Phils Rebuilding 50 Cents at a Time

On Friday, the Phillies agreed to a new two-year contract with manager Pete Mackanin that runs through the 2017 season. The deal includes a club option for 2018.

Mackanin's first two stints as an interim manager, with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2005 and the Cincinnati Reds in 2007, saw him lose his job at season's end. The third time proved to be a charm: He was give the Phillies job permanently in September after taking over on an interim basis in June.

His interim stint in Pittsburgh spanned only 26 games to end the year - the then-lowly Pirates won 12 of them - before Jim Tracy was tabbed as the team's new leader a week after the season's end.

With Cincinnati, he took a team that was 31-51 when Jerry Narron was fired and led it to a 41-39 record. The Reds replaced him with Dusty Baker after the season, though, and Mackanin again "put that warrior face back on and plugged along and hoped that something good would come of it," Shane said.

It wasn't until no one expected it that Mackanin was afforded his chance. Sandberg abruptly quit 74 games into a miserable Phillies rebuilding season this year. A young and inexperienced team, playing with renewed energy under Mackanin, finished three games under .500 in the second half, a minor miracle considering the roster and the team's major-league-worst 63-99 record for the season.

New Phillies president Andy MacPhail lifted Mackanin's "interim" label in September, signing him to a one-year contract with a club option for 2017. MacPhail had yet to hire general manager Matt Klentak, thus the short-term commitment.

Mackanin has quite a challenge ahead of him in his first full season as Philadelphia Phillies manager. As baseball fans know, the Phillies are moving forward with a massive rebuilding effort. That means Mackanin's roster will be filled with young players looking to find their way at the major-league level, and some older players who are struggling to hang on. 

It's a job designed for a patient individual, because the mistakes will be frequent and frustrating all season long. However, it does seem that Mackanin has a system in place that should in theory limit mistakes being repeated. Because if they don't, everyone pays!

Mackanin is fining his players 50 cents for every little mistake that's made during training camp. And it's not just the players making the mistakes who are fined either, it's everyone in camp. 

"If you don't get a bunt down, everyone pays 50 cents," Mackanin said before Thursday night's rained out Grapefruit League game against the Braves at Champion Stadium. "If you don't hustle, everyone pays 50 cents. If you miss a cutoff man, everyone pays 50 cents.

"It's a way to be picky about little things, like you made it into second base, but you should've slid. You hit a double, but you coasted into second when you should've come around hard in case the guy bobbles the ball. Fifty cents. It allows me to be a real [jerk] about things like that. What, are you going to complain about 50 cents?"

The money shouldn't be an issue, but personal pride should be. That's exactly what Mackanin is playing into here. No one wants to be the reason why the whole team is being fined, regardless of the amount. The fine is secondary to the flack players will catch from their teammates, so that should guarantee sharper focus and better attention to detail.

"When I announce the fines and this week you have $2.50, a half-dozen players get on that guy," Mackanin added.

With that said, even with sharper focus and better attention to detail growing pains in the form of mistakes are bound to take place with such a young roster. According to Mackanin, those mistakes have added up quite a bit, with close to $1,000 in the fine jar already. But continually driving home fundamentals and execution every single day could ultimately pay off for the Phillies.

Or it could be the Phillies way of financing their rebuilding effort.  With an abundance of youth and inexperience around him, Mackanin may be using the tip jar to finance his hidden island getaway.

It's good to see his desire to motivate and cultivate a climate and culture of accountability and conscious performance.

The Phillies are 14-7-2 in spring training and open the season April 4 in Cincinnati.

The material in this post is adapted from various sports news sources, including this blog.

To read more from Phantastic Phillies Insider, click here to be redirected to the site.

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Phils New GM Makes First Moves

The Phillies new GM Matt Klentak has been busy this week making moves for pitchers and answering questions about a potential trade for his own pitcher, Kenny Giles.

Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said this week, "There are a number of players on our roster that teams like.  It doesn't mean that we are going to trade them."  And: "I don't want to categorically say that we are or we aren't going to do anything."

In other words, 'I may trade him/anyone if I am offered enough in exchange.'

Reasonable enough from the first manager in a long time hired by the Phils to helm a rebuild.  Yet, more than a little negligent in the tenuous process of grooming fans.

