MLB - Sports Rumors

Thu May 15, 2008 10:01 am EDT

Utley gets vote of confidence from President

Getty Images

It probably won't improve his approval ratings in the Philadelphia area, but President Bush offered an interesting answer this week when asked who would be the first position player he would want if he owned a baseball team again. He would want Chase Utley.

"I like Utley from the Philadelphia Phillies," Bush said in a transcript at politico.com. "He's a middle infielder, which is always, you know, they say strength up the middle. There's nothing better than having a good person up the middle that can hit."

Utley, who is not expected to be campaigning for any candidate any time soon, took the news in stride. "It's obviously a great compliment to have," Utley said. "It's kind of cool."

Bush, the former managing general partner of the Texas Rangers, also said the first pitcher he would want is Toronto Blue Jays righthander Roy Halladay.

Source: Philly.com

138 Comments

Post a Comment

1 - 25 of 138

First
« Previous
Next »
Last

1. Posted by ryno Thu May 15, 2008 10:04 am EDT
Report Abuse

First
2. Posted by Pastor William Jennings Bryan Thu May 15, 2008 10:07 am EDT
Report Abuse

It's great to get a chance to see the President in such a human and fun way. He's a heck of a guy, President Bush, and he obviously knows his baseball. He's the type of a guy I could sit down and have a beer with. Just a regular Joe.
Yours truly,
The 126 million morons who voted for this mindless hustler
3. Posted by A Yahoo! Contributor Thu May 15, 2008 10:22 am EDT
Report Abuse

Looks like Pastor William is one of those Hillary Clinton or Obama radicals. Good luck with that.
4. Posted by Pastor William Jennings Bryan Thu May 15, 2008 10:28 am EDT
Report Abuse

For your information, I'll be voting for Ronnie James Dio again this year. "Radicals" like Obama and Clinton are just too dangerous for me.
5. Posted by Drew B Thu May 15, 2008 10:30 am EDT
Report Abuse

The man might not be a great president but his choices for ball players is pretty good.
6. Posted by idiotkid23 Thu May 15, 2008 10:34 am EDT
Report Abuse

Edwin, Edwin, Edwin, the president could have picked anyone David Wright, Jose Gayass, those werent ones that he would choose, he chose CHASE UTLEY your future 08' MVP, edwin how did it feel to watch Glavine throw that game away last year against the Marlins? Or better yet how about when those Phightin Phils swept your Mets, TWICE.
7. Posted by A Yahoo! Contributor Thu May 15, 2008 10:36 am EDT
Report Abuse

Haha right, I guess as a write-in?
8. Posted by inside chan ho park hr Thu May 15, 2008 10:43 am EDT
Report Abuse

How funny is this..he's still Commander-In-Chief, in the soon to be multi-cultural White House (about time btw - considering how this country has been built...), and is making his baseball ambitions known. Perhaps he's learned a few things since screwing up the Rangers. Honestly, I do not think George W. Bush is unintelligent. I love the fact he's a baseball fan. Certainly understand why he decided to increase the U.S presence in Iraq with the intent of securing hydrocarbon resources in excess reserves to run the military operations. That aside, Utley is a stud and as arguably the best 2b in the National League if not MLB, a vote of confidence is far from putting your reputation on the line by advocating the skills of a player that is considered to be more of a "newbie".
9. Posted by live4surf Thu May 15, 2008 10:45 am EDT
Report Abuse

i'm not certain utley should think a vote for him is cool,givin bushs track record for getting it right. for those who think a-rod should be the guy,well bush probably considered his contract.
10. Posted by buttery boo Thu May 15, 2008 10:51 am EDT
Report Abuse

Wow, first he's gotten right in 8 years.
11. Posted by A Yahoo! Contributor Thu May 15, 2008 10:58 am EDT
Report Abuse

Hey Edwin are you really a Mets fan? Then how can you talk? Lets see who choked away last season? Oh right. Have fun missing the playoffs again buddy.
12. Posted by Gimy Thu May 15, 2008 11:02 am EDT
Report Abuse

talk more baseball mr. president...don't worry about rising oil prices or the economy. i feel sorry for Utley now, since we all know bush is mentally retarded...its more of a bash against Utley than a vote of confidence
13. Posted by Susan D Thu May 15, 2008 11:04 am EDT
Report Abuse

Well, Edwin, "like" not being there is WAY better than NOT being there. CHOKERS!!!!!!!!
14. Posted by Edwin Thu May 15, 2008 11:10 am EDT
Report Abuse

The way the Phillies played last year in the playoffs, got swept..didn't win a game...can you really say they were "there"? lol..pathetic.
15. Posted by A Yahoo! Contributor Thu May 15, 2008 11:19 am EDT
Report Abuse

I'm not a Phillies fan but if they were "pathetic" in the playoffs, then what do you call the Mets the last 3 weeks of the season?
16. Posted by blazer 49 Thu May 15, 2008 11:21 am EDT
Report Abuse

To all of you JO's who voted for Bush...I hope you are happy about how he has screwed up this country(high unemployment-high gas prices-the national debt in the stratosphere-thousands of our citizens killed and maimed in an insane war)...Good choice folks!!
Getting back to the subject at hand, Utley is a real monster,good fielder,awsome hitter.Shame he's not on the CUBS.He sure would look good in royal blue pinstripes.
17. Posted by live4surf Thu May 15, 2008 11:22 am EDT
Report Abuse

edwin the baseball gods were on the rockies side last year,got the call they needed in the one game playoff with the padres. problem is the baseball gods seem to like the al better. d-backs fans swear there were angels on the field and tried to hit them with bottles.
18. Posted by A Yahoo! Contributor Thu May 15, 2008 11:29 am EDT
Report Abuse

hey live4surf it's still me. just new name.
19. Posted by A Yahoo! Contributor Thu May 15, 2008 11:33 am EDT
Report Abuse

blazer i'm also a cubs fan, and even though this isn't the place to go into politics, all the things you just mentioned as being Bush's fault would have happened regardless. At least the gas prices, high unemployment and the national debt. Even without the war we'd be in a high national debt. Now there wouldn't be a war with someone else in there but then we'd be getting bombed every year and the terrorists would know we were soft and that they could do anything they wanted.
20. Posted by Austin M Thu May 15, 2008 11:46 am EDT
Report Abuse

This is why our economy is in shambles and our educational system is a joke and oil prices are on the rise and every Muslim country hates us, because we have a moron for a President. He can't make a sound political or economic decision nor a good baseball decision. You take Albert Pujols and Carlos Zambrano.
21. Posted by Pastor William Jennings Bryan Thu May 15, 2008 12:03 pm EDT
Report Abuse

Pujols and Zambrano are Muslim!!!! What!!!! I am confused!
22. Posted by Chris Thu May 15, 2008 12:31 pm EDT
Report Abuse

Too bad Bush doesn't know politics and economics as much as he knows about baseball. Utley is a great choice for a player to start a franchise. He is amazing on the field, off the field, and especially at the plate. There is nothing Utley can't do.
23. Posted by Brian Thu May 15, 2008 12:51 pm EDT
Report Abuse

You guys are too funny. He picked Utley and Halladay because they're AMERICAN-BORN (which shows at least rudimentary political awareness)! Everyone knows Pujols, A-Rod and Zambrano are better.
24. Posted by Susan D Thu May 15, 2008 12:55 pm EDT
Report Abuse

Hey fan I like you're thinking. All this stuff would have happened in this country no matter who the president was. It's all the democrats in congress that are screwing everything up. And if we elect a democrat for president, holy cow this country's really going down.
25. Posted by Fartface McNutsack Thu May 15, 2008 12:57 pm EDT
Report Abuse

I'll agree Carlos Zambrano is a beast, but Pujols is overrated and A-Fraud how can you be Superman April to September and then turn into a no show in October?
Just my opinion, don't have to agree...