Thought I'd pass along this quick story about Chase Utley -- and why the Phillies were so quick to sign him to a long-term contract.It was Sunday, May 27, and the Phillies and Brewers were tied 2-2 in the finale of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park. Leading off the fifth inning, Utley rolled a grounder to second base and, as always, sprinted down the first-base line. It looked like a sure out.
Maybe Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks took too much time getting to the ball. Or, maybe, first baseman Prince Fielder took too much time getting to the base. Either way, the play was close, and umpire Tom Hallion called Utley safe, even though the replay (Hallion doesn't have the benefit of replay) revealed he was probably out by a half-step.
Two batters, later Ryan Howard blasted a two-out, two-run homer that gave the Phillies a 4-2 lead en route to a 6-2 win. After the game, I asked Utley about his hustle on a play most players, including some of his Phillies teammates, would've given up on.
"Any time you put a ground ball in play, there's a shot to get on base," he said. "Ninety-five percent of the time, it doesn't work out. But there's always that five percent. I figure, the more you hustle, the better off you are. I don't understand how not to play hard. It's not a concept I get. By hustling, you make a lot of things happen."
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