Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

[TheLetterZ]

Re: Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

The thing i think a lot of people forget about when criticizing Utley's defense is that he is a Third Baseman playing Second Base. He's only been playing 2B for a few years, give him time.

I don't know if i would call Utley the best Second Baseman in the game-but then i don't know who i would call the best. You could arguably make a case for Placido Polanco. We know Polanco can hit for some power (17 HR's in 2004, 14 the year before that, slowed by injuries last year) and he has a .991 lifetime fielding percentage as a 2B (20 Errors in 2233 total chances), in the five seasons where he has been used primarily at 2B that averages to 4 errors per season.

I'm not trying to say Polanco is the best, i don't think that any one Second Baseman in the league right now stands out to be called the best.

He's always been a second baseman, except for a partial season at 3rd after Rolen left.

[BGarrett7]

Re: Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

I love how he plays and hustles ALL the time.

You say that as though he is the only player in the majors who is always hustling. Yes, Utley is a total gamer, but there are certainly others around who share the same intensity that he does.

The thing i think a lot of people forget about when criticizing Utley's defense is that he is a Third Baseman playing Second Base. He's only been playing 2B for a few years, give him time.

According to this bio of Utley from his days at UCLA, he started out playing short his freshman year and eventually became an All-American 2B by his junior year there. Considering he's been playing the position full-time since then, sans a project in 2002 to try and groom him to replace Rolen at third, I would hardly say he's been playing the position for "a few years."

EDIT: Nevermind, appears I was beaten to the punch. Should have finished reading the thread, I suppose.

[1hotballa]

Re: Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

Utley is a great second baseman, I would take him on my team anyday.

[marinersfan09]

Re: Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

I would have to give the nod of the best second basemen to Mark Loretta. O-Dog has the most potential out of anyone, with Utley finishing a close second.

[sven]

Re: Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

Aaron Hill is about to become the best second baseman in the game....2 years from now!

[paranoidmoonduck]

Re: Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

Ever since I saw him play a couple years ago I've though Utley had something special in him. Considering the match box he plays in, I think he'll continue to put up some truely spectacular numbers for a second baseman for year to come.

[jpup]

Re: Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

Utley is the best right now. LMAO someone actually said Soriano....well, i'll just say you are mislead.

[jpup]

Re: Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

You can't compare Odogg's D to anyone's in the league. He's the best defensive 2nd baseman since Robbie Alomar. The amount of runs he saves with his D cannot be measured by stats.

yes, yes it can. he also makes way too many outs. there is a reason why riccardi has been trying to trade him all winter.

[GBrushTWood]

Re: Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

I would have to give the nod of the best second basemen to Mark Loretta. O-Dog has the most potential out of anyone, with Utley finishing a close second.

Loretta was nice 2 years ago, but he's had a fairly big injury since then. IMO, he has to prove himself this year by staying healthy and putting up similar numbers to 2004 (actually anywhere close to 2004, where he won the batting title IIRC with a .335 avg or something near that). I like him, but I need to see him kick some *** in 2006 before I start riding his jock.

I don't understand the man-love for O-Dawg...Good defense, average stick, that doesn't stand out for me. Has Gammons deemed him a "special person"? LOL.

Another guy a lot of people are forgetting is Placido Polanco. He hits for a seriously kickass average, doesn't slug much, scores a lot of runs, and has good defense I think. A perfect late round fantasy selection, might I add, to shore up the AVG category.

[paranoidmoonduck]

Re: Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

You can't compare Odogg's D to anyone's in the league. He's the best defensive 2nd baseman since Robbie Alomar. The amount of runs he saves with his D cannot be measured by stats.

Actually, yes it can. Hudson is a spectacular defensive player, but defense will only get you so far, and that is not far enough to overcome a .328 OBP.

In an interesting side note, for a while Pokey Reese was the greatest defensive second baseman in the history of the game, but then teams had the brilliant idea to move him to shortstop and those stats fell.

[rsox]

Re: Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

Pokey will be back at 2B for the Marlins this season and i agree he was (is?) one of the better defensive Second Baseman in the league.

Compare his statistics at 2B and SS and you can see he is much better at Second than Short:

Fielding Percentage at 2B .985
Fielding Percentage at SS .967

In his career he has made 3 fewer errors (38) at SS than he has at 2B (41) in 803 fewer chances

[paranoidmoonduck]

Re: Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

Pokey will be back at 2B for the Marlins this season and i agree he was (is?) one of the better defensive Second Baseman in the league.

Compare his statistics at 2B and SS and you can see he is much better at Second than Short:

Fielding Percentage at 2B .985
Fielding Percentage at SS .967

In his career he has made 3 fewer errors (38) at SS than he has at 2B (41) in 803 fewer chances

Reese doesn't have anywhere near the range he used to have either. He's really dropped off recently.

[jpup]

Re: Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

Pokey will be back at 2B for the Marlins this season and i agree he was (is?) one of the better defensive Second Baseman in the league.

Compare his statistics at 2B and SS and you can see he is much better at Second than Short:

Fielding Percentage at 2B .985
Fielding Percentage at SS .967

In his career he has made 3 fewer errors (38) at SS than he has at 2B (41) in 803 fewer chances

zone rating is a better tool to judge defensive ability. just sayin...

[EaglesFan]

Re: Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

Just thought this would be a good time to revist this discussion. I'd say he's the best in the game as of this moment.

[Misfit]

Re: Chase Utley, best second baseman in the game?

I wouldn't argue against that statement. Underrated fielder and a great hitter.