Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. yesterday pretty much confirmed what everyone already assumes. Don’t hold your breath looking for Chase Utley on the field at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phils’ starting second baseman, who has yet to take part in a spring training game, is headed for the disabled list to start the season. The only question now is when the Phillies will make the official announcement.
Which makes me wonder what exactly Utley and the Phillies are waiting around for.
Utley has been taking batting practice. And they even went to the absurd end of placing a chair out in the field so Utley could take some ground balls.
But right now he has trouble putting weight on his aching right knee, he can’t run, and he can’t move from side to side. Other than that, he looks great.
Here’s how I see this playing out. It’s not good.
Utley starts the season on the DL. At some point he is activated and he guts it out for a couple of weeks. Hit hits maybe .240 and has no home runs.
Eventually Utley pulls the plug. He is scheduled for surgery and is gone for the year.
What I don’t understand is why they’ve delayed this thing. If Utley waits until some point in the season to have surgery, not only will his season be over, but he also puts the start of next season in jeopardy.
Chase Utley is 32. He may just be the best second baseman in Phillies history.
But right now he is hurting. And without his potent bat in the lineup, so will the Phils.
Consider this. The Phils enter this season without the offense supplied last year by Utley and Jayson Werth.
That’s going to put a huge load on the shoulders of Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard.
They will need to have monster years.
Chase Utley’s year is simply going to be monstrous.
The Phils’ starting second baseman, who has yet to take part in a spring training game, is headed for the disabled list to start the season. The only question now is when the Phillies will make the official announcement.
Which makes me wonder what exactly Utley and the Phillies are waiting around for.
Utley has been taking batting practice. And they even went to the absurd end of placing a chair out in the field so Utley could take some ground balls.
But right now he has trouble putting weight on his aching right knee, he can’t run, and he can’t move from side to side. Other than that, he looks great.
Here’s how I see this playing out. It’s not good.
Utley starts the season on the DL. At some point he is activated and he guts it out for a couple of weeks. Hit hits maybe .240 and has no home runs.
Eventually Utley pulls the plug. He is scheduled for surgery and is gone for the year.
What I don’t understand is why they’ve delayed this thing. If Utley waits until some point in the season to have surgery, not only will his season be over, but he also puts the start of next season in jeopardy.
Chase Utley is 32. He may just be the best second baseman in Phillies history.
But right now he is hurting. And without his potent bat in the lineup, so will the Phils.
Consider this. The Phils enter this season without the offense supplied last year by Utley and Jayson Werth.
That’s going to put a huge load on the shoulders of Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard.
They will need to have monster years.
Chase Utley’s year is simply going to be monstrous.
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