Longtime MLB star Chase Utley was released today by the Dodgers, clearing the way for his formal retirement. He announced in a press conference earlier this summer that he would retire at the end of the 2018 season.
Utley, 39, turned in a compelling 16-year run at the major-league level. In addition to possessing high-end all-around talent, Utley will be remembered as perhaps the consummate grinder of his generation. Of course, his hard-nosed play also occasionally drew the ire of opposing players and fans.
There’s ample cause to view Utley as a strong Hall of Fame candidate. The former No. 15 overall pick (Phillies, 2000) ran up a cumulative .275/.358/.465 batting line with 259 home runs, 1103 runs scored, 1025 RBIs and 154 stolen bases. The six-time All-Star won four Silver Slugger Awards at second base — each coming between 2006-09, when he was widely considered to be one of the best players in all of baseball. From 2005-13, Utley raked at a .290/.378/.503 clip — good for a robust 129 OPS+.
Put it all together, and Utley compiled more than 60 wins above replacement by measure of both Baseball-Reference (65.4) and Fangraphs (63.2). More than half of that tally came during a ridiculous five-year run from 2005 through 2009, when Utley racked up value by contributing in all facets of the game. That monster peak coincided with the Phillies’ rise into a powerhouse. Utley paired with Jimmy Rollins to form an outstanding up-the-middle duo and the club fielded a variety of other high-end talents.
Utley’s single best season, by measure of wins above replacement, came in 2008 when he helped lead the Phillies to a World Series Championship. Then 29 years of age, Utley hit .292/.380/.515 with 33 homers during the regular season and played a pivotal role in helping the Phils advance beyond the NLCS against the Dodgers.
Over the years to come, Utley ramped down into merely a highly above-average player. He was churning out 3+ WAR campaigns through 2014 — marking a decade-long run in which he reached at least that annual tally (by B-Ref’s measure). The inevitable breakdown campaign came in 2015, but Utley still found a way to bounce back. He turned into a sturdy role player after moving to the Dodgers via trade. Utley was particularly useful during the 2016 and 2017 campaigns, when he appeared in 265 total games, providing the Dodgers with 918 plate appearances of .246/.321/.400 hitting and over 1600 innings of solid glovework.
It was clear during the 2018 season that the end was near. Utley faded at the plate in limited action while dealing with thumb and wrist injuries. When he announced in the middle of the year that he’d hang up his spikes for good, it came as little surprise. The Dodgers preferred to keep him on the roster for the duration of the 2018 campaign, though Utley was not active for the postseason.
By retiring now, Utley will forego the remainder of his contract with the Dodgers. He had been under contract for the 2019 season at a rate of $1MM. Giving up that cash will leave Utley just under the $125MM mark for career earnings. That’s a hefty haul, to be sure, but he earned every cent. It’ll be interesting to see how Hall voters ultimately handle Utley’s case. He doesn’t have the individual accolades that many prefer to see among Hall of Famers, but he had one of the better peaks of any second basemen in recent memory, has one of the more impressive overall resumes at that position, and will no doubt draw support from those who value his broad-based contributions to many successful teams.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Hope he comes to philly on a one day deal
I’m sure he will
Hope the Phillies retire his number regardless of waiting for Hall Of Fame. A retired number is for what a player did for YOUR team. I hate how the Phillies and Flyers only retire a number if the hall of fame inducts a player.
Yankees don’t wait or care for Hall of Fame.
What if either Rollins or Utley, don’t get in HOF?
(For the record, this question is for the purpose of argument, I don’t know what happens in future, personally cheering both to defy their HOF odds)
Would Phillies retire their # or keep following this antiquated policy?
It would be a complete change in philosophy if they did retire before(or regardless) of hall of fame. The Phillies did not retire Richie Ashburn’s #1 until he waa inducted by the veteran’s committee in 1995, over 30 years after his playing career ended.
I hope they would change though. A retired number should be a team decision and not decided by baseball writers.