Kenny Giles has become a fan favorite.  Not surprising.  The team is a last place team.  Giles is a first-class performer.  Giles offers desperately needed relief on the field-- and for fans.  His teammates appreciate it too.  They call him, "100 Miles Giles" (because he throws, at times, 100 mph).  He's called upon to save major league games by his coach.  He does, night after night, with almost impeccable consistency.

Giles offers desperately needed relief on the field-- and for fans.

Over the last two seasons, the only relief pitchers with a better ERA than Giles' (1.56) are Wade Davis (0.97), of the recently crowned World Series-champion Kansas City Royals, and the New York Yankees' Dellin Betances (1.45).

He is 24, but his poise says otherwise.  He has just completed his second year in the big leagues, but his resume bests most of his newbie teammates.

The Phillies' roster overhaul has left just four active pitchers with at least three years of major-league service time. Five of the team's 12 pitchers are rookies.

Shedding Giles would be lucrative if a significant package would be the return.  For example, two or three top-tier prospects from a team that needs only a closer to run deep next season.  However, the Phils need to caution against dealing Giles at any cost, because he is controlled for years to come at a modest salary due to his youth.  He is a rare thing.  A closer excelling at the major league level from day one, igniting fans and teammates alike, capable of galvanizing the next generation.

Saturday, the Phils signed right-hander Dustin McGowan to a one-year deal.  He had been released April 1 by the Los Angeles Dodgers after posting a 6.75 ERA in seven spring training appearances.  The 33-year-old began last season as a starter for the Toronto Blue Jays, going 2-2 with a 5.08 ERA in eight starts before being converted to a reliever in May. He went 3-1 with a 3.35 ERA in 45 games in relief, holding opponents to a .215 average.   

On the same day, Klentak made his first trade as Phils GM young tenure as the Phillies' general manager, adding a veteran pitcher to its young starting rotation.

The rebuilding Phillies acquired righthander Jeremy Hellickson from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for pitching prospect Sam McWilliams. Hellickson, 28, joins a rotation expected to include righthanders Aaron Nola, Jerad Eickhoff and lefthander Adam Morgan.

Bizzarely, Hellickson is the pitcher who inadvertently ended Phils Third baseman Maikel Franco's Rookie of the Year bid this past season.  Franco, the most exciting new Phillies player in a while, was hit by a Hellickson fastball back in August which broke his wrist and abruptly ended his season.

Now the pitcher and victim are teammates.

Hellickson, a former rookie of the year and gold glove winner, has a career 3.96 ERA over six major league seasons, the first five with the Tampa Bay Rays. He posted a 4.62 ERA over 27 starts last season, his first with Arizona. He is entering his final season of arbitration eligibility and set to become a free agent after next season. He made $4.28 million last year.

"We like what he has done in his career," Klentak said. "He's a good fit for us.  He's been a steady performer the last five years and he has some hardware on his mantel, a rookie of the year (2011) and Gold Glove (2012).  I think one of the things on top of the obvious is that he's a veteran guy but still just 28 years old. He'll pitch at 29 this season, so we're excited that he's still in his prime. And more than anything, he's a competitor. He wants the ball. We've talked about building an environment and we think he'll be a very positive influence on our staff."

Hellickson posted a 2.95 ERA in 2011, his rookie of the year season with Tampa Bay, and a 3.10 ERA in 2012 but has a 4.86 ERA over the last three seasons. He is known as a fly ball pitcher, having allowed 20 or more in each of his four full seasons.  That is a troubling tag for a pitcher headed to Citizens Bank Park.  Furthermore, despite improving his strikeout rate and improving his walk rate from 2013 onward, his results got worse.  Additionally, from 2011 to 2013 Hellickson's 'hard-hit rate allowed', according to FanGraphs, increased from 23.2 percent to 34.9 percent.  All this spells a hard road uphill for a successful year with the Phils. 

The Phils also got James Russell, who turns 30 in January, posted a 5.29 ERA over 34 innings with the Chicago Cubs last season but posted a 2.97 ERA over 572/3 innings the previous year. He has spent most of his six major-league seasons with the Cubs but logged 241/3 innings for the Atlanta Braves in 2014.

Nine days prior, they claimed Dan Otero, a 30-year-old reliever, who had been a highly-productive contributor in Oakland from 2013-14. The control artist put up a cumulative 2.01 ERA in 125 2/3 innings in that span, with 5.2 K/9 against 1.5 BB/9. He was used particularly heavily in ’14, when he made 72 appearances and logged 86 2/3 frames.

Though he maintained that K:BB ratio in 2015, however, Otero was torched for 35 earned runs in 46 2/3 innings. There was some poor luck in the BABIP (.354) and strand rate (59.5%) arenas, but the righty also saw his groundball rate drop to below 50% while allowing a 14.9% HR/FB rate.

Wednesday, the Phils announced that they had signed five players to minor-league contracts. All of the players received an invite to major-league spring training camp and they are expected to provide depth at the Triple A level during the season.

Two of the players – right-handed pitchers Chris Leroux and Reinier Roibal – spent time in the Phillies' minor-league system during the 2015 season.

Here’s a quick look at the five players:

RHP Chris Leroux, 31 – The reliever had a 3.90 ERA in 85 1/3 innings in the Brewers' and Phillies' organizations in 2015. He has pitched in the majors for the Marlins, Pirates and Yankees.

RHP Reinier Roibal, 26 – Used mostly as a reliever in 2015, he posted a 1.64 ERA in 31 games while pitching for the Phillies’ Clearwater and Reading clubs. He has averaged 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings in four minor-league seasons.

INF Emmanuel Burris, 30 – The veteran infielder has played in 287 major-league games with the Giants and Nationals. He hit .279 and had a .341 on-base percentage for the Nats’ triple A Syracuse team in 2015.

RHP Frank Herrmann, 31 – He appeared in 95 games for the Indians from 2010 to 2012. He pitched in the Angels' and Pirates' organizations last season and registered a 3.76 ERA in 52 2/3 innings. He had 53 strikeouts and 10 walks.

INF Ryan Jackson, 27 – He has spent time in the majors with the Cardinals and Angels. He has hit .272 with a .343 on-base percentage in 680 minor-league games.

What Klentak is consistently saying thusfar is, ' We're going to throw a bunch of young talent into the organization and onto the field and find out what sticks to try to form a nucleus that excels.  Don't expect results soon'

"Players will dictate when this team is ready to be as good as they can possibly be, and players will develop at different speeds, at different rates.  Some will be better than we thought they would be and some will underwhelm us... and what I do know is at the first sign that this team is ready to be good and take that next step-- and I hope it's April-- I know that we will do everything we can to support that group and create a core that's going to last a long, long time."

Klentak seems earnest and focused on following through on the long path that leads to eventual glory.  However, he hasn't faced Philly fans or seasons of losing.  He seems to be bracing himself, and fans, for a long term vision, while allowing us, if not himself hope that the long term might start soon.

Ryan Madson Wins World Series Game

In MLB's comeback story of the year, former Phillies setup man Ryan Madson is poised to win his second World Series title and his first since the one he helped clinch with the Phils in 2008.

Madson, now with the Royals, was pivotal Game 4 winner Saturday in N.Y. vs. the Mets.  Madson put the Royals up 3-games-to-1 with a commanding 7th inning relief appearance.

After Madson was drafted by the Phillies in 1998, he became an integral part of the team's 2008 World Series championship as reliable 8th inning setup man for closer Brad Lidge.  Then, when Lidge left the team, Madson transitioned to the closer role with tremendous success, notching 32 saves and a 2.37 ERA in his final year with the team in 2011.

Then, the Phils parted ways with him during a contract negotiation dispute with Phillies enemy mega-agent Scott Boras.  Madson then spent 2012 with the Reds and 2013 with the Angels, although he never threw a single pitch at the major-league level for either club due to injury which led to right elbow surgery.

January 4th, 2015 Kansas City signed him to a minor league contract, which led to his promotion to the majors on April 4th of this year.

From there, Madson ran with the ball, completing his finest Major League season to date and helping the Royals make their second-straight run at a World Series title (in 2014, the Royals lost to S.F. 3-2 in game 7 in K.C.).

Madson posted a remarkable 2.13 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and .205 Batting Average Against, all career highs at age 35 after 2 full seasons of not throwing a single pitch in the big leagues and post-elbow surgery.  Of note, his 2015 season ERA is precisely what he posted with the Phils during the 2008 postseason: 2.13.

On Saturday he achieved his season-high performance when he came into the World Series in the 7th inning with his team trailing 3-2 to the Mets at Citi Field in N.Y.

Madson faced Lucas Duda, the Mets first baseman who hit 27 HR this year.  Madson fell behind 2-balls to no strikes.  Then worked his way back with a foul and then a strike looking, before Duda drew ball 3 for a full count.  Madson induced a pop-up out on the final pitch of the at-bat, his 6th to just the first batter of the inning.

Next up was Mets star catcher Travis d'Arnaud, ironically a 1st round draft pick in 2007 by the Phillies, one of many talented players shed during the free-wheeling talent spending win-now days of former Phils GM Rubén Amaro, Jr.

Madson dominated d'Arnaud: 1st strike looking, foul ball strike 2, followed by foul ball (again), then strike 3 looking.  2 outs, 1 to go.

However, the next batter was a whole different story.  It was Mets LF Michael Conforto.  Conforto had already achieved fame Saturday night when he hit home runs off of 2 different Royals pitchers in this single World Series game: starter Chris Young and reliever Danny Duffy.

Madson dug in.  First pitch?  Ball 1.  Second pitch: strike swinging.  Followed by ball 2, hitters advantage at 2-balls-to-1-strike.  4th pitch of the at-bat, Madson tiring?  Strike swinging.  Now 2-balls to 2-strikes.

Next pitch ball 3, another full count.  Then, Madson got him.  Strike 3, Conforto struck out swinging and Madson completed a comeback story for the ages.  The Royals would stage a comeback in the next half inning, to take their first lead of the game, 5-3.  That's how it ended.  The Royals walked away with game 4 in N.Y. and now lead the best-of-seven series 3-games-to-1 with 1 more game left to play in N.Y. on Sunday followed by 2 in K.C. (if necessary).  The Royals and Madson need just 1 win in the final 3 games to be crowned World Series winners within days.

Madson will join a growing list of players who won the 2008 World Series with the Phils and who went on to win an additional or more World Series titles since, including outfielders: Pat Burrell, Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino.

Utley Controversy Explodes

The debate about Chase Utley raged on through the night.

The N.Y. Daily News wrote:

"LOS ANGELES -- Chase Utley may be wearing Dodger blue these days, but Saturday night, the Mets were seeing red over the former Phillies superstar. Just like he did in 2010, Utley made a controversial late and hard slide into second base, flipping Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada.

Unlike that play between division rivals, this time it was extremely costly.

Tejada suffered a broken leg on the play and the Mets fell apart as the Dodgers rallied for four runs and a 5-2 win in Game 2 of the NLDS."

"It wasn't a slide, it was a tackle," Mets outfielder Michael Cuddyer said of Utley's takeout slide into second base Saturday night that broke the leg of Mets' second baseman Ruben Tejada.

"There was no intent to injure Ruben whatsoever," Utley said. "The whole play happened fast. … You have an opportunity to break up a double play, you should do that.  My focus is seeing the ball."

The Dodgers Howie Kendrick hit a bouncer to Murphy's right. It took Murphy nearer the bag. His flip was slightly behind Tejada, who was racing to the base.

"I didn't realize his back was turned," Utley said. "It happens fast."

Utley is known as a player who 'plays hard.'  He had actually taken out Tejada on a similar play five years ago and many others throughout his 13 year career.  Nonetheless, as playoff time is big stage, social media has buzzed all night and into Sunday, where former player Alex Cora wrote, "Hard slides are acceptable, tackles no," and Mets catcher Anthony Recker wrote of a "brutal dirty slide."

Justin Upton wrote, "If that was a superstar shortstop we would have a Tulo Rule being enforced tomorrow," a reference to Troy Tulowitzki and baseball's new rule protecting catchers, dubbed "The Buster Posey Rule."

More MLB players reactions can be read here:
http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2015/10/11/9496327/chase-utley-slide-ruben-tejada-mlb-players-reaction

There is discussion of a review by MLB, a potential suspension and the pending hostile reception Utley will receive in NY if he is eligible to play when the series resumes there on Monday.

Utley Breaks Mets Shortstop's Leg

Utley being Utley and playing hard has sparked controversy.

In strange but true breaking news, Chase Utley of the Dodgers has gone Hollywood in wishing his present playoff and former divisional foe Mets to 'break a leg' in their first postseason performance since 2006.

In what is now being called a "controversial play" that is headlining every site on the internet (including Yahoo and ESPN), Utley may have unwittingly altered the course of the MLB playoffs with one single pinch hit appearance in game 2 of the NLDS, now tied at 1-game-apiece between the Dodgers and Mets.

The play occurred with one out in the seventh inning Saturday night and the Dodgers trailing 2-1 and 1-0 in the series.  Utley's single was the first hit of the inning for L.A. and sparked the 4 runs they would score in the inning to even the series at a game apiece.  Utley's run scored was the go-ahead game winner.

ESPN's David Schoenfield posted "UTLEY'S SLIDE BROKE THE RULES." He asserts that Utley's play that ended with Ruben Tejada leaving with a fractured right fibula has nothing to do with "'the way the game has always been played.' We evolve. Let's play the game the right way ... clean and fair and by the rules." Should have been out.

Adam Rubin, ESPN: "Old nemesis Chase Utley is still haunting the New York Mets."

More analysis and video of the slide here:

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/64112/saturdays-top-5-the-slide-heard-round-the-baseball-world

Meanwhile, Cole Hamels of the Rangers put the heavily favored to win-it-all Toronto Blue Jays on the brink of elimination Friday when he posted a 7-inning 2-run start walking nobody and striking out 6 in Toronto.

Other ex-Phils factoring heavily in this postseason include middle relief pitcher Jake Diekman (who went to Texas in the Hamels trade), who has been impeccable vs. Toronto this postseason: 4 innings pitched over the 2 games, 3 S.O., 0 BB and reliever Ryan Madson, who helped the Royals tie their series vs. Houston Friday with a 2 S.O. 8th inning appearance reminiscent of 2008.

Chase Utley's Classy Farewell

“My plan is to stay a Phillie for life” -- Utley, July '08

To say that Utley will be missed is like saying you like your right arm.  Words cannot express what he represents or has meant to the organization or to baseball. 

My post on the Utley trade can be linked to here (and appears below):

Phils Play Judas to Beloved Utley. 

If you haven't read it, please do. 

Utley said this at his press conference on 8/8/13 when he re-signed with the team:

Utley never ceased his commitment to the team that cast him off.

“When Ruben first approached me about an extension, I told him I was up for it. I wanted to stay in this uniform, but I also wanted to be treated fairly,” Utley said during a press conference following the signing of his new contract to remain with the Phils. “I'm not trying to break the bank. I'm just trying to be treated fairly in the marketplace. It's a very fair deal for both sides. Like Ruben said, going to free agency, maybe I left a little bit of money on the table with this deal. But it's not about the money. It's about the commitment. There is no better place to play than here.”

Today's press conference announcing Chase Utley's departure from the organization can be watched here: http://www.csnphilly.com/video_content_type/chase-utleys-farewell-press-conference

The following is an excerpt from a 9/3/09 post on this blog celebrating Utley. 

After I published the post, the Phils soared through the post-season to the World Series, going back-to-back for the first time ever.  Utley tied the all-time single World Series home run mark that year with 5 vs. the Yankees.

Utley Plunked, Phils Win
 

It was their final regular season series against a playoff team this year, and the Phillies made it count. On Thursday, they won the deciding game in a good old fashioned pitchers duel, the kind baseball purists savor. The Phils didn't win the S.F. series with their famed bats, they did it with baseball fundamentals of dominant pitching and great defense.

Chase Utley was able to score the go-ahead run in the 6th, when he ran hard and well from 1st to home on a double by Howard, who drove in his 113th RBI on the play. Utley had reached base with 2-out by being plunked for the 18th MLB-leading time this year. Utley has led MLB in Hit-By-Pitch since 2006 (25 times in '07 and 27 in '08). Utley is the consummate gamer, who is the living definition of 'take one for the team' hard-play everyday.

"I think he is absolutely recognized as the gamer in our game," Phils president David Montgomery said. "I don't think there's any question about that."

Former teammates respect Utley for his easy professionalism: "He's not a pretty-boy style flashy player, he's old school. He just goes out and plays hard and continues to get better. It's nice to have guys like that on your team," says Giant's outfielder Aaron Rowand, who homered against his former team Thursday. "He's a gamer," adds Jim Thome, now playing for a title with the Dodgers. "The bigger the situation, he thrives on it. And you can't teach that. Either you have it or you don't."

"I've always been taught to play the game hard," says Utley. "Baseball is such a tough game, it really humbles you at times. You just have to try not to get too high or too low. The harder you play this game, the more you get out of it."

Utley is as smart a player as he is selfless. Case in point: His now legendary run-saving play in the clinching 5th game of the 2008 World Series. The game was tied at 3-3 with two outs in the top of the 7th when Utley got to Akinori Iwamura's bouncer up the middle. Utley faked to 1st, conceding a hit to Iwamura, and noticed that baserunner Jason Bartlett was rounding 3rd and heading home. Utley threw quickly to catcher Carlos Ruiz for the out at the plate. The Phils went ahead in the bottom of the inning and went on to win both the game, 4-3, and their 1st World Championship in 28 years.

"At times, he can put close to what you'd call a perfect swing on the ball," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "It's good balance, rhythm, load, and at the same time getting a ball that you'd like to hit. And just, very slight, underneath the center of the ball. He's a very stylish hitter... Utley’s one of the best players in the game. You sit and watch him day in and day out, and he consistently hits the ball hard. He’s a tremendous hitter."

Utley’s sweet left-handed swing is short, compact and generates a lot of power, although Utley (6-foot-1, 200 pounds) isn’t as big as most long-ball hitters. Phillies hitting coach Milt Thompson observed: "I don't know if there's a perfect swing. But his is as close to it as you can be. He's amazing, one of the most amazing hitters I've ever seen."

George W. Bush, former U.S. President and former Texas Rangers owner, said he’d take Utley if he had his choice of anyone in the majors to build a team around.

John Dewan, author of "The Fielding Bible," regarded baseball's foremost authority on fielding, said in 2008:

"Utley leads major league second basemen with a plus-19 ranking. He has excellent range to his left and his right. He's so underrated," Dewan said. "People don't realize it, but his defense is as good as his offense" (more on "Why Chase Utley is so Good at 2B").

Utley was HBP in July of 2007 that broke his right hand, slowed his productivity and zapped his HR output. In his characteristically quiet, resilient manner, Utley shrugged it off: "As breaks go, it's not that bad of a break," Utley said. "It's definitely disappointing."

However, the injury cost him a likely NL MVP that season. The punishment absorbed by his body also affected Utley in 2008. When he played hurt for some time during a later stretch of the season, his numbers tailed off. Utley denied the injury until Pat Gillick eventually leaked his sore hip to the press: "He's having some trouble with his right hip," Gillick said. Utley remained the hero, telling reporters, "I have no idea what you're talking about." He went on to hit a key HR in the 1st game of the World Series, hip injury and all. Fitting for a guy whose 1st major-league hit was a grand-slam.

After the 2008 season, Utley acknowledged the injury, underwent surgery and was supposed to miss the first couple months of the 2009 season. However, both Utley and his manager knew better, counting him in all along. Utley opened the season with the team, hitting .342 with 7 HRs and 20 RBIs in April and has played in all but 3 of the team's games since.

In April, ESPN reported: "It's hard to tell what's more impressive: Utley playing 159 games and the entire 2008 postseason on a hip so sore it required surgery, or his ability to come back so quickly from an injury that was supposed to keep him out until May or even June. Utley's fast start comes as no surprise to the Phillies' people, who saw him arrive at Citizens Bank Park each day at 9 a.m. and stay until 2 or 3 p.m. during his winter rehab sessions."

 

“My plan is to stay a Phillie for life” --Chase Utley, July, 2008

 

Utley is ever the understated game-day performer. His humility is one of the defining characteristics of his greatness. The only time he uses his fame is in conjunction with wife Jennifer's charity efforts. He is so not a hot-dog in our modern day media circus world, where everyone, it seems, will do anything to get noticed. Utley prefers to go unnoticed. He simply wants to do his job to the best of his ability, injury or not, every day. He is old school in work ethic, effort and team-first mentality. Utley has been a NL All-Star Second Baseman for 5 straight years, and he led all player voting in June for the 2nd-straight year, which says a lot about how he is perceived and admired by baseball fans (more on this: Old School Player in Modern Times).

Utley's manager is among his admirers. In June of '07, Manuel had this to say about his nationally revered 2nd baseman: "What do you want me to say about him? I can't say enough. He is something really special. He's what I call a player. I used to say Kirby Puckett was my favorite player. I love Kirby Puckett, but Chase is getting there." 1 World Series title later, did Utley 'get there' for his manager, the way he has for the rest of us?

“I’ve never seen a guy as prepared as Chase,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “He’s always early, and he hits every day. He eats it and sleeps it. Puckett for me was the ideal baseball player until I met Chase,” Manuel said. “I see how Utley goes about his business day in and day out, how he prepares and how he plays. He’s tremendous — his dedication, his determination... I think he’s the best player I’ve been around, and I’ve been around a long time.”