Will Utley Rise Amid Cano's Fall?

There are no Chase Utley blog posts in my archive, despite my endless inspiration to write a tribute to The Man.

What invariably happens is I get lost watching video clips. There's Utley getting hit in the back during the 2010 NLCS, then casually tossing the ball back to emasculated Giants lefty Jonathan Sanchez.

There's Utley scoring from second base on a groundout versus the Braves. The look on Braves' Manager Bobby Cox's face is epic, as Harry Kalas bellows "Chase Utley, you are The Man!"

Then, of course, there's the five-word speech that will live forever in Philadelphia:

Chase Utley belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame in my book. But I am obviously biased. I have long understood that five years as the best second baseman (and one of the best players) in MLB might not be enough.

The Man plays Machiavellian baseball: The ends justify the means. Utley is not interested in fraternizing with opponents, is willing to slide a half-second late if it means breaking up a double play, and plays with a tightly controlled intensity. He's been hit by 200 pitches, eighth all-time.

But injuries are the trade-off.

Starting in 2010, Utley began missing chunks of seasons while dazzling American League peer Robinson Cano grabbed the "Best Second Baseman" label. Robby hit .319 and whacked 29 homers that year in the first of seven All-Star seasons.

Admittedly, it was a tough pill to swallow seeing Cano reign as a top second sacker right through 2017. Robby is everything Chase isn't: smooth and languid -- and healthy. Often "too cool for his shoes," as Larry Anderson might say.

He's also apparently a PED user. The news stunned, but at least one ex-Yankee is not at all surprised. Mark Teixeira's comments broke the player code and speak to the frustration level with cheaters inside the game.

Headlines immediately declared Cano's Hall of Fame chances dead. I wonder if Chase Utley's might get a boost by being the anti-Cano.

It's still going to be a tough sell. Cano was regarded as a borderline case before his 80-game ban and his OPS is .848. Utley's is .826.

Of course, Utley has a lot of Utley things to dazzle voters. Like this ridiculous play that might have won a World Series for the Phillies:

To me, Chase Utley's legacy is his incredible baseball instincts. The play above is a perfect example.
Utley the baserunner is another.

I've never equated Chase Utley with blinding speed, or even great speed. He runs well, but that doesn't explain how he ranks No. 1 in MLB history in stolen base percentage.

Chase has 153 stolen bases and been caught 21 times. He has a remarkable aptitude for reading pitchers and catchers and doing everything possible to gain even a slight edge.

This is not an easy skill at all. The Phillies' current second baseman -- the very fine Cesar Hernandez -- is a much faster runner than Utley ever was, yet he has 61 steals and 29 caught stealing in six years.

Chase Utley never led the league in hitting, or home runs, or RBI. He never finished in the top five in the MVP vote. He led the league in runs with 131 in 2006, otherwise, the only bold on his career ledger is the three straight years he led the league in getting hit by pitches (2007-09).

Somehow, this seems appropriate. He won a World Series ring, and hit five home runs in the next Fall Classic.

And The Man was the leader of every clubhouse he resided.

His next, and permanent, residence should be in Cooperstown.