With nine home runs through less than four weeks of the season including five in his last five games, Chase Utley is seeking out the Philadelphia Phillies third MVP award in the last three years.
Not far behind him, if at all, is New York Mets third baseman David Wright. With four homers, 3 stolen bases, a .343 batting average, and 19 rbi to go with 19 walks, Wright is at the top of every offensive category.
The funny thing is that both of these players could have won this award last year but were each overlooked for different reasons out of their control.
Utley, who was hit in the hand by a pitch, missed 32 games towards the end of the season which basically eliminated him from contention for the award while Wright was left out of the discussion mostly because of the implosion that the rest of the Mets team suffered from last year.
This year, Utley and Wright have each started off on fire and are currently annihilating National League pitching from the three hole on their respective teams.
Although the season, much like the rivalry between these two NL East power-houses, is still blossoming, I wanted to get your opinion on who you would rather have on your team and why as well as who has the better chance of winning the MVP this year.
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3 months ago
I'll take Wright since he also is a strong defender at a premium position, but Utley is really coming into his own as a great player in his own rite.
from 3 months ago
Wright definitely has the defensive advantage but let's keep in mind, he did make 21 errors last year, good for 5th most in the NL, so it's not like he's Robin Ventura out there. The only person in history to win a gold glove with more errors was Ken Caminiti in '97 when he booted the ball 24 times throughout the course of the season.
3 months ago
I'll take Chipper at over .400, 6 HRs, 19 RBIs and still keeping up that great defense which is still better than Wright.
from 3 months ago
Chipper's not in this conversation. He's still good and playing well now but way past his prime
from 3 months ago
larry jones has never been even an above average fielding major league 3rd baseman. He even got moved to the outfield so an aging vinny could play over him.
from 3 months ago
Actually, Larry's alright. He has a deal with Rawlings, the company that makes his glove, who said if he wins a gold glove they would give him a bonus. Even though he came in second to Wright last year in the voting, Rawlings still gave him the bonus because they thought he should've won the award.
3 months ago
Tough to say. Mets' fans will say Wirght, Phillies fans will say Utley. Both are definitely "most valuable" to their teams thus far as they have been the most reliable players in either lineup.
I took Utley in the first round of my fantasy league over Wright, mainly due to the lack of second baseman that are anywhere near Utley's level.
Utley is a left-handed bat who can hit lefties or righties, while Wright seems to have taken over for Mike Piazza in New York as a right-handed force who can punish the ball to the opposite field gap.
from 3 months ago
I have to agree. When it comes to third basemen, there are just more that you can mention in the talk of the best with A-Rod and Miguel Cabrera in the picture. As far as 2B goes, it's Utley by a long shot although Brandon Phillips made a very good case last year. Let's see if he can keep it up.
3 months ago
If I was drafting, I'd take Utley. This debate is the opposite of a Catch 22, though.
from 3 months ago
Good point. You really can't go wrong either way
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