Key Stats: Chase Utley reached first base via hit or walk 104 times last year. He wound up with 14 steals. He was stealing a base over 13% of the the time that he reached base. Despite the fact that Utley was 32 and has battled numerous injuries now, that is the highest percentage of steals per times at first base of his career. Charlie Manuel still trusts in this guy to let him run this frequently and Utley still has the ability to make things happen on the base paths. It's a sign that athletically his game is still there. Skeptics Say: He's always hurt and on the field hasn't shown much aside from the steals lately. The last two seasons, Utley has missed 47 and 59 games. His batting average over that time has dropped 28 points off of what his career average had been until the past two seasons. This season he will turn 33, so it is impossible to ignore the drop-off as bad luck or to call Utley too consistent to turn down.
Peer Comparison: Even with the decline in th...
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