Palmeiro that have virtually no chance at election. And they were great players, too. Too bad.

By: Phil

Phil — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:49:24 +0000

It could but it shouldn’t.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:33:38 +0000

I agree…..Alomar WAS a very good player. I saw him many times. Unbelievable. And it IS irrelevant to how good he was. BUT…..when it comes time for HOF voting, if it’s close, then that incident COULD…not saying it will….but COULD play into the voting decision.

By: Phil

Phil — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:01:37 +0000

The spitting in the umps face is irrelevant to how good Alomar was. I actually don’t have way too much time on my hands, Chuck. This summer I do because it is summer and I’m a student but come September I’ll have home work that will take me 10 times longer than that comparison took me.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:28:05 +0000

The thing about Alomar that tarnishes his image is the spitting incident. Makes “WFC’s” seem very insignificant and tame by comparison. Nice post, though…..you have WAY too much time on your hands, Phil.

By: Phil

Phil — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:05:09 +0000

Bruce, I’m too lazy to do a full out comparison of Utley to Alomar, but I’ll say this. Alomar offensively is about as good as Sandberg. Defensively he’s one of the best I’ve ever seen…up there with Utley. MVP’s, Gold Gloves, and all-star game nominations are all irrelevant to me considering so many undeserved players win them all the time. Alomar has the speed edge, but his defensive edge probably isn’t enough to trump how good Utley is going to beat him out offensively.

By: Britt35

Britt35 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:49:25 +0000

I’m glad the Phillies won and that Cole had a better game minus the rain delay. I’m happy that Chase hit a homerun. Hopefully the extra innings don’t put a toll on them tonight.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:09:31 +0000

By the way, since no one brought it up here, Rollins started that 12th inning rally with a hit and scored on Utley’s hit. It’s no coincidence that when Rollins caught fire, the Phillies went on a roll with the 9-1 homestand and continued the success on the road against the Marlins. Thus, the success again emphasize the importance of Rollins being the offensive catalyst in the leadoff spot.

Of course, one must factor in the pitching which has finally stabilized and consistently putting out one quality start after another.

By: Amanda Orr

Amanda Orr — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:07:53 +0000

Sorry for the “uncreative” recap. I agree, it is very uncreative. It’s just hard to be creative at 1:00 in the morning. =]

By: phil

phil — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:00:45 +0000

bruce when i get home ill make an utley/alomar comparrison. im at the dmv

By: Bruce

Bruce — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:52:13 +0000

Phil, what is your opinion on Roberto Alomar? Personally, one have to look at the total package, offensively AND defensively to give a fair evaluation of a player’s greatness.

Alomar has the most gold glove awards (10) of any 2nd baseman since the awards were first established.

Alomar won five as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, two with the Baltimore Orioles and three more with the Cleveland Indians.

Offensively, he is a lifetime .300 hitter and winner of four silver slugger awards. He finished in the top 6 voting for MVP five times. The 12 time all-star has 474 stolen bases, a statistic that Utley will never seriously threaten.

By: ChaseRaul

ChaseRaul — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:33:46 +0000

What a loser…your source must be jp..cuz only he knows..u musta heard when they said roys bf is on the cards…u remind me of this cornball from gcobb…relax and enjoy your visit…keep your lies in your head…with your imaginary wip friends

By: Re-Al-itychex

Re-Al-itychex — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:07:23 +0000

Wow what a site so many no it all’s on here but then again it’s a Philly thing where men are men and women are fat and coyote ugly…oh and the Eagles are gonna win the Super Bowl….! The NL East is weak this year and the phillies better win it they should be a shoe with all the others are either hurt like the “mutts” or would rather stay out of the post season fun do to thinking they have a team….marlins …braves nope its all Philly…I’m a fan of the game not team..not any team actually….it looks like a lot of people on here are really fans or just have no-life other then to write their thoughts of what it is to be a philly fan….and you guys sell out every night at home but it is a small stadium so you should…I’m here on vacation from Detroit…..to visit a friend who is pretty high up at WIP….he told me check this blog out….he was right it is laughable..and yet true Philly fans some only a few do know what they are talking about as far as the game is played…good luck in the Playoffs your gonna need it…oh one other thing Halladay is going to the Cards..according to my sources…gotta run now going blue fishing with some guys from WIP tonite should be pretty cool.

By: Phil

Phil — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:30:11 +0000

The thing is, Utley is on pace to go down as the 5th best 2B of all time behind Hornsby, Lajoie, Collins, and Morgan. He could even surpass Morgan as well. He’s great defensively and on the base paths. We are watching a very special player and a first ballot hall of famer(barring injuries.)

By: Phil

Phil — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:20:43 +0000

“I am a HUGE Utley fan and have often argued that utley is just as good as Sandberg, but Sandeberg has won a MVP award.’

Irrelevant. So did Pedroia…is he better than Utley? So did Rollins, is he better than Utley? So did Howard, is he better than Utley? I could name a large list of players that have won MVP awards that aren’t better than Utley.

“Utley needs to play till at least 37 if not 39 and be good at the end not mediocre. He needs to be in MVP contention the next 3-4 yrs after this yr and needs to stay healthy. It’s not impossible for him to end up as good if not better but it’s no slam dunk.”

Did you read anything I wrote?

“The one thing Utley has going for him over Kent and Sandberg…WFC!!!!! The others were not.”

I also find this to be irrelevant.

“Utley is by far and away the best at his position currently in baseball. I think a MVP/WS MVP/battinmg title will help alot. He needs something else.”

All irrelevant. Ted Williams doesn’t have a ring. Is he worse than David Eckstein?

By: from Section 113

from Section 113 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:16:54 +0000

Phil –

I am a HUGE Utley fan and have often argued that utley is just as good as Sandberg, but Sandeberg has won a MVP award.

Utley needs to play till at least 37 if not 39 and be good at the end not mediocre. He needs to be in MVP contention the next 3-4 yrs after this yr and needs to stay healthy. It’s not impossible for him to end up as good if not better but it’s no slam dunk.

The one thing Utley has going for him over Kent and Sandberg…WFC!!!!! The others were not.

Utley is by far and away the best at his position currently in baseball. I think a MVP/WS MVP/battinmg title will help alot. He needs something else.

By: Phil

Phil — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:16:37 +0000

Utley is the best defensive infielder in baseball.

fieldingbible.com

He has the best +/- out of any defensive player in all of baseball over the past 3 years. I don’t know how good Sandberg or Morgan were because there aren’t the same stats out there like UZR and +/-, but Utley is the best of his time by far. I bet he cracks top 10 of all time defensively when all is said and done. He’s on pace to crack top 5 offensively…definitely a top 5 2B of all time assuming he stays healthy.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:09:52 +0000

I’ll bite on Utley–what about defence?

I haven’t got any statistical backup, but while Utley has become solid defensively, works real well with Rollins on turning 2, and is smart out there (think back to the great WFC play) he isn’t the kind of defensive standout that Sandberg was–Morgan too was a very good defensive second baseman, I would guess better than Utley by most measures. I am a little shakier on Kent; Utley may be a better second baseman than he was…

By: Phil

Phil — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 14:51:59 +0000

Is nobody going to comment on my Utley post? :( I put a lot of work into that.