Los Angeles Dodgers: Chase Utley is starting to show his value

Chase Utley was once the best second baseman in all of baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies. Now, on the Los Angeles Dodgers, age has caught up to Utley.

In August of 2015 Chase Utley was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers, adding to the long list of trades between the Dodgers and the Phillies. At the time, Utley joined former teammate Jimmy Rollins and was expected to further add his World Series experience to a fairly inexperienced Dodgers team.

After the 2015 season Rollins and the Dodgers parted ways to make room for superstar shortstop Corey Seager – however, Utley stayed. With one year left on his contract, Utley was expected to bring his hometown team the knowledge of playing in the league for thirteen seasons.

However, Utley brought much more to the table for the Los Angeles Dodgers than most would have imagined. Batting primarily leadoff, Utley batted an expected .283 with four home runs and 19 runs batted in during the first two months of the season. The change of scenery and spot in the lineup seemed to give Utley’s career a second wind.

However, that second wind soon died down, and father time’s effects on Utley became more prevalent. In the second half of the season Utley’s batting average fell to .238, which is not horrible, but certainly is not the clip he was posting early in the year. Utley’s regression truly was showcased during the postseason, where he only managed to hit .107.

Becuase of age, the Dodgers inability to hit left-handed pitching, and the weird trade of Howie Kendrick, the Dodgers had to bring in second baseman Logan Forsythe. Forsythe reunited with manager Dave Roberts, who coached Forsythe in San Diego, and added a favorable locker room presence. The deal was reportedly well received by the Dodgers players.

This made Chase Utley’s Dodger future seem in jeopardy. Being an unrestricted free agent, Utley did not have a home for most of the offseason. The Indians were reportedly in talks with Utley, but no deal was struck until early February. Of course, that deal was with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Utley’s role was to be limited, he was to provide that locker room presence that the players love and to back up Forsythe when he needed it. However, when Forsythe went down with a fractured big toe Utley was surged into being a near everyday player.

At first, it was ugly. As recently as May Eighth, Utley’s batting average was a woeful .098. with the lowest at one being a .034 average.

This called for many fans to demand the release of Utley. Failing to recognize his locker room presence, fans outcried that Utley was a waste of two-million dollars.

Jumping on the Chris Taylor bandwagon after only a few good games, fans demanded Utley’s demotion or release.

However, Utley is starting to find form, and prove his worth to the fanbase of the Los Angeles Dodgers. While it is absurd to judge him based on a few good performances, with increased at-bats Utley is starting to turn the ship.

Since May eighth, where his batting average was .098. Utley is on a four-game hitting streak. This has included a .700 batting average, 1.300 slugging percentage, and five runs batted in. Utley has been hot, and the Dodgers need to ride the streak.

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We all know Utley will eventually fall down to earth, and return to batting somewhere around .250. However, as absurd as it is to assume he will continue to bat .700, it is equally as absurd to ignore the value Utley has for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Let’s jumping the gun, and give him his chance.

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