Same with LA
Utley has a long shot – no contemporary player has been inducted with less than 2000 hits. The only guys in the Hall with less than 2000 are 1800s guys, World-War 2 guys who fought in the war, and some guys like Doby and Robinson who had late starts to their careers because of the color line.
Rollins all day for the “HOF” simply for the Joe West stare down. Utley all day for”HOF” because of the contract Werth received from the nats on account of his “Broness”.
Rollins has much more Hall-worthy numbers than Utley, by far.
now way either should be in the hall. Keith Hernandez was a lot better career player than either of them and he is not in. career batting average better a lot more gold gloves than both put together.
Hernandez was a singles-hitting first baseman. Those guys never make the hall. First base is a bat position.
Dominating SS-2b combos should be really takin more into consideration by their teams and HOF. Rollins-Utley right up there over time! Maybe with this last (overdue) HOF induction & recognition of the Tigers Trammell-Whitaker, the stock on Utley rises!
Nothing is official with Philly regarding this. Despite previous posts, they retired Ashburn’s number in ’79. Schmidt and Carlton’s numbers were also retired five years prior to hall enshrinement, so yeah, pretty much right after they retired. Admittedly, yes, it does seem to be that way. But it’s not actually, and I’ve already read that they could retire the numbers for Rollins, Utley, and Howard.
Roberts, number retired in 1962. Enshrined in 1976.
Ashburn, number retired in 1979. Enshrined in 1995.
Carlton, number retired in 1989. Enshrined in 1994.
Schmidt, number retired in 1990. Enshrined in 1995.
The Phillies haven’t waited on writers.
Keith Hernandez has zero to do with Rollins or Utley going into HOF or not
Yes Coonce except he had a major HIT on a mets fielder as he was barreling into second and that puts chase over the top
Actually, the Phillies retired Ashburn’s number in 1979.
There are a lot of really, really, really good players not in the HOF… dale Murphy, McGriff, Whitaker, Kent, etc. Chase Utley is one of them. So is Jimmy Rollins. Their only hope is the “Modern Day” ballot (if it’s still around in 20 years)
Murphy’s career was too short, McGriff was pretty one-dimensional, Whitaker should be in, Kent isn’t in because nobody liked him, Utley doesn’t have the numbers, Rollins should get in.
Spot on, David
That awful city deserves him (I lived there for a few years, just an awful, awful place).
You’re just a ray of sunshine aren’t you?
It’s always sunny.
Nah it was just you. Phillys been awesome since you left!
PS. Is that you Jerry Colangelo?
No, I think it’s Ruben Amaro. You would think he would be appriactive of the ticker tape parade they threw when he left town.
philly is no different then new York. Chicago,boston. very passionate city and fans. its a wonderful city with history like no other. very proud philly guy here so adam get a life
Get him the one day deal like Shane Victorino did.
He once broke a man’s leg with his face!
As a Giants fan, Thank God! For whatever reason Utley seems to never make an out vs the Giants. (obviously he’s not batting 1000 for this who like to take everything Litterally)
HoF or no?
No
Utley’s career WAR of 65.6 ranks close to Hall of Famers Ryne Sandberg (68.0) and Roberto Alomar (67.1). He has a better chance than you think.
I think the counting stats are going to undo him. 2000 hits is pretty much required to be in at this point. Not offering an opinion on whether that’s right or wrong, but it’s just what the voters have historically done.
Louis Whitaker has a career 75.1 WAR and almost identical stats to Sandbergs yet is still ignored
Sandberg had an MVP award. Led the league in homers one year, had more gold gloves, silver sluggers and all star appearances than Whitaker. Sandberg was also seen as arguably the best 2nd baseman during his peak. Whitaker has 17 more hits and 17 more doubles than Sandberg after having a career that was 3 years longer. Sandberg has more HR and SB.
Whitaker should be in the HOF. But to say he had an identical career to Sandberg because of WAR is wrong. Sandberg was seen as the superior player then and now.
Plus, Sandberg played for the Cubs who had their games broadcast nationally on WGN. The only other team I can think of that had a good portion of their games nationally televised back then was the Braves. I am not from Chicago but I grew up a solid Cubs fan because of it. They will always be my National League team and Mark Grace will always be my favorite player of that era.
