Update: Uggla restores the argument by blasting a walkoff grand slam against the Phillies. See here!
Update: See the followup post here
Dan Uggla has been so extraordinary of late, it's time he gets an entire blog post dedicated to his awesomeness. What an incredible story too...a no-name prospect dumped for the scraps of Rule 5, to emerge as one of the preeminent second basemen in the game. Here are his current stats:
.323/.403/.696, 14 HR, 16 Doubles, 32 RBI, 35 R
How about in May? He's batting well over .400 with 10 HR, and it's only May 21st!
Now here's the real kicker. Dan Uggla is not only deserving of an all-star spot, but the STARTING spot...over Chase Utley. As amazing as Utley's season has been, Uggla's has been better. Let's stack them up:
Utley: .309/.388/.630, 14 HR, 14 Doubles, 31 RBI, 34 R
So to recap, Uggla has a higher average, OBP, slugging percentage, even in HRs in a MUCH tougher ballpark, more doubles, more RBI, and more runs scored. This is no contest right now. Just look at the numbers! I dare anyone from Philadelphia to challenge me, because it's a losing argument.
Who's the best 2B in the majors? His name is DAN UGGLA!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
His name is DAN UGGLA
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18 comments:
7 good weeks don't suddenly make Uggla the best 2B in the game. Considering his numbers last year, he could very well just be off to a hot start.
7 weeks is a short time, sure, but it was after just four weeks that Utley was being billed as having "the best season ever by a 2B"
I'm just pointing out that times have changed. Uggla is now having the superior season in a MUCH tougher ballpark.
you realize that Utley would have been the NL MVP if he hadn't gotten hurt last season, right? He has had more than just 4 weeks of dominance, as opposed to Uggla, who will eventually come back to Earth, just like countless others.
You really sound like an ESPN talking head by throwing this out there. I am surprised you can't see that they are doing the same thing by putting Uggla up there. Someties, ESPN is not always right, and neither are you.
Nobody is doubting Utley's superiority last year, but the fact remains:
To this point, in a MUCH TOUGHER BALLPARK, Uggla has outperformed Utley this year....in a year where Utley has gotten more hype than anyone.
I called Uggla a misfit before the season started and I couldn't be more wrong. He has been amazing this season developing into a solid all-around hitter, not just a slugger. He's a great player, and it's hard to imagine he was a Rule 5. Uggla's having the better season right now, but Utley is the better 2nd baseman.
I'm with Asponge. If the question is, which second basesman would you begin a franchise with, the answer would probably be Utley. He is "better" in terms of last season's performance and perhaps overall upside. But, in the debate about who deserves to start the All Star game if it was played today, there is no debate - his name is Dan Uggla.
Well said, EJ!
Remember defense, though - Davey Lopes, who has seen a lot of baseball and a lot of Chase Utley, says he imagines that Chase will win himself a Gold Glove or two. Uggla is fantastic and is outperforming Utley overall right now, but both are just riding excellent months. Utley had an amazing April and has cooled a bit in May. Uggla had an average start but has completely taken off. While Uggla's stats are slightly better, they're only VERY slightly better. I'm not sure it's fair yet to make a definitive judgment at this point in the season. It's still early, so we have to work from past performance until we see more of this season. And based on past performance, Utley is undeniably better.
The point about the ballpark differences is a good one. I'll also remind everyone that Utley has another distinct advantage that Uggla Doesn't: hitting in front of Ryan Howard. Slumping or not, that isn't a bat that pitchers will take for granted. While Cantu or Willingham or whomever is hitting behind Uggla is a fine hitter in their own right, they don't put the fear of god in pitchers like Howard does. Now if Uggla was still hitting in front of Cabrera we'd have a different situation, but on the hole Uggla is putting up better numbers with a less imposing bat behind him.
I have nothing negative to say about Uggla. He is solid, but to even put him in the same sentence at Utley after one hot month is PREPOSTEROUS!! You know what's even worse?? Tonight's paid attendance to watch YOUR (first place) Marlins beat Cy Young Winner Brandon Webb....
11,227 (30.9% full). Pathetic.
Definitely a great start from Uggla, but can't even be a candidate for best 2B in the game (that's Utley). Even his opponent tonight may be better than him (Orlando Hudson). I think of Polanco and Pedroia before Uggla as well. He's got the potential to keep improving though.
i like uggla...i think he is an above avg. second basemen riding a great streak at the moment...but you lose ALL credibility when you say he is having a "superior season".... i see the numbers...uggla's are SLIGHTLY better...the difference in batting avg is equivalent to 2-4 hits as is OBP... to make an argument about uggla's superiority without even mentioning DEFENSE, base running...heart and leadership for that matter is preposterous...forget the ballparks they play in, think about the cities they play in...Chase continues to set the bar higher and higher while playing in the most crazed sports town in america...in front of the most scrutinizing media and in front of the most "difficult" fans..as oppossed to uggla, chase hasn't needed a ridiculous 3 week span to accumulate the numbers he has...he just goes out, day after day, CONSISTENTLY, producing and accumulating...and then you bring up who he's hitting in front of as a reason he's having a better season??? i know its surprsing...but both Cantu and Willingham are, arguably, having better season than Howard at his point, so how does this make what Uggla is doing more difficult? and then you reference, "well if he was hitting in front of Cabrera..." HE HIT IN FRONT OF CABRERA ALL LAST YEAR!!! the numbers speak for themselves...
Uggla is good...he's very good...his story is a great one...he's on my fantasy team and I appreciate his contributions...
you're from florida and you want to create a debate, I can also appreciate this...but let's be honest, there is no debate....what Chase has done since he's come into the league is unprecedented for his position! Uglla is good..
Chase is GREAT! and he will be starting at 2nd in the NL All Star game for many years to come..
Hanley vs. Jimmy "MVP" Rollins...thats an actual debate...one I may even concede is not one by the player who wears pin stripes.
Just like everybody else, I cannot debate with you that Uggla hasn't had a fantastic month. But it is just that. Yes, he is outperforming Utley this month. Yes, the Marlins are in first place in the NL East. But remember this: Today is May 21st. When your baby Marlins fall apart and Uggla hits a big slump, then you can come back and try to say he's better than Utley.
If the point of All-Star starting selections is to reward career achievement up to this point, yes Utley wins hands down. If the point is to reward who's had the best season at his position, it is Uggla.
Of course, when fans pick, it usually turns out to be more the former than the latter, so Utley has the upper hand in terms of likelihood of actually starting the All-Star game. Whether he deserves that honor or not, this year, is another matter.
Also, Uggla will never be the starting 2nd baseman for the all-star game because it comes down to fan voting. Even if every Marlins fan votes him in all 25 times, that's still only about 100 votes.
Libertyball...you can't resist taking a swipe at Marlins fans. It's okay, we deserve it.
The one argument above I really question is about Uggla's heart and leadership. He's today's version of Charlie Hustle...he runs full speed every play, and while he lacks Utley's range, he often makes up for it with pure grit. Remember the catch he made diving into the stands?
I just came across this post. It is now June 9th. Does Uggla still deserve to start 2B? No, and I'm sure you over excited Marlins fans still think Uggla is better. Utley plays with more grit than any player in baseball. Mike Schmidt himself has said I wish I had the work ethic Utley does when I played. Yeah, Utley>Uggla forever. As far as who should be back up 2B, Uggla, but those retarded Cubs voters act like the same children that the Yankees and Red Sox fans do.
As of today (6/12), Utley should be the starter again. But boy did that Uggla grand slam evening things up a bit.
Uggla is BACK within striking distance.
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