Chase Utley has officially broken out. What many Philadelphia fans have known for a couple years is now spreading all around the league – Utley is one of, if not the, best all-around talents in baseball. He hits for power and average and is a phenomenal base-runner and defensive player. He hustles, and his (and J-Roll’s) competitive spirit makes him one of the leaders of the reigning NL East champions and current NL East front-runners. Joe Morgan recently said that he has a chance to be “the best 2nd baseman ever.”
But just HOW good has Utley been this year? In this day in age where sports media is around us 24/7 in 100 different forms, everyone is looking for someone to hype up. So are the people already paving Utley’s path to Cooperstown justified? Let’s take a look.
If Utley continues at his current pace, his final numbers will look something like this:
.315 BA, 55 HR, 138 RBI, 128 Runs, 102 Extra-Base Hits, 408 Total Bases, .664 Slugging %, 1.064 OPS
Below, you can find what his all-time single-season ranks would be for a 2nd basemen (with ranks regardless of position in parentheses).
HR: 1st (19th)
XBH: T-1st (12th)
Total Bases: 3rd (21st)
RBI: 5th
SLG%: 5th (67th)
OPS: 9th
Runs: 20th
Only 10 players in the history of baseball have had 100+ extra base hits and 400+ total bases in a single season, they are: Babe Ruth, Rogers Hornsby, Chuck Klein, Lou Gehrig, Stan Musial, Jimmie Foxx, Todd Helton, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Luis Gonzalez. This means that Utley would be the first player not on steroids, or who plays in Coors Field, to accomplish the feat since 1948. Will he? Who knows. Last year he was on pace to set the all-time single season doubles mark before he broke his hand.
The thing with Utley is that his bat-speed is so good and his swing is so compact that you really could see him keeping this up through an entire year. With a player like Howard or Burrell, you never know when they are going to hit a huge slump.
It’s clear to me that the HOF predictions for Utley are justified, but very much premature. If he continues at his pace this season, and puts up 5-6 more years like his last few, he’ll probably be a no-brainer. But that’s still 5-6 years, injury free, before we get to that point. However, considering how he continues to get better, even when you think he can’t possibly get better, he certainly has a chance of being the best 2nd baseman ever.
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
i wouldnt be surprised to see the phillies let ryan howard walk in a few years if he continues to bat .205 and demands that big paycheck….then slide utley to first base—he has proven he can play that position—there is apparently a stud in clearwater right now—adrian cardenas–
but i agree that utley, if pace continues could have the greatest season of any second basemen ever, still a bit premature for me to even consider him as the best ever—
It really is something how Utley’s numbers keep getting better each year. He is a lot of fun to watch. He has really blossomed since he was cemented in the 3 spot after the Abreu trade, to the point that there is no other player in the league I would rather see hitting 3rd for us.
You know, I was a big supporter of Abreu but I do understand where the frustration with him came from. I loved that Abreu was patient, disciplined, not afraid to hit deep in the count, and would really work a pitcher. The problem was that he was that way to a fault. I mean many times it seemed like even if the entire world was collapsing in on itself, Abreu would just stand in the box taking pitch after pitch. It really was exasperating at times because we needed him to drive in some runs, especially when Burrell was hitting behind him and going bad. You just knew that Abreu was the only shot we had at getting the runners home, yet he wouldn’t expand his strike zone 1/2 inch. If it wasn’t where he wanted it, he’d take the walk. Then Burrell would look like a diver in the pike position while lunging at a low and away slider. Strike three. Inning over. No runs. Ugh.
Utley has all of Abreu’s plate discipline, but he’s what I would call aggressively selective. I’m sure he could walk well over 100 times if he desired, but I’m also sure he knows he’s one of the big sticks on the club and his job is to drive in runs.
MOLE: I could definitely see that happening as well. I don’t see any way the Phils are going to give Howard the contract he wants. There’s no way I think they should either. Unless he lowers his sights, I think he will be gone in a couple years. Depending on what we’ve got in the minors at that time, moving Utley to first makes a lot of sense.
bski, just wanted to say: great take on Utley vs. Abreu. That’s a lot better than what I commonly hear, that Abreu just wasn’t a winner. But it sure sounds like he would’ve been great in the 7- or 8-hole, right? I wonder if that’s something he would’ve accepted…
This Braves series will be a real test for them:
1) The Braves will be psyched for this series
2) For how many consecutive starts has our starting pitching been good now? Don’t know if that’s gonna last.
3) We’re throwing Moyer/Kendrick/Eaton up there, I don’t remember any of those 3 being particularly good against Atlanta.
4) I heard on the radio that home teams have been good this year so far.
Prediction: lots of offense in this series (warm weather), Phils taking 2 of 3!
SIXERZGUY: Thanks. I never felt that Abreu got as much appreciation as he deserved. I don’t really buy into that “winner” thing. I mean is Robert Horry a “winner” because he found himself on teams with Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, Parker, Ginobli, etc…? Guys are poor players or good players or great players, period. Being a “winner” or a “loser” has a lot more to do with circumstances and luck than anything else.
I would think you love Abreu. If there is one prototypical “Moneyball” player in the league, he’s it. Granted, he hasn’t come cheap for several years now but he’s been consistently piling up the “Moneyball” stats for what, 11 years.
This Braves series is going to be tough. They are 25-8 at home. Considering who we’re sending to the mound, I’d be thrilled with 2 out of 3.
Just read a recap of the game tonight, an exciting win. Props to Victorino, who continues to be one of my favorite phillies. Still, we got lucky with a fielding error yet again. I can’t help but worry about our “high octane” offense when it goes up against better pitching… Are we that easy to figure out?
It’s incredible that Utley could be the third different Phillies player to take home the MVP after Howard and Rollins. It just speaks to the ridiculous young hitting they have put together here. Nice post.
raro, welcome to the Phillies discussion!
I’ve never really taken to the “high octane” label of the Phils. I would characterize it as a “personality trait” of this team – they can really beat up on bad pitching, or when a pitcher is having an off night. Like you said, people should be worried when they go up against better pitching.
I know that “favorite” means the ONE most liked out of a given selection, but I like this team so much that I can’t really pick ONE “favorite”, that’s how awesome this team is. I’m the kind of person who likes to go against the crowd and get emotionally behind the non-star players of a team (Sixers: Jason Smith, Rodney Carney), but that’s been hard for me to do with this team. Even Utley, our biggest name (right now), he’s one of my favorites, too, I couldn’t place him above or below Victorino, J-Roll, Werth, Taguchi, Moyer, Hamels, Coste, Burrell, Jenkins, Seanez, Durbin, Romero, Lidge and Howard – you know what I mean?
Ryan Howard? Yes, even Ryan Howard – I keep waiting for the day when he stops gunning for home runs all the time (exaggeration) and becomes more concerned about just getting on base and making good contact with the ball. He can do this, I’ve seen it, I feel like that light bulb just has to come on for him.
SIXERZGUY: The win tonight gives us at least 2 out of 3 against the Braves. The way we’re playing we’ve got a great shot at a sweep. Contributions from everyone again. Solo hr’s from Ruiz and Burrell. A 2 run shot from Rollins. Howard had a lousy night at the plate and in the field but he still came through with a single in the 8th to drive in Utley after his triple.
Speaking of Utley, to get back on topic, he just keeps getting the job done. Tonight: 2 for 3, 2hbp, 1r, 1rbi, 1 great defensive play. Can’t do much more than that. He’s got to be the best player in the game right now.
Luis Gonzalez was on steroids? This is news to me…