And don’t forget, botched an easy grounder as the Cubbies folded to the Padres in 1984. Seeing Ryno and The Bull botch ground balls to seal the total collapse was the thing of absolute beauty.
I was an anti-Whitaker Guy for years…I watched him play and thought he was not a max effort guy…time, has made me reconsider my stance, and I now believe that he was so good, he made the game look easy…He’s a HOF’er
As a man,player.”jimmypopup” couldnt carry chases jock. CHASEBIS THE MAN. ROLLINS AN OVERRATED MEGLOMANIAC. FROM 09 ON,HE DID NADA TO HELP TEAM,JUST JIMMY. CHASE 00PERCENT. IF THEY EALL J POP,I WONT WATCH.
Think he falls just short.
My guess is he will get in but it’ll be close and take towards the end of his eligibility
Unless he pulls a Cano
He’s close but no. I don’t care what Mac says.
I agree. I don’t think he quite makes it. Being a part time player the last few years of his career hurt his counting stats. Had he not gotten hurt during his final year in Philly I think he would have continued the pace he was on for at least 2 more years.
Depends. According to Bill James HoF stats he’s in, but we’ll see how voters look at his counting stats.
I think he deserves it but I’m biased as Chase Utley the man
But according to Bill James, he’s replaceable.
Close… but my vote (which doesn’t count) would be no. I just don’t look at his career and think I’m looking at someone who was one of the greatest players of all time.
I certainly don’t expect that he’ll get in on the first ballot, but I do think he’ll hang around for awhile and that he has a legitimate chance of ultimately being inducted.
Right or wrong, there are a lot of voters who adore Utley’s gritty demeanor and who’ve heard scouts absolutely laud him for his off-field qualities for the better part of two decades. That’ll play into the thinking for some.
Utley spent the better part of two decades showing everyone how the game should be played. How wrong can it be to take that into consideration?
Like purposefully injuring players? I hope he doesn’t get in.
get outta here with that garbage… at that time the game was played with an acceptable degree of grit, including collisions at home. Was Posey’s leg also purposefully broken? Come on now, man. The game was played that way for YEARS and infielders even learned to counter the hard slide by using a smooth-looking toe-drag move in which they don’t really even touch second base. Now, of course, it has changed and was have the rule that bears Utley’s name, but that exact incident could very well have happened with any of the hundreds of players sliding wide or hard into second base.
So did Ty Cobb. Guess he shouldn’t be in either.
Maybe he’ll get hit by a car crossing the street in Cooperstown to pay admission to get into the Hall. Karma.
You’re going to have to consider the era he played in.
Ryne Sandberg got in on his 3rd ballot. Jeff Kent, who had slightly better numbers, only had 14% of the vote on his 5th ballot. Kent doesn’t look like he’s going to ultimately make it.
“Chase Utley, you are THE MAN. . . . . WOW!” – Harry Kalas
Those injuries did him in. I still think he has a chance at the HOF but he’d easily be a shoe in if he didn’t have those 3 or so years of injuries and then just going downhill after 2014.
2005-2010 he was a top player in all of baseball.
It’s a shame but he’s still probably in the top 15ish 2B of all time.
Yes.
Probably, right after Jeff Kent.
Good ball player etc etc but HOF?
No way. Sorry Chase
he’s on the borderline. his career numbers are remarkable similar to guys like Bobby Grich and Lou Whitaker (who didn’t make it in). he doesn’t have great counting numbers that HOF voters tend to reward (1880 career hits, 259 career HRs at this point) and never really came off as a transcendent player – just an incredibly solid player who was a tough out. does that make him a HOFer?
In fairness, Grich and Whitaker both fell off the ballot before the current sabermetric viewpoint became the norm. If Grich or Whitaker were on the ballot this year, they’d probably make it. And if Chase Utley were on the ballot in 1989, he’d probably not even get the 5% like the other two.
