The Official Site of Chase Utley

Thu, Mar 27th 2008, 09:26

It’s Utley time

Chase Utley has heard the chatter. You know, how 2008 is going to be his year, how he’ll become the third Phillie in as many years to win the National League’s Most Valuable Player award.

“Trendy pick,” Utley said, dismissing the topic with one of his typical shrugs. “Just talk.”

Yeah, it’s just talk. But it’s completely justified.

Utley finished eighth in the voting last season and might have won if he hadn’t missed a month after he was hit by a pitch, breaking his right hand.

The Phillies second baseman was a leading candidate when he went down July 26. At the time, he was hitting .336 with 17 homers and 82 RBIs. He was leading the NL with 41 doubles, and he ranked in the top six in batting average, RBIs, runs, hits, total bases, slugging, on-base percentage and multi-hit games.

Utley’s double-play partner, shortstop Jimmy Rollins, ended up winning the award, following the lead of slugging first baseman Ryan Howard, who won in 2006.

Not since the New York Yankees trio of Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle and Elston Howard in 1961 through 1963 have three teammates won the MVP in consecutive seasons.

Could Utley make it a Phillies threesome?

Sure he could. He’s that good.

How good?

“He’s the best second baseman in baseball,” one rival scout said. “It’s not even close. He’s a great hitter. He runs every ball out. He plays hard. He’s improved immensely on defense. He’s a gamer. Give me him over anyone else.”

Utley, 29, became the Phillies regular second baseman in 2005. Over the last three seasons, he leads big-league second basemen in runs (328), hits (537), home runs (82) and RBIs (310).

He’s also rated as the top defensive second baseman over that span by analyst John Dewan, author of The Fielding Bible. Dewan uses statistics and the opinions of 10 analysts in reaching his conclusions.

Utley is the baseball equivalent of a gym rat. He’s always working at his game, never lets up, never cheats himself or his team.

As a youngster, Utley spent hours in the batting cage. He loved hitting and his dedication shows. He was a high school star in Long Beach, Calif., then went to UCLA, where the Phillies noticed his strong lefthanded bat and selected him 15th overall in the 2000 draft.

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