Even though Chase Utley, in my opinion is the best all-around second baseman in the game today, being voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame takes more than just athletic skill as can be testified to by many deserving players never recognized with such an honor. Take Alan Trammel as an example vs. Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, both shortstops. Smith out did Trammel in only two key offensive categories, runs scored and stolen bases, and had a lifetime fielding percentage of .965 to Trammel's .967. His batting average was 24 points lower, he hit 200 home runs less and had almost a thousand fewer RBIs, yet he was selected to the Hall of Fame while Alan sits on the outside looking in. Both were All Stars and Gold Glove winners. So while Utley is the best, he is not a lock for the Hall of Fame, unless maybe he does back flips when he takes his position for the game. Remember, it is the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) who votes a player in. So I guess it may come down to being as much a personality thing as it is for talent. I hope this does not affect Utley as much as it has Trammel.

Chase Utley is certainly the best second baseman in the game today, but it might be a little early to tell whether or not he is going to make the Hall of Fame. While this is his eighth year in the league, it’s only his sixth full season and hopefully he has quite a bit of baseball yet to be played.

Still if he continues to put up the numbers he has so far, and if the Phillies can continue to put the supporting cast around him that they have so far he could certainly be mentioned right along the lines of Mike Schmidt. The thing that impresses me most about Utley is that he appears to be a complete player. He isn’t simply about hitting, but he’s also someone you actually have to watch once he gets on the base paths. In four out of the five years he’s completed coming into this season he’s stolen more than 10 bases and last year he stole 23 bases without being thrown out once. There aren’t many people who realize that he’s actually a base stealing threat. If he continues to be the all around player he has been so far, it certainly seems as though he could make the hall.

Chase Utley is good but he has had injuries.

Best Second Baseman is without a doubt New York Yankees Robinson Cano.