I think the counting stats will be what undoes him. 1885 hits would basically be the lowest total for a player (without any special circumstances) in the Hall, and while Utley was good, he wasn’t so good to overcome his lack of counting stats.
I’m thinking he gets in after 5 or 6 years on the ballot. Sort of like Bagwell.
If Chase Utley doesn’t qualify as a Hall of Fame Baseball player I question the legitimacy of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
I’ve questioned it legitimacy for years. It’s political and means little to me.
The writers do a pretty terrible job. But the Chase Utley HOF hill is an interesting one to die on
The baseball writers are complete morons…how is JD Martinez not in the top 3 for MVP voting when he was hands down, a one man wrecking ball for six months?!?!
hell no
If Craig Biggio can make the HOF then anyone can. I never thought Biggio was the best player on any team he was currently playing on but some how got in the HOF for longevity. Utley was much better player than Biggio so I would say yes. But as a Giants fan I think Kent is better than Utley at 2B.
Biggio had 3000 hits not 1800 like Utley. To say Utley was better than Biggio is just ridiculous.
3000 hit is impressive but look at his accolades. Lets say Biggio got a career ending injury in 2006 his year 18 season. He never gets that 3000 hit. Is he still a HOF?? All I am saying is Utley in his prime is a better player than Biggio in his prime.
Yes, it is.
How can you say Utley was a “much better player” when Biggio’s stats are superior pretty much across the board. Utley has a higher SLG% and that’s about it.
Yes.
Shouldn’t be. That sets the bar to low if he makes it.
Yes
No
Yeah
Now that he’s retiring he’ll finally have time to play a game of catch with Mac at Paddy’s Pub
He already did the Eagles Promo video with he and Dee. Im sure Chase was impressed with Mac’s speed.
Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Maybe now he’ll reply to Mac’s letters.
He already did lol
m.youtube.com/watch?v=BnPBTozqdvY
Rofl amazing
Well geez I must not get out much…it’s rough living a life this sheltered lmao
I hope that happens, but first I’m sure Mac will have to forgive him for playing on a team other than the Phillies.
Took the words outta my mouth
Utley was an absolute beast for several years and always played hard.. hard not to love this type of player.
Its actually just as easy to dislike Utley for all the same reasons. Purposely causing harm to another player, regardless of the situation, is not behavior deserving of accolades.
Nonsense!
When ur kid gets their leg broken turning a double play tell me how you feel. Im sure if the sliding player said but Chase Utley is my hero you’d be fine with it right?
Guy broke up a double play in the playoffs Totally legal play. He never should of tried to turn the double play because the throw is what left the 2b out to dry. Everybody knew Utley would be coming in hard. The ur kid argument is weak. This isn’t a teeball scenario
well, in today’s game, your kid likely won’t get his leg broken because kids are no longer being taught to break up double plays in the same manner that Chase (and most of us) learned at a young age. So, actually, you can thank Chase Utley for inspiring a rule change and keeping your kid just a bit safer
Right!
Just a bunch of babies here who can’t comprehend baseball used to be played by men.
You were taught to slide completely away from the base with your legs up in the air? When did your coach get released from prison?
He wasn’t trying hurt anyone. I’m sure he went into that slide thinking “hey, let me break Tejada’s leg!”
Look at the replay. It was a bad play by Tejada for turning his back on the runner.
After Richie Ashburn, Utley is my all-time favorite Phillie. It’s a pity that the knee issues slowed him down. HOF? Dunno about that. Would be thrilled if he made it but I think he’ll come up a tad short. His numbers are better than some middle infielders who are already in the HOF, but the numerical standards for entrance. have gone up since some of those guys who played in the ’40s and ’50s.
How bout the Dodgers send him back to Philly at the deadline
Good idea. Utley straight up for Zach Eflin.
I hope his last AB is at Citi Field so he can get a proper goodbye- taking a pitch right in the butt.
I think he would be really exited about it. He’d probably smile and waddle to first. The problem would be the Mets are not in contention for the playoffs.
Perfect ending to a miserable season for the Mets. Losers.
