I’m not saying you’re lying whatsoever, that number just blows me away.

I would argue Phillips may be in the top 5 in the NL at the position, but he isn’t close to being #1 or #2.

Utley has one more year of 500 PA`s than B-Phil at two years older. Fielding % wise they are about dead even career wise, the advantage to BP. B-Phil is a 30-30 guy and a 20-20 guy, two things Utley hasnt done….he also doesnt have a gold glove.

Utley does however have a world series ring, and is a better hitter, but overall I dont really think he is in a “league of his own” actually, Id probably put him in the same league as Phillips, this is when comparing 2B around the league

top 2B the past 2 seasons, in Value Wins

Chase Utley – 16
Dustin Pedroia – 10.3
Brian Roberts – 9.1
Brandon Phillips – 8
Placido Polanco – 7.4
Mark DeRosa – 7.4
Mark Ellis – 7

so yeah, Utley is basically twice the ballplayer BP is according to these numbers. but 4th best is still damn good. i’ll take it every day of the week.

It was called the deadball era, its stars were Wagner and Cobb, this era lasted until 1920, where at that point it become the Ruth era…the deadball era was characterized by large stadiums, and bigger fields than we have now, and the ball was different than the modern one.

Yes, these were times when it wasnt uncommon to have more than one twenty win pitcher on your team, or a player batting over .400, Cobb of course was the hero of the deadball era, but his ruthless competitive nature may have been the reason why he never won a world series, though he holds an amazing .366 lifetime BA.

During this time player managers were common such as Napoleon Lajoie or “Nap” as he was called.

The deadball also saw the fiery John McGraw and the polar opposite in manager Connie Mack. My, they had very different temperments did they not?

Phillips scoring over 100 is impressive, and he just so happens to have more stolen bases that many in the past years on the team

It’s not a bad move, because he was on ahead of Dunn and defenses would employ the shift. At that point, the third baseman was playing where the shortstop should be and no one was covering the bag at third. It’s a gamble for sure, but not a stupid one to take. Unfortunately, it seemed like BP would attempt this far too often. It almost became expected that if he got on ahead of Dunn, he was going to try for third.

But let’s also consider what good being on third is with Dunn at the plate. He’s a masher. He very infamously does not hit sacrifice flies, and a person of BP’s speed could well score from second on one of Dunn’s non-homer hits as well as from third. The biggest positive to be gained would be minimizing double play options, because Dunn walked so much. If BP is on third and Dunn walks, then there’s no force at third for the next batter. But if he’s on second and Dunn walks, then each of the bags is a force out. Now, is that scenario worth attempting a two base steal so often? I don’t think so.

BP’s an exciting runner, and for the most part, a good one. But much like his power stroke, he’d be better served by playing within himself a bit more and not trying for the home run or flashy steal every time.

but I was wondering about the blank check…

But unfortunately there are some people—it is called satyriasis in men, nymphomania in women—who engage in it compulsively and without joy.

Interestingly in 40 years I’ll be (with luck) celebrating my 100th B-Day. which reminds me only 5 shopping days left to get my present(s) kids.