Comments on: Will Utley Make the Hall? http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/27/will-utley-make-the-hall/ Philadelphia Phillies baseball analysis that everyone can enjoy. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:58:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/27/will-utley-make-the-hall/comment-page-1/#comment-14446 John Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:22:50 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=594#comment-14446 I think a good comparison would be to Ryan Sandberg, as he was the last 2B voted to the Hall by the writers. Sandberg has a career 61.8 WAR which in my mind would seem to put Utley with at least having an above average shot if he plays the next 5-6 seasons at a good level and then pads the stats in his late 30s. I think a good comparison would be to Ryan Sandberg, as he was the last 2B voted to the Hall by the writers.

Sandberg has a career 61.8 WAR which in my mind would seem to put Utley with at least having an above average shot if he plays the next 5-6 seasons at a good level and then pads the stats in his late 30s.

]]> By: Doc | bss.com http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/27/will-utley-make-the-hall/comment-page-1/#comment-14406 Doc | bss.com Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:01:49 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=594#comment-14406 Coming to this discussion a bit late, but it seems to me that voters will give Utley a lot of credit for his character and playing style, which might put him over the hump. What will be interesting is if Utley makes an eventual move to first base, similar to Carew, and how that will factor into the analysis. The numbers aren't working in his favor, but geez, it just seems like he has to get in, no? Coming to this discussion a bit late, but it seems to me that voters will give Utley a lot of credit for his character and playing style, which might put him over the hump. What will be interesting is if Utley makes an eventual move to first base, similar to Carew, and how that will factor into the analysis.

The numbers aren’t working in his favor, but geez, it just seems like he has to get in, no?

]]> By: Bill Baer http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/27/will-utley-make-the-hall/comment-page-1/#comment-14163 Bill Baer Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:07:45 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=594#comment-14163 Even UZR isn't to be trusted highly. While it has the same year-to-year consistency as wOBA, it is still a long ways away from being reliable. As a result, I would be even more skeptical of defensive data prior to the UZR era. Even UZR isn’t to be trusted highly. While it has the same year-to-year consistency as wOBA, it is still a long ways away from being reliable. As a result, I would be even more skeptical of defensive data prior to the UZR era.

]]> By: PhillyFriar http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/27/will-utley-make-the-hall/comment-page-1/#comment-14162 PhillyFriar Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:02:10 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=594#comment-14162 An interesting look here. Agreed with hk that an influx of guys who "get it" would be extremely beneficial to Utley's chances, because the mainstream media still vastly underrates him. Jay Jaffe has said that second basemen don't age particularly well, so it'll be interesting to see what happens with Utley. The one thing that plays in his favor is that it seems like superior, franchise cornerstone players generally hold their skill sets later than average players. He'll lose speed as he gets older, but he shouldn't have to move off second for awhile, and his patience and power style at the plate should serve him well going forward. A final question: how reliable is WAR data in the pre-UZR era? I believe it uses range factor, but it seems like the certainty with which we measure Jackie Robinson's WAR may be a bit misguided. An interesting look here. Agreed with hk that an influx of guys who “get it” would be extremely beneficial to Utley’s chances, because the mainstream media still vastly underrates him.

Jay Jaffe has said that second basemen don’t age particularly well, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens with Utley. The one thing that plays in his favor is that it seems like superior, franchise cornerstone players generally hold their skill sets later than average players. He’ll lose speed as he gets older, but he shouldn’t have to move off second for awhile, and his patience and power style at the plate should serve him well going forward.

A final question: how reliable is WAR data in the pre-UZR era? I believe it uses range factor, but it seems like the certainty with which we measure Jackie Robinson’s WAR may be a bit misguided.

]]> By: hk http://crashburnalley.com/2009/11/27/will-utley-make-the-hall/comment-page-1/#comment-14156 hk Sat, 28 Nov 2009 13:21:33 +0000 http://crashburnalley.com/?p=594#comment-14156 Assuming Utley ages like fine wine, his best hope is for the turnover in the BBWAA to continue going from the old school guys to new schoolers like Keith Law and Rob Neyer. The old school guys will look at how relatively poorly Utley's done in MVP and Gold Glove voting while the new school guys appreciate his greatness in the field and at bat. Assuming Utley ages like fine wine, his best hope is for the turnover in the BBWAA to continue going from the old school guys to new schoolers like Keith Law and Rob Neyer. The old school guys will look at how relatively poorly Utley’s done in MVP and Gold Glove voting while the new school guys appreciate his greatness in the field and at bat.

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