Has Rollins Pushed Utley to Return?
Jimmy Rollins is climbing up the Phillies all-time HR chart.
Has Rollins Pushed Utley to Return?
Bob Vetrone Jr.
The staff here at BoopStats thinks we know the real reason that the return of Chase Utley is merely hours away ... The Phillies' second baseman can feel the hot breath of Jimmy Rollins on his neck as the shortstop closes in on Utley's home run total.
With four home runs in his last five games, Rollins (178) is within 10 of Utley (188). (Full disclosure — through Monday, Rollins has played 599 more games than Utley.)
Rollins, who has been 13th on the club's all-time HR list since Aug. 18, 2010, is just two dingers away from tying Willie Jones for 12th place and seven away from tying Johnny Callison for 11th.
Here are the Phillies' top 30 home run hitters of all time (current players in bold):
| Rk. | Player | HR | Rk. | Player | HR | |
| 1. | Mike Schmidt | 548 | 16. | Darren Daulton | 134 | |
| 2. | Ryan Howard | 286 | 17. | Von Hayes | 124 | |
| 3. | Del Ennis | 259 | 18. | Andy Seminick | 123 | |
| 4. | Pat Burrell | 251 | 19. | Gavvy Cravath | 117 | |
| 5. | Chuck Klein | 243 | 20. | Stan Lopata | 116 | |
| 6. | Greg Luzinski | 223 | 21. | Don Hurst | 112 | |
| 7. | Cy Williams | 217 | 22. | Granny Hamner | 103 | |
| 8. | Dick Allen | 204 | 23. | Jim Thome | 101 | |
| 9. | Bobby Abreu | 195 | 24. | Juan Samuel | 100 | |
| 10. | Chase Utley | 188 | 25. | Jayson Werth | 95 | |
| 11. | Johnny Callison | 185 | 26. | Dolph Camilli | 92 | |
| 12. | Willie Jones | 180 | 27. | Deron Johnson | 88 | |
| 13. | Jimmy Rollins | 178 | 28. | Shane Victorino | 87 | |
| 14. | Mike Lieberthal | 150 | 29. | Garry Maddox | 85 | |
| 14. | Scott Rolen | 150 | 30. | Fred Luderus | 83 |
What an insulting column; what makes you think Utley needs anything to push him to return?— JBinPA- I think it's tongue in cheek, Einstein!— tbjama
- Some interesting names on that list.— tsump
- And boy, wouldn't the guy at the top of this list look good in our lineup right now? Like the song said, "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone..."
— naesman - Well, the second guy on that list is going to return next month.. Howard will inject some much needed power to this Phils lineup and take some pressure off Pence, Victorino and Rollins.— phil500
- Do you think Utley will tip his helmet at all when he is announced in the batter's box on Wednesday night? Oh and, watch out, Gnats!— Clt Philly Fan
- An absurd column, Utley is a grown man and will do his own thing. If anything, Utley will push Rollins and Victorino to run out every ground ball and popups. The only Phillies that hustle are Pierre, Pence, Mayberry, JR and the Phillies entire pitching staff. It is bad when Pitchers hustle while the Position Players dog it down the line. Consistency is doing the same things every at bat and on the bases.— jpelle36
