Phillies Top 10 Stories of 2009: No. 9 -- Chase Utley is Boring
by WholeCamels on Nov 30, 2009 8:58 PM EST
20 comments
The 2009 Phillies got some marvelous production out of their lineup once again -- Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, and Raul Ibanez come to mind. But once again, the best of the bunch was second baseman Chase Utley. For the fourth season in a row, Utley finished second in the National League in WAR (Wins Above Replacement).
Utley quietly posted yet another ho-hum "Holy crap that guy is incredible!" season in 2009, hitting 31 homers and posting a career-high 88 walks, with a .905 OPS. Really great numbers, particularly for a second baseman, but not necessarily "second best player in the league" totals. So where does it come from?
After the jump...
1. Defense: Once again, Chase Utley posted a league-leading UZR of 10.8, which is actually down appreciably from his ungodly 20.2 UZR in 2008. Defensive metrics aren't perfect, of course, but if one system keeps showing that Utley is the best in the league, well, there's probably something there.
2. Baserunning: Utley was a perfect 23-for-23 in basestealing opportunities. John Dewan's Stat of the Week last week showed Chase Utley as the best "baserunning gainer" in the National League over the past five seasons, with a +96 total, and a +27 in 2009 alone. That's 96 bases better than the average baserunner. That's lots of bases.
3. Plunked: Hit by a pitch 24 times this season, third year in a row he lead the league in that category.
So, there you have it. Chase Utley, the best Phillies player since Mike Schmidt, and a player who literally does everything well. He hasn't been a press favorite because of his dry personality; guys like Jimmy Rollins have been and always will be more quotable. But when it comes to playing the game and winning, Chase Utley is the heart and soul of this Phillies team. We're lucky to have him. Now, about that 8th place MVP finish...
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Chase Utley may not be as quotatious as Rollins, but when he speaks, it is profound.
“World Fucking Champions!” and “Boo? Fuck you!” are two all-timers in my opinion.
Exactly, he’s got more Philly in him then most of the players on the team combined.
Scar tissue is stronger than muscle tissue. Realize the strength, move on.
Without question he’s underappreciated by the national media and fans. Locally, it’s more complex though. I think, oddly, that in Philadelphia, he’s simultaneously loved more than he ought to be loved, but thought of less highly than he ought to be thought of. If that makes sense.
In Philadelphia it seems like he’s overloved for his grit/hustle/clutch attributes (as if he’s some kind of “Super-Eckstein”), but underloved for being just a small notch below Albert Pujols in terms of overall value.
http://www.thegoodphight.com
by WholeCamels on Dec 1, 2009 12:40 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Yup, I was tempted to mention Eckstein (in classic FJM style).
What’s odd is that much of Utley’s value actually comes from doing “all the little things” — it’s just that unlike Eckstein, his little things aren’t “sprinting down the first base line on a sure ground out to the pitcher,” but “raising his OBP 21 points” (with the 24 HBPs).
I’m really trying to think of ANY aspect of the game at which Utley is worse than average. And I’m stumped.
He strikes out a fair amount, but that’s not necessarily a vice.
How’s his bunting?
The hair gel?
http://www.thegoodphight.com
Interviews. He’s not quite Hextall-in-a-towel level, but definitely below average
"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"
I’ll grant he’s no Andy Van Slyke-style quote machine, but I will challenge folks to listen carefully. He’s an acquired interview taste, and you can read plenty in between the lines.
Maybe the wife is not hot enough, or not a big enough humanitarian? Oh well, scratch that. To hell with the Dos Equis guy or Juan Castro, maybe what it all boils down to is that Chase Utley is the Most Interesting Man in the World.
I agree that he’s a good, thoughtful interviewee the majority of the time, but he doesn’t provide the sound bites that Rollins or Victorino can rattle off. The general viewing public won’t pay as much attention to a thoughtful guy as a flashy guy. It’s purely anecdotal, but I have a friend at work who’s a Mets fan. I asked him about each of the guys:
Rollins – “He talks so much ^&*$, but he backs it up.”
Victorino – “I hate that guy. I’d probably love him if he played in New York, but as a Phillie I hate him.”
Utley – “He’s a good player.”
There’s just not that knee-jerk reaction to Utley that there is to the more vocally expressive players.
"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"
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