Chase Utley is about as locked-in as one can be in baseball. His World Series: five games, six hits, five home runs, eight RBI, 1.651 OPS. His swing is a work of art. He’s Mr. November. He’s ... World Series MVP? If the Phillies come back to win it all (which would require winning two games in the Bronx, no small feat), then sure. But what if they lose? Could Utley still win the MVP?
Can Chase Utley Still Win The MVP If Phillies Lose?
↵There is precedent for it, but it in the 53-year history of the award, it happened only once (Bobby Richardson in 1960). So, could it happen again?
↵↵Perhaps the best case for Utley stems from the fact that he has no protection. Ryan Howard, who himself was NLCS MVP, is hitting .158 with one RBI, so there’s really no reason the Yankee pitchers should be giving Utley anything to hit right now. If he continues his hot streak against another Yankee lefty in Andy Pettitte – Utley has been torching the other Yankee lefties in this series, including CC Sabathia – he’ll make the best case for MVP of anyone.
↵↵It’s an uphill battle, mainly because of Alex Rodriguez (six RBI, key double in Game 4, half-horse), but really, it’s all a moot point anyways: who’s going to vote against Derek Jeter (have you seen his calm eyes?!).
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