Chase Utley is inching closer and closer everyday to a return the