“I don’t dislike it”
-Chase Utley on getting hit by pitches
Old school like the old school.
Nor did Utley ever avoid being hit by pitch. While never enforced, the rule is that a player must make an effort to avoid being hit by a pitched ball.
He wore his uniform baggy to allow a greater chance of it.
“The Gunslinger,” one of my favorite players.
As a Marlins fan, I saw him play so may games live, and he devastated us time after time after time. He always did everything the right way. For me, he is a HoFer
The right way? Yeah ok
Is Chase Utley a HOFer?
Isn’t he considered a dirty player? Or was it just that one time he broke Ruben Tejadas leg?
Ty Cobb was one of the dirtiest players in history, and he made the Hall pretty quickly.
Yup, Cobb was not afraid to spike a fielder.
Utley’s slide was legal, although I was mad about it, he wasn’t at fault.
I think a lot of people thought he was dirty because he never showed any emotion. I was indeed pissed when I saw it also. He causally jogged off the field and didn’t show any remorse what so ever. Although the play was legal It made it seem like he didn’t care and therefore it was intentional. As far as the Hof goes, he was good but he doesn’t really have the numbers that a 2nd baseman needs to get there. It’s appalling to me that it’s even discussed. I guess that little 5 year period the Phillies were good must’ve gotten in their heads that most of their players are hofers. I think I heard the same after Halladay retired. (bless his soul). I don’t hate Utley, but he’s no Hofer.
He’s going in. 65 war and was the best player from the great 07 to 11 Phillies. The only question should be first ballot or not
No chance he’s first ballot imo. 07-11’ Phil’s were great but most of the guys didn’t have the longevity to truly be considered HoFers. Hamels has a good shot and Lidge should have gotten more consideration but Howard, Rollins, Flyin’, and company belong in Phillies lore but not The Hall
Less than 2000 hits. He’s no shoe in.
I guess there are only so many dirty slides one player can make in a career.
Chase Utley once finished 14th in MVP with a 9 WAR while his teammate finished 2nd with less than 2 WAR.
Utley and Rollins will both grace the HOF eventually. Rollins was basically the Barry Larkin of his era. As for Utley, the sports writers voting know that he more or less easily would have 75 WAR player if he didn’t break down. His injuries were a direct result of him playing his @ss off and playing the game the right way.
As for the salty Mets fans and their “dirty player” remarks. Get over it. None of you cared about Ruben Tejada before that play and you only REALLY cared because it happened in the playoffs. It’s OK to admit that Chase Utley owned the Mets when he played them. It’s just like how Chipper Jones and David Wright owned the Phillies.
Jimmy Rollins career WAR: 46.3
Barry Larkin career WAR: 70.5
So, uh, no. Not remotely comparable, except they both played shortstop and were both African-American.
Dirty player
Played hard. Not dirty. Guy will never buy a beer again in Philly.
Not a HOF.
Is it true unless he hits the arbitrary 2,000 hit mark, he will not make HOF?
Utley has 1,880 hits, needs 120 more hits to hit 2,000
No contemporary player has made the Hall with less than 2000 hits. It feels arbitrary but it’s a real number. Utley was a tremendous player but there just wasn’t enough of a career there.
thats a no for hof.
Utley glared at me when I asked for his autograph before a spring training game last year. I’m hoping he gets snubbed. Lol. Doesn’t seem like the happiest guy.
He doesn’t have to be a happy guy to make the Hall of Fame.
Had a similar experience in Clearwater. To me he is just an intense player and I’m not going to hold that against him. HOF….not quite.
Legitimate question that affects how I view this story – How old are you?
End of and era.
Is he one of those surefirer, first-ballot Hall of Famers like Pedro/Griffey/Chipper? No, but he’ll get in the Hall of Fame. All Star selections, silver sluggers, a champion, identifiable with one team (people just like that), and a good dude. It may take him 4-6 tries on the ballot, but he’ll get in. As. Braves fan, Congrats on a good career!
Not gonna happen. Being a good dude doesn’t get you into the HOF. Hall of really good but he’s not HOF material.
