During a five-year period from 2005 to 2009, Chase Utley was one of the most valuable assets in fantasy baseball, averaging 151 games, 111 runs, 29 HRs, 101 RBI, 15 steals and a .301 batting average per season – as a second baseman.
A thumb injury which required surgery forced him to miss seven weeks last season, ending his five-year streak of awesomeness. Although Utley did return in time to post an impressive September line, Utley’s time as the top fantasy second baseman has likely ended.
This isn’t to say Utley isn’t still capable of 25 HRs, 15 steals and a .290 average. Rather, Robinson Cano and Dustin Pedroia have finally caught up to Utley as they both enter their prime years. Utley, on the other hand, is now 32 years old...
Before breaking his foot last June, Dustin Pedroia was on pace for a career season: 110 runs, 25 HRs, 85 RBI, 19 steals and a .288 batting average. When recently asked if his foot was fully recovered, Pedroia replied, “Does a bear shit in the woods?”
I guess that means he’s good to go.
Given a full season as Boston’s likely No. 3 hitter behind Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford and in front of Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz, Pedroia is poised for a monster season...
Chase Utley has widely been considered the top fantasy second baseman for several years. Until now.
Robinson Cano proved his 2009 spike in power (25 HRs) was no fluke, as the left-handed hitter whacked 29 over the fence in 2010. Further, the 28-year-old has proven himself to be the most durable and consistent two-bagger over the last few years.
In six big-league seasons, Cano has hit .297 or higher five times, and sports a career .309 batting average. Over the last four seasons, Cano has missed a grand total of eight games. This is especially important to note considering Chase Utley, Dustin Pedroia and Ian Kinsler have missed 86, 123 and 150 games respectively over the same four-year period...
The Phillies placed Chase Utley on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained ligament in his right thumb on Tuesday, making him the fourth player in recent weeks (Aramis Ramirez, Victor Martinez and Jason Heyward being the others) to be shelved due to a thumb injury.
It’s unclear how long the Phillies (and more importantly, your fantasy squad) will be without Utley’s services. Through 72 games this season, the 31-year-old was batting .277 with 49 runs, 11 homers, 37 RBI and five steals.
In his absence, Utley’s owners will be forced to ponder these waiver wire fliers as short-term replacements at second base...
Game No. 11 in our journey to score 162 games this baseball season featured the Brewers and Cubs in an exciting finish at Wrigley Field.
Game No. 11 – Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs
Randy Wells was the story of the first half of this game, striking out six batters through four, all against the Brewers’ one through three batters (Rickie Weeks, Corey Hart, Ryan Braun).
With two outs in the fifth, Rickie Weeks worked a nine-pitch at-bat, forcing Wells to labor for the first time all day. After fouling off three pitches and running the count full, Weeks delivered the Brewers’ first runs of the day, whacking a two-run double into the left-field corner that tied the game...
Monday, January 31, 2011
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