Phils 'Chasing' third straight NL MVP award
Tom Duch
Issue date: 6/6/08 Section: Sports
After crowning consecutive National League MVPs and making an improbable run into the 2007 playoffs, it appears that the Philadelphia Phillies are poised to do it all over again.
In 2006, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard became the first Phillie to win the MVP award since Mike Schmidt took home the hardware twenty years earlier. The following season, it was shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who became the second Phillies MVP in as many years. This year it is second baseman Chase Utley who has become the early season MVP front-runner.
Utley has begun the 2008 season much like he ended 2007, swinging a hot bat. He got off to such a hot start that he was named National League Player of the Month in April. After another month of baseball, Utley has showed no signs of slowing down. Through June 2 he is batting .320 with an on base percentage over .400. His 21 home runs ranks first in all of Major League Baseball and his 52 runs batted in ranks third. He also ranks third in runs with 48 and second in slugging percentage at .680.
Utley's first inning jack on June 2 marked his fifth consecutive game with a home run. The 21 dingers top everyone else in the MLB by at least three. Amazingly, if he hits one more longball, he will tie his season total from a year ago. If he keeps hitting home runs at this pace, Utley is projected to finish the season with 58 taters. If he achieves any number close to this, it will crush his old career-best of 32 HRs.
Playing in his fifth season out of UCLA, Utley has already had a few successful seasons under his belt. In his previous three seasons for the Phils, the second baseman has batted at least .290 with 22 HRs or more and over 100 RBI's. His statistical consistency has been overlooked because of the God-like numbers put up by infield counterparts Rollins and Howard. This year it's Utley who's leading the pack and finally getting the MVP recognition he deserves.
Utley's stat line from 2007 looks even more impressive considering he missed more than a month of action with a broken hand. When Utley went down, it was Rollins who picked up the slack and put up greater numbers. This season it was Utley who did the same thing when Rollins went on the disabled list. And with Ryan Howard struggling early on, it has been Utley who has been the glue holding the team together.
In 2006, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard became the first Phillie to win the MVP award since Mike Schmidt took home the hardware twenty years earlier. The following season, it was shortstop Jimmy Rollins, who became the second Phillies MVP in as many years. This year it is second baseman Chase Utley who has become the early season MVP front-runner.
Utley has begun the 2008 season much like he ended 2007, swinging a hot bat. He got off to such a hot start that he was named National League Player of the Month in April. After another month of baseball, Utley has showed no signs of slowing down. Through June 2 he is batting .320 with an on base percentage over .400. His 21 home runs ranks first in all of Major League Baseball and his 52 runs batted in ranks third. He also ranks third in runs with 48 and second in slugging percentage at .680.
Utley's first inning jack on June 2 marked his fifth consecutive game with a home run. The 21 dingers top everyone else in the MLB by at least three. Amazingly, if he hits one more longball, he will tie his season total from a year ago. If he keeps hitting home runs at this pace, Utley is projected to finish the season with 58 taters. If he achieves any number close to this, it will crush his old career-best of 32 HRs.
Playing in his fifth season out of UCLA, Utley has already had a few successful seasons under his belt. In his previous three seasons for the Phils, the second baseman has batted at least .290 with 22 HRs or more and over 100 RBI's. His statistical consistency has been overlooked because of the God-like numbers put up by infield counterparts Rollins and Howard. This year it's Utley who's leading the pack and finally getting the MVP recognition he deserves.
Utley's stat line from 2007 looks even more impressive considering he missed more than a month of action with a broken hand. When Utley went down, it was Rollins who picked up the slack and put up greater numbers. This season it was Utley who did the same thing when Rollins went on the disabled list. And with Ryan Howard struggling early on, it has been Utley who has been the glue holding the team together.
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