Totally agree. If players were inducted for being gamers/great teammates/solid citizens/role models ahead of stats Dale Murphy would have been a first ballot HOFer. Gotta have the stats and (some kind of) hardware to get in.
No, he’s not a Hall of Famer. But a great player. But his career just started too late.
What is the purpose of announcing it now?
Dodgers play in Philly on the 23rd. Gives Phillies and us phans a chance to give him a proper sendoff.
My guess is he’ll retire on a 1 day deal with Phila. than return to LA in a coaches role. He’s from SoCal so it’s home. Dodgers love him.
Utley is the Dirtiest player in the past 80 years. Only Rizzo is even in the conversation about who is the slimiest player.
Ryan, I posted, can you?
Remeber when you said the Dodgers drafting Walker Buehler was a waste lol. Your opinion is invalid
Rizzo!? Lol. What have you been watching? Did you see him slide hard at one of your guys like one time or something? I’ve never heard anyone even imply dude is dirty. Bitter Pads fan? Cashner didn’t really work out too well, huh?
Whhhhaaaatttttt Pads fan is back! I’m kind of excited so many terrible takes so little research, or no research. Pumped though. Welcome back.
He has probably been watching Rizzo take cheap shots at catchers…
Utley doesn’t even have 2000 hits, get out of here with this HOF nonsense.
Don’t get me wrong – Utley was an exceptional player 2005-2014, but he does only have 1880 career hits and a .224 career post season BA. The BBWA will have to figure it out, but I don’t see Utley as a slam dunk Hall of Famer. The fact is there are MANY players with better career stats who are not in the Hall.
What’s the point of having a mid season press conference to announce you’re retiring at the end of the season?
Dodgers play in Philadelphia at the end of the month, It allows the Phans a chance to give him a proper sendoff.
Good luck in retirement Chase, break a leg!
Why would you have a press conference to say you are not retiring and that it will be addressed in the future? Am I missing something?
Don’t care what others may think, this dude was fun as f*** to watch. Wasn’t a Phils fan or anywhere he played, but loved watching him play. Always wished he was my 2B, he’ll of a career, carry on my friend
I don’t quite think he is a HOF Guy, but I’ll always remember him as a really good player. Dude was a tough player too. Tough, not dirty. One take out slide isn’t enough to be called a dirty player forever to me. The game moves fast. He tried to break up a double player and a guy got hurt. He didn’t leave 1B like, I’m gonna break that guy’s legs. He thought, no way they are turning 2 here. Old-school player. Should get his number retired in Philly and get back in the dugout.
Agree
Jeff Kent better than Utley. Rollins,
Agree
Jeff Kent makes Chase Utley look like Mr. Rogers.
Great player. But NOT a Hall of Famer.
Would have. Been. But he got seriously. Injured
Which curtailed. His career. Could have been. But not
Great player and competitor. Good luck. Not sure Hall Of Famer. Close
Finally! Here’s hoping Ruben Tejada makes it back to the majors for the last day of the season, plays against the Dodgers, slides into second base and breaks Utley’s leg…
Also… Since when does 1800 career hits qualify anyone for the HOF?
Douche
Anybody who still believes that Chase Utley is some sort of hard case needs to watch the video of his retirement announcement. Without his legendary game face he’s soft-spoken, humble and funny.
mlb.com/dodgers/video/utley-to-retire-at-end-of-se…
The other aspect of this that was barely mentioned is the press conference room was full not just of reporters but also his teammates. Speaks volumes on how much Chase Utley is admired by the people who play the game. Fans who don’t get that, I wonder how much they get baseball.
You’re right. None of us know what he’s like off the field. All we can do is judge him based on his play. IMO, he was a dirty player. I doubt I’ll ever have a chance to sit down and have a beer with him, so my opinion remains.
RIP Chase. He’s playing catch with Mauer in the upper room.
Loved him playing keyboard for Jimmy Buffett!
He even gets named in song Volcano.
Question. By “releasing” Utley before he submits his retirement paperwork to MLB are the Dodgers responsible for his $1MM salary for 2019? I think both Utley and Dodgers knew last year that the $2MM for 2 years was simply a way to reduce 2018 payroll.
I think he would only be entitled to the remainder if he was stepping away due to something like Prince Fielder’s case for instance…not being medically cleared to play.
I remember something in the wording of how Alex Rodriguez left the Yankees but took the consulting position with their front office to basically pay out the remainder of his contract. He never really ‘retired’.
No, he forfeits the remainder of his contract by retiring.
His career statistically is similar to David Wright’s if you look at number of years of HOF level production (6-7). And their numbers aren’t too far off from each other. Wright probably had 1 more year of peak production than Utley. I’m a Mets fan, and Wright is not a Hall of Famer in my view, so I would doubt Utley gets in. I know he played 2nd but 3rd is not well represented in the Hall either. If they get in, great, but I think they fall into the Keith Hernandez range of really good, but not HOF level players.
HOFer
Less than 2000 hits, less than 1500 rbis, less than 300 Home runs, .275 average and .358 OBP
Sorry, the numbers just aren’t HOF level
BYE!
Good effing riddance.
Among his contributions was getting on base via replay review of a pitch that grazed his pant leg. Of course, he didn’t try to get out of the way.
youtu.be/6RJsi5wROy8
Great career but no way he’s a HOFer
Utley isnt a HOF’er & best production is during the steriod era which sad to say, but those stats smell suspect. If Utley is the ulimate grinder what does that make Nick Markakis when he retires.
Great point on Markakis.
Dodgers should immediately name Utley their third base coach to fill their need there.
Counting stats can be overrated. They have a lot to do with how long a player can hang on collecting mediocre stats and how quickly a player gets to the majors so the counting can begin. This can be unfair to the player who is drafted after three years of college and then spends three years in the minors. He is 24/25 before starting his career
. Some organizations like to bring players along more slowly.
Dirtiest player ever to play the game.
Ty Cobb says hi
HOF: Hall Of Fame, how can I help you?
CU: It’s Chase Utley. Am I in?
HOF: Chace who?
CU: #$%^ You!!!
Good!
Dirty badtards like him don’t belong in baseball.
A lot of moan job Mets fans posting here.
I never loved a Phillies player the way I loved Utley.
As a Mets fan I’ve never liked this guy one bit, but you can’t knock the career he’s had. Congrats Chase.
If Biggio wasn’t a first ballot with 3000 hits, Utley isn’t a HOF at all. Great player but not HOF.
I feel it’s gonna be tough for Utley to be a HOF. Utley will not stand out with “traditional stats.” His batting average, hits, rbi’s, and HR are all behind a player like Jeff Kent (and people were making a big deal of voting Kent in because he’s one of the best at His position). However, Jeff Kent did have a lower career WAR. I don’t think voters will look at that as much.
Not to mention, Kent won an MVP, and a player like Biggio (with 3000 hits), took time to get to the Hall.
If Utley is a hall of gamer then Mauer should be one too.
Mauer was a great player, if he were on a competitive team there would be no question
Although he may not be elected to “The Hall…”, Chase Utley is one of the best, if not the best 2B I’ve ever had the privilege to see play. (I’ve been a serious Baseball fan since early 1970s) Its a shame some of you younger fans couldn’t see him a his best.
Funny, I held off on this topic. My eye test from 2003-2016 says he should be in the Hall of Fame.
The numbers though say different. Very different.
I hope the Phillies retire his number (they won’t); but no matter how I look at numbers, unless there is a weak class, he won’t be in the HOF.
Sorry Chase; my heart wants you there. My head won’t allow it.
There are 2B in the HoF that Utley and Jeff Kent are way better than. Something wrong with that if these two are not in. People think you have to be a Top 5 or 10 All Time guy in order to be in the Hall, but being Top 20 to 30 is OK for being in the Hall as well. Utley and Kent are easily top 25 2Bs in MLB history.
He’s about as HOF worthy as Sandberg was. I don’t think Ryno was HOF worthy but at least Utley won something so he should be in.