Chase Utley: HOF?

[Dick Whitman]

16 seasons
65.8 WAR
118 OPS+
1,874 hits
259 HRs
.276/.359/.467
6-time All-Star
0 top five MVP finishes
6 consecutive OPS+ above 123
5 consecutive 7+WAR seasons
5 consecutive top 5 WAR finishes in the N.L. (2005-09)
4 Silver Slugger Awards
JAWS 9th all-time 2B

My first instinct was "no." But he had a really tremendous peak from 2005 through 2009, and probably did not get the award love he merited. I would have to look and see who did win each year, but I'm fairly surprised with no Gold Gloves or top five MVP finishes. I suspect that wouldn't happen now.

 

[Songbird]

But he went to Long Beach Poly ... Home of Scholars and Champions. Gotta count for something.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

No.

-30-

 

[Dick Whitman]

I wonder if Cano being out helps nudge Utley in.

 

[CD Boogie]

Yup, he will go in right after Kent, Grich and Willie Randolph.

 

[Dick Whitman]

A few years ago, I started a Carlos Beltran HOF thread, and everyone got angry about it. A few years later, now that it looks like he will be a HOFer, I bumped it back up. People still got triggered.

In other words, I can't win. I am unappreciated in my own time here.

 

[LongTimeListener]

If he goes in, he will barrel-roll through the doors and “accidentally” tear someone’s knee to shreds.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Utley had a five-year period where he was one of the best players in baseball, then hung around another decade as a role player.

He's his generation's Bobby Bonilla or Fred Lynn.

So, no.

 

[justgladtobehere]

Not looking at the numbers, but Utley was better than Bonilla and Lynn at their peaks.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Utley had a five-year period where he was one of the best players in baseball, then hung around another decade as a role player.

He's his generation's Bobby Bonilla or Fred Lynn.

So, no.

It's astounding that Utley has accumulated 35+ more WAR than Bonilla in 500 less PAs, because their overall offensive numbers are pretty similar. Shows you how valuable it is to play second base and play it well, while also not sucking at hitting.

 

[LongTimeListener]

It's astounding that Utley has accumulated 35+ more WAR than Bonilla in 500 less PAs, because their overall offensive numbers are pretty similar. Shows you how valuable it is to play second base and play it well, while also not sucking at hitting.

Any case that’s built on the strength of defensive stats is going to wither over time. I don’t think anyone believes those stats, especially the ones from late ‘00s/early ‘10s that were complete guesswork.

 

[CD Boogie]

Not looking at the numbers, but Utley was better than Bonilla and Lynn at their peaks.

Maybe Bonilla, but not Lynn, who had an MVP and led league in WAR once and finished second another time.

 

[typefitter]

A few years ago, I started a Carlos Beltran HOF thread, and everyone got angry about it. A few years later, now that it looks like he will be a HOFer, I bumped it back up. People still got triggered.

In other words, I can't win. I am unappreciated in my own time here.

You are the Chase Utley of SJ.com posters.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

 

[LongTimeListener]

**** misunderstood. He thought people were saying Utley was the greatest second baseman of his generation. But they were saying he is the ***grayest*** second baseman of his generation.

Chase Utley has more gray hair than anyone who has played since _________________

 

[typefitter]

**** misunderstood. He thought people were saying Utley was the greatest second baseman of his generation. But they were saying he is the ***grayest*** second baseman of his generation.

Chase Utley has more gray hair than anyone who has played since _________________

Gaylord Perry?

 

[Dick Whitman]

Charlie Hough?

 

[Dick Whitman]

I like it that Utley looks old. No one ever looks old any more. In the day, you'd see a rookie card photo and a card of the same guy 15 years later, and it barely looked like the same human. Plus, you had the mid-career afro cards. Today, the Derek Jeter who retired looked exactly like the Derek Jeter who won ROY.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Pardon if I missed this conversation at some point, but will anyone from the Phillies’ championship team get in?

I don’t think so. Maybe Rollins. Maybe Hamels. There are no slam-dunk HOFers there, though.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]