Play Of The Week: Chase Utley’s Inside The Park Home Run

We, as fans, live for those defining moments in sports. We live for those moments when time stands still and memories are created and forever emblazoned into our minds.

Luckily for us Phillie fans, we have Chase Utley and he added another defining moment to his already long list with an unforgettable inside-the-park home run in Tuesday night’s victory over San Francisco.

Let’s take a look back at the play. As soon as the ball cracked off of Utley’s bat, he busted his hump down the line, which should come as no surprise because he busts it every time he puts the ball in play, whether it be a home run or a tapper back to the mound. He sees the ball roll away from the centerfielder and puts it into second gear. We then see him approach third base gritting his teeth with a sheer look of determination on his face. This was my favorite part of the play because you could clearly see that “get out of my way, nothing is stopping me” attitude on his face. He was not going to be denied. The superhero dive to elude the tag and touch home plate was the icing on the cake.

This play is just another example of why Chase Utley is what every ball player should aspire to be. He plays the game the right way, the way it was meant to be played. His work ethic on and off the field is out of this world. He never gives up on a play. He always busts it out of the box. He will dive, leap, sacrifice, and put his body on the line to help the team. All young ball players should sit down and watch Chase Utley tapes and use them as a how-to manual.

While it is an absolute joy to watch, this physical, intense style of play can take its toll. We all know that Utley missed a good portion of the season with lingering knee issues that could be attributed to way he plays the game. Utley has also dealt with hand and hip issues in the past.

Does this mean Utley should change the way he plays? Absolutely not. He just wouldn’t be Chase Utley. He wouldn’t be the heart and soul that he has been over the past several seasons. He wouldn’t be that same intimidating force. He wouldn’t be as effective. The guy only knows one way to play. It’s in his blood. You can’t just tell a ball player to change the way he plays overnight.

Injuries are a part of all sports, not just baseball. Utley will likely be injured again somewhere down the line and could have long-term knee issues but we will have to deal with that reality. There is no doubt that his style of play is a risk but the risk pales in comparison to the reward.

Even though he is a Southern California kid, Utley fits the city of Philadelphia to a T. He encompasses Philadelphia’s blue-collar attitude perfectly, which is why he is adored here. He and Philadelphia are a match made in heaven.

Philadelphia is a hard-working city where its people scratch and claw for everything they have. We expect the athletes that represent our city to work just as hard as we do and we let them hear it when they don’t. Sports are our vacation from our everyday lives. We’re not malicious people. If we are guilty of anything, we are guilty of caring too much.

Utley does everything we could ever ask of an athlete and more. He is just like one of us. He cares too much. We couldn’t be any luckier to have him. He represents us better than almost any other athlete to ever play in this city. Chase Utley is Philadelphia sports.