Phillies fans are getting worried. Chase Utley is not doing as well as we would have hoped he would be at this point. With a chronic knee problem in both knees, Utley has left Phillies camp to go to an unknown specialist in an unknown location to have them looked at. With that being said, Utley will most likely start the season on the disabled list, just like last year. The Phillies are at a loss with Utley out of the lineup, the longterm 3-hole hitter, who is a .911 OPS hitter from 2005-2010. It's difficult to see Utley in a position where he was in 2011 where he only hit .259 with 11 homeruns. The 5 time All-Star had/has a Hall of Fame career behind him and he hopes to further that career after dealing with his knees. People have stated that Utley is possibly one of the best offensive second baseman of all time, but there are red flags rising. Chase has not appeared in one Grapefruit League game this Spring Training, and manager Charlie Manuel is worried. Many of the Phillies fear that Chase's problem is not going away and also fear that he may never be 100%. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has stated that Utley has his a plateau in his progress, and he is not where the team would like him to be. Phillies fans know that Chase Utley is not where he would like to be, mainly because Utley is one of the hardest working players out there, he has worked through this pain before. Surgery is one thing that has not really been discussed and it is hard to say because Utley has not discussed the matter publicly. In terms of temporarily replacing Utley, Freddy Galvis has been impressing the front office and coaching staff this Spring Training, and has been unofficially named the Opening Day second baseman. But looking at the lefthand side of the Phillies infield, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are now gone. Two All-Stars, two players who hit 3rd and 4th for the lineup since 2005/2006, the two players that have arguably contributed to the Phillies the most in the past 5 seasons, and key to their success in the National League East. Chase Utley is a fan favorite in Philadelphia, a player who gives 100% even when his body is only willing to give 50. He is a player who will never be booed by Phillies fans, which is saying something, because Chase Utley is a class act, and in the words of the late Harry Kalas, "Chase Utley, you are the man."
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Chase Utley you are the Man
Phillies fans are getting worried. Chase Utley is not doing as well as we would have hoped he would be at this point. With a chronic knee problem in both knees, Utley has left Phillies camp to go to an unknown specialist in an unknown location to have them looked at. With that being said, Utley will most likely start the season on the disabled list, just like last year. The Phillies are at a loss with Utley out of the lineup, the longterm 3-hole hitter, who is a .911 OPS hitter from 2005-2010. It's difficult to see Utley in a position where he was in 2011 where he only hit .259 with 11 homeruns. The 5 time All-Star had/has a Hall of Fame career behind him and he hopes to further that career after dealing with his knees. People have stated that Utley is possibly one of the best offensive second baseman of all time, but there are red flags rising. Chase has not appeared in one Grapefruit League game this Spring Training, and manager Charlie Manuel is worried. Many of the Phillies fear that Chase's problem is not going away and also fear that he may never be 100%. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has stated that Utley has his a plateau in his progress, and he is not where the team would like him to be. Phillies fans know that Chase Utley is not where he would like to be, mainly because Utley is one of the hardest working players out there, he has worked through this pain before. Surgery is one thing that has not really been discussed and it is hard to say because Utley has not discussed the matter publicly. In terms of temporarily replacing Utley, Freddy Galvis has been impressing the front office and coaching staff this Spring Training, and has been unofficially named the Opening Day second baseman. But looking at the lefthand side of the Phillies infield, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are now gone. Two All-Stars, two players who hit 3rd and 4th for the lineup since 2005/2006, the two players that have arguably contributed to the Phillies the most in the past 5 seasons, and key to their success in the National League East. Chase Utley is a fan favorite in Philadelphia, a player who gives 100% even when his body is only willing to give 50. He is a player who will never be booed by Phillies fans, which is saying something, because Chase Utley is a class act, and in the words of the late Harry Kalas, "Chase Utley, you are the man."
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