Let Utley Play! Let Utley Play!

Maybe if everyone chants it from every rooftop Manuel will bow to the pressure and let Chase Utley play in every game. After watching Baseball Tonight and seeing Utley go deep -- make that very deep -- not once but twice against the Brew Crew, the announcers submitted their opinions of the Utley situation. Harold Reynolds chants "Let Utley Play Everyday" while showing the home runs, he goes on to suggest that defense isn't that big of an issue as long as you can turn the double play, and he can. Well said, and as it has been documented here and elsewhere, the guy just keeps making great plays in the field.

Let's take a closer look at their career fielding percentages at 2B:
Utley .981
Polanco .990

Not that far apart, Polanco is definitely a better fielder overall, but with the added power that Utley provides, the few extra errors will more than balance themselves in favor of him playing everyday. Reynolds goes on to compare Chase to Jeff Kent. How many times have we heard that now? " Just let him play and he will give you 25-30 home runs." (Kruk actually said that).

Here's an updated comparison, decide for yourself:
Utley 6HR / 12BI / .311
Kent 7HR / 26BI / .330

And that's with 38 fewer at bats. Put some guys on base in front of him and those RBI's will balloon.

John Kruk, the loveable, laughable, ex-Phillie calls Utley and Polanco the 2 best players on the team, with regard to how they play the game day in and day out. He also says that Abreu has the most talent. Kruk also thinks Utley has the most speed of anyone on the team going from 1st to 3rd. Quite surprising actually, my vote would be Rollins in that department. Chase does have 8 career stolen bases with only 1 caught stealing though; so maybe.

C'mon Manuel, we all love David Bell's attitude, but if his back is hurting him and while he is slumping at the plate, you just have to let Polanco take over at 3rd more often than not. And just look at the defensive comparisons for Bell and Polanco at 3B (Career fielding percentages):

Polanco .981
Bell .956

Bell has actually been a .943 fielder the past 2 years, so wouldn't the Phillies actually have a stronger defense with Polanco and Utley at 3B and 2B?

Let Utley Play! Let Utley Play!