Utley, who is playing in the last guaranteed year of his contract, reunites with longtime double play partner Jimmy Rollins, who the Phillies traded to LA in the off-season.
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Chase Utley was one of the centerpieces that brought the city of Philadelphia a championship for the first time in twenty five years.
Finally, there was Harry Kalas.
-RHP John Richy and OF Darnell Sweeney was dealt by the Dodgers to the Phillies in exchange for 2B Chase Utley and cash. Often time it comes across as something that is more customary than honest.
San Francisco only has room to improve from now until the end of the season.
In a flawless world, it would have been ideal to see Utley play his entire career in a Phillies uniform, like Chipper Jones did with the Atlanta Braves, and Derek Jeter with the Yankees, but the likelihood of that happening had continued to decrease. According to Mattingly, Dodgers vice president of medical services Stan Conte said Puig has a “very mild” strain and should avoid a trip to the disabled list. His playing time is assured for the next few weeks, but it could get dicey after that.
That legendary work ethic became evident again when he twice battled back from chronic knee issues.
Now Utley gives way to another franchise pillar about 90 miles up the road: David Wright. “It’s going to be hard not seeing the Philly fans out there, but I just hope they know how much I appreciated their support over the years”. 271 with nine home runs, 49 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases.
Several months later came his “World (bleeping) champions” line during the celebration at Citizens Bank Park. Utley is leaving his second home (and baseball’s worst team) for his native land of Southern California and the chance to win one last ring with the Dodgers. Frankly, it’s a play that doesn’t get enough love nationally. Almost half of his extra-base hits for the season have come in his last eight games. Then on Wednesday, the team with the highest payroll in baseball pulled off the unexpected heist and traded two minor leaguers for the former World Series champion. He summarized one of Utley’s famous hustle plays in six words, “Chase Utley, you are the man!” Even in his own lineup, Utley was not appreciated to the degree he should have.
That’s what is so unique about the impact Philadelphia sports fans have on these athletes. Performance bonuses for other players and end-of-season award bonuses could make the Dodgers the first team to reach the $300 million mark. He eventually settled in at second base, and that was the position the Philadelphia Phillies expected him to play when they drafted him 15th overall in 2000. He is 1-2 with a 5.01 ERA with the Dodgers.
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Jerad Eickhoff, who the Phillies received as part of the huge package from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade, was fantastic in his Major League debut on Friday night against a Miami lineup that had killed the Phillies this season. Since winning 18 games and earning American League All-Star honors with the Oakland A’s in 2010, Cahill has been hindered by ineffectiveness and injuries.
