The Official Site of Chase Utley

Sun, Aug 23rd 2009, 09:54

Utley Homers to Continue His Assault on Mets

There are just certain places in some towns where ballplayers thrive. Sometimes they see the ball better, other times it’s the atmosphere and sometimes guys just like to play in a specific place. Rarely is there a tangible reason for these things.

It’s just one of those great mysteries of baseball.

“It’s nicer than the old stadium,” Utley said. “I can tell you that.”

So for whatever reason Chase Utley hits the ball well in the Mets’ new home, CitiField. In fact, Utley is so good in the brand-new spacious ballpark in Queens that in just seven games he has already staked a claim of ownership of his own little piece of real estate.

From now on call the strangely concave right-field fence, “Utley’s Corner.”

And why not? In just seven games at CitiField, Utley has slugged four home runs. That’s one fewer than the Mets’ leaders David Wright, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Tatis, both of whom have played in considerably more games in the new yard than Utley.

Utley’s fourth shot into his tidy little corner in right field wasn’t the biggest he’s hit in the joint – the one in the 11th inning on June 10 was pretty clutch – but it proved to be another game-winner in the 4-1 decision over the Mets.

Better yet, it was pretty much all lefty J.A. Happ needed to pick up his 10th win of the season.

“It’s a big park – one of the biggest there is,” Utley said. “But if you put the barrel on it, it will pretty much go out anywhere.”

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