EXTEND HIM or trade him? While the Phillies figure out what to do with
pending free agent Chase Utley, here's a quick look at his career:
* Five-time All-Star (2006-10).
* Finished in top 10 in NL MVP voting in 2006 (7th place), 2007 (8th) and 2009 (8th).
* Drafted out of UCLA in the first round (15th overall) in 2000. He was the only second baseman picked in the opening round.
* His first major league hit was a grand slam (off Colorado's Aaron Cook) in 2003.
* Was the final batter in Veterans Stadium history (groundout, Sept. 28, 2003).
* Had career-high 105 RBI in 2005 to set the Phillies' single-season record for second basemen. Tied Juan Samuel's team mark with 28 homers. Broke it with 33 homers in 2008.
* Hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 6-6 tie in a win against San Francisco in 2005. Utley's emergence greased the skids for Placido Polanco to be traded in midseason.
* Joined Chuck Klein as the only other Phillie with 200 hits, 30 homers, 100 RBI, 40 doubles, 130 runs and a .300 batting average in 2006.
* Strung together a 35-game hitting streak in 2006, coming just shy of the single-season team-record 36-gamer Jimmy Rollins had the previous season.
* Signed a $7-year, $85 million extension following the 2006 season. The deal came on Jan. 21, 2007 - a day after
Utley married Jennifer Cooper.
* Had his right hand broken by a pitch thrown by current teammate John Lannan, then with Washington, in 2007. Pledged to return for the stretch run.
* Returned a month later and had a 19-game hitting streak in September as the Phillies made it to the postseason for the first time in 14 years.
* Homered in five consecutive games twice in 2008.
* Set the tone for the 2008 World Series by homering in the top of the first inning in Game 1 in Tampa Bay. Went just 3-for-18 in the series, but two of his hits were homers.
* Proclaimed the Phillies "World (bleepin') Champions" during the championship celebration at Citizens Bank Park.
* Was President George W. Bush's pick as the position player he would start a team with in '08. Bush's pitcher was Roy Halladay, then with Toronto.
* Had right hip surgery after the 2008 season, but was in the lineup for the 2009 opener.
* Broke Mike Lieberthal's career team record with his 89th hit by pitch in 2009. Utley went into play last night with 154.
* Hit five home runs in the 2009 World Series loss to the Yankees to tie Reggie Jackson's hallowed single-Series record.
Utley also set the record by reaching base in 27 consecutive postseason games.
* A thumb injury derailed his 2010 season and forced him to miss the All-Star Game. Came off the DL and reached base in 29 consecutive games toward the end of the year.
* Was nearly involved in a brawl when he flipped the ball back at San Francisco's Jonathan Sanchez after being hit by a pitch in Game 6 of the 2010 NLCS.
* Started the 2011 season on the DL with a right knee injury.
* Was hit in the head with a pitch by Atlanta's Eric O'Flaherty and missed seven games from Sept. 8-14, 2011.
* Hit . 438 in the five-game loss to St. Louis in the 2011 NLDS. The rest of the Phillies hit .202.
* Had his 2012 spring training interrupted by knee problems and didn't play until June 27 when he homered in his first at-bat. Missed 79 games.
* Started the 2013 season by hitting his 200th career home run, against the Braves on Opening Day.
* Missed about a month with a strained right oblique muscle. Came into last night's game hitting .306 in the 27 games since coming off the DL.
- Ed Barkowitz