Utley or Howard?

I know Utley deserves to be in the All-Star game, and easily makes the case for himself that he should be the 3rd straight Phillie to win the MVP award, but after watching the Home Run Derby last night (ok mostly only Josh Hamilton’s 28 HR’s in the first round), I can’t help but think I would have rather seen National League HR leading Ryan Howard swinging for the fence.

Utley is magical the way he hits balls out of the park with his short, quick swing.  It baffles me how he is able to get that much power and still wait on the ball so long.  But in all honesty he had NO CHANCE of winning that competition last night, and he basically admitted it himself.  After his 10th out, he walked back to where the players were standing and said something to the effect of, “I’m glad at least hit one”.  He knew he couldn’t win.  He just doesn’t have the pure power you need to muscle that many pitches into the seats.  But guess who does?

Ryan Howard.  Yet he was nowhere to be found.  Just because he got off to a slow start, he is being penalized even though he leads the league in HR’s and RBI’s at the break.  Maybe they should make an exception.  It would’ve added more drama to the competition, not that it was needed.  Hopefully Howard and the Phillies will have the last laugh come this postseason and make a run.  I’m not saying World Series, or even NLCS.  Just please, please don’t get swept in the first round.  If they finish in first place, they have to get out of the first round for this season to be a success.  After that, anything can happen.