Wade’s instinct was right to keep Utley

[The Philly Fanatic]

PHILADELPHIA -- It’s that time of the year again. Time for what’s known in these parts as the annual Ed Wade Referendum, what the rest of the sporting public simply refers to as the week leading up to the trading deadline. What the Phillies will do (or what anyone will do, for that matter) this week is anybody’s guess. If you follow the out-of-town papers, you may have noticed that at least 15 different players and at least half as many teams have traded for Florida starter A.J. Burnett in the past two weeks.

That doesn’t make it any easier for Wade, who last year at this time was getting barbecued on a regular basis for his inactivity at the trade deadline and may find himself in a similar position if he elects to do nothing this year.

Make a move, any move, everyone implored.

The details didn’t matter, all that was required was for Wade to do something, anything at the deadline.

Ah, but the details do matter and the one player who had other teams burning up minutes on Wade’s cell phone last year was none other than Chase Utley.

Everyone wanted a piece of the second baseman, who was then not much more than potential, trying to carve out a niche in the big leagues.

As it turns out, Wade had every reason to keep Utley.

Where would the Phillies be without the 26-year-old second baseman and his left-handed hitting stroke that seems perfect for Citizens Bank Park?

"Everyone is accused of overvaluing their own talent," Wade said Sunday before the Phillies put the finishing touches on a sweep over the Padres. "Sometimes, the difficult decisions that you make are the ones where you don’t give up on players."

Asked if he felt vindicated for putting up a big red STOP sign on Utley inquiries last July, Wade said, "It’s not my job to feel vindicated."

In his first full season in the big leagues, the No. 1 draft choice from UCLA is making a name for himself as the heir apparent to Jeff Kent, as the premier (only?) power-hitting second baseman in the National League.

Last year, Utley hit 13 home runs and drove in 57 runs in only 267 at bats. Decent numbers, especially for his first extended time around on the block, but a .260 average and a .308 on-base percentage showed his inexperience.

This year, in only 31 more at bats, Utley has 14 home runs, 54 RBIs, but more impressively he sports a .312 average and a .390 on-base.

That Utley can hit is not a big shock. It’s the rest of his game that has been such a pleasant part of this summer.

The knock on Utley coming up through the ranks has been his defense, and while he may never be Roberto Alomar in the field, Utley has shown better-than-expected range and a solid arm.

"At times he’ll kick a ball," Charlie Manuel said. "But that’s going to happen. Every guy in baseball makes mistakes and he’s no different. Just don’t grade him on that one bad play."

What has been, if not a revelation, then an encouraging development, has been Utley’s take-no-prisoner’s approach on the field.

"Not only with his ability, but who he is, his makeup," Manuel said. "If he keeps that up, that same demeanor, he’s going to be a great player. He’s legit. He’s going to make a lot of All-Star teams."

The full range of Chase Utley, baseball player, was on display this past weekend.

It started Friday when he launched a game-winning two-run home run in the 11th inning to beat the Padres.

Utley’s blast snapped a two-game losing streak and came on the heels of one of the most disappointing Phillies loss of the season, that 1-0 setback to the Dodgers.

Not only that, but Utley rescued the Phillies, who had blown a pair of three-run leads.

The next day, Utley broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run, but it was his play in the sixth inning that perfectly encapsulated what he is all about.

After hustling out an infield single, Utley aggressively took third on a single by Bobby Abreu, which allowed him to score on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Howard.

It goes without saying that Utley’s play over the weekend is exactly what Phillies fans have been screaming about when they get upset with the team’s seemingly laid-back attitude.

A few years back, Darren Daulton stopped by Veterans Stadium for a Phillies alumni event.

Daulton was talking about the state of the team following the Scott Rolen trade and he mentioned giving Pat Burrell the keys, as in the keys to the city.

It could all be his, Daulton was saying, much as the city, and the team, belonged to Dutch during those halcyon days of 1993.

For whatever reason Burrell has been reluctant to take on that mantle. Perhaps the dreadful slump of 2003 had something to do with it, or maybe it’s just not in Burrell’s personality to be forceful.

The leadership role passed to Jim Thome when he signed in 2003, and whether or not Thome’s time has passed, it can not be denied that he gave instant credibility back to the franchise when it needed it the most and carried the team into their new ballpark.

Not by words or demonstrative antics in the clubhouse or on the field, for that is not Utley’s way either, but by his hard-nosed play.

There is no magic moment in professional sports when that ceremonial torch is passed, but day by day Utley is becoming the most popular Phillie, and while it may be too early to anoint him the face of the franchise, it is not inconceivable, either.

Something to remember this week.

To contact Paul Flannery, e-mail pflannery@delcotimes.com

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?n...id=18170&rfi=6

[The Philly Fanatic]

I love Utley's all out, 110% effort, type of a play. If all the Phillies were like Utley, I gurantee we would have a few more wins up on the board.

Thankfully we did not get rid of him after some struggles like many fans suggested.

[Tedc]

I like Utley as a player. He plays hard nosed ball.

[The Philly Fanatic]

Without a doubt Ted. He's the kind of guy, if you ever pitched just one inning of baseball at any level, that you wish you had 7 of playing behind you and one catching. He's a talented player but I believe he gets more out of skills than most players due to his intensity and determined attitude on the field. He's a joy to watch.

[redsrbetter]

I compare Utley to Freel a lot. Both are underrated IMO and both are probably the hardest players on the team. I am starting to feel like there have been a lot more players like this coming up over the last few years. (Byrnes, Eckstein, Podsednik) just to name a few.

[BrianDawkins]

All Utley does is work and try to get better. He'll never "accept" his level of playing ability, he'll always want to exceed it. Utley was a first baseman coming up, looked stiff in his conversion to 2B, and quickly he's becoming one of the better defensive 2nd baseman in baseball. In his first two abbreviated seasons, he had trouble taking pitches and swinging at junk out of the zone... now, he leads all NL 2B in OBP and OPS. The dude is just gonna keep working until he's the best second baseman in the game, and really--he's not very far off as it is.

He's a leader in the club house, has a great work ethic, has a whole lot of pop and plays good defense... whats not to like? One he starts hitting left handers, he's going to be a dominant force in our lineup

[The Philly Fanatic]

Another Philly fan! Great.

Utley is just tremendous. When I want to think of a player to represent the Phillies, it's Utley. More so than Myers, Thome, Abreu, etc. I really would like to believe that the other guys try to step it up a notch when they see him going all out on every play, every at-bat.

[awefullspellare]

The guys needs some more pub because I sure haven't heard much about him.