PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies second baseman Chase Utley continues to be recognized as the best second baseman in the National League.


It was announced on Thursday that he won his fourth consecutive Silver Slugger Award.

Utley hit .282 with 28 doubles, four triples, 31 home runs and 93 RBIs this season, helping the Phillies make the World Series for the second successive year.

Utley leads Major League second basemen in runs (456), hits (711), RBIs (400), on-base percentage (.392) and slugging percentage (.535) over the past four seasons. He also ranks second in home runs (121), third in doubles (156) and walks (262), fourth in triples (17) and fifth in average (.304).

He also has been hit by a pitch 90 times, which leads the Majors. The next closest player is San Francisco Giants center fielder Aaron Rowand, who has been hit 65 times.

"Sometimes I don't even like to talk about him, because he doesn't want me to," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said about Utley during the World Series. "Actually, he doesn't like for you to say a whole lot of things about him. But he's one of the most prepared, one of the most dedicated -- he has the most desire and passion to play the game of any player that I've ever been around.

NL SILVER SLUGGER AWARDS
POS PLAYER HR RBI AVG
1B Albert Pujols, Cards 47 135 .327
2B Chase Utley, Phillies 31 93 .282
3B R. Zimmerman, Nats 33 106 .292
SS H. Ramirez, Marlins 24 106 .342
OF Ryan Braun, Brewers 32 114 .320
OF Andre Ethier, Dodgers 31 106 .272
OF Matt Kemp, Dodgers 26 101 .297
C Brian McCann, Braves 21 94 .281
P C. Zambrano, Cubs 4 11 .217
"I used to say Kirby Puckett was my favorite player. All those things I just said, I used to say those things about Kirby Puckett. The only thing Kirby might have on Chase is he's more flamboyant because he smiles a lot, and Chase is a little bit different. He's quiet, and he goes about his business in a real good way.

"But Chase Utley is one of the most ... he's a pleasure to be around and he's a pleasure to manage. I mean that, and I could not say enough about him because that's what I think about him. I don't want to embarrass him or nothing like that, but sometimes I tell our players, 'Just play with Chase,' because if you play with Chase, you've got a chance to be a pretty good player."

Since 1980, winners of the Silver Slugger Award have been chosen by votes of Major League managers and coaches, prohibited from selecting players from their own teams.

Mike Schmidt holds the franchise record with six Silver Sluggers (1980-84, '86).

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Oh SNAP!

Kid Lester- Talk Delaware Historian! ~ KL on 2/4/10

Good for him. I like Chase, hell i like all of the Phillies, get really pissed at some of them from time to time though, and would like to see some changes in the pitching staff.

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Zoë says, Enough is enough, Bring on the Spring!

AL winners for those who care:

American League
1B -- Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees
2B -- Aaron Hill, Toronto Blue Jays
3B -- Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
SS -- Derek Jeter, New York Yankees
OF -- Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners
OF -- Jason Bay, Boston Red Sox
OF -- Torii Hunter, Los Angeles Angels
C -- Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
DH -- Adam Lind, Toronto Blue Jays


I'm glad to see Jason Bay get recognized, especially after he was snubbed for a Golden Glove (lead all AL leftfielders with a 1.000 fielding percentage and no errors).

Couldn't care less, interesting none the less, especially the Jason Bay comment. Thanks for taking the time though.

Golden Gloves AND Silver Slugger awards for these two.

I most definitely care. Thanks, Josef.

(and congrats to your guy, too. I won't type out his name or his team.) LOL

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Fold your own damn socks!