Chase Utley is DH in Dodgers debut

Utley, 36, had indicated for some time that he wanted to remain in Philadelphia, but his stance shifted as the Phillies continued to lose and traded Cole Hamels, Jonathan Papelbon, Ben Revere and Jake Diekman in July.

It’s understandable, but it was time. The “bro-hugs” that are regularly exchanged before and even during games were not a part of the competitive Utley’s makeup. “I think everyone knows my love and affection for the city”. Almost half of his extra-base hits for the season have come in his last eight games.

“I still feel like I have some gas left in the tank”, Utley said.

Sources said he yelled in frustration about his favorite player being dealt away, and later seemed to hint that he might root, at least a little bit, for Utley’s new team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. If he chatted with an opponent, it was done in a manner that was unrecognizable to all but the most astute fans and camera people who knew what to look for and had the timing to catch him when he whispered the query, “You okay?” to a shortstop who was unlucky enough to be on the receiving end of a clean Utley takeout slide. Additionally, coming to the Dodgers allows Utley to reform the double play combination with Rollins that had so much success for twelve years in Philadelphia. The trade brought more depth to the Phillies’ system after acquiring infielder/outfielder Darnell Sweeney and right-hander John Richy.

This is an important factor to consider when examining Utley’s career and how it has been consistent not just in his play, but with what happened to players as they reached their mid-to-late 30s.

When Chase Utley rides off into the sunset and calls it a career, he’ll stand in front of the pearly gates of baseball heaven and have quite the resume to show off. Above all of the noise and the numbers, he’ll have one important thing to show: a World Series ring in 2008 as the undisputed heart and hustle leader of that red pinstriped bunch that will be remembered forever. He said, repeatedly, he was just “here to win”. His first hit was a grand slam against the Colorado Rockies on April 24. His hometown Los Angeles Dodgers drafted him in the second round.

“That slogan will follow me all over the place, and I definitely appreciate that”, Utley said. “I really wish him the best of luck”. “I am actually one of the better-conditioned people”.

He was central to the most productive run in franchise history, taking the team to two National League pennants, five straight NL East titles and the World Series victory in 2008. But he put the time in to make himself a good, some would say great in his prime, defensive player.

Baseball is a business. “You don’t see too many trophies roll around in Philadelphia so it’s something special”.

“And then there were two”, Howard said.

Utley did spend more than 12 seasons in Philadelphia.

“We will be receiving two young players that we’ll be adding to our organization and we’re hopeful that those players can help us, even remotely as well as Chase has over the past several years”, Amaro said during Wednesday night’s press conference. Surely if he didn’t get a chance to play in the big leagues he would have once again finished at or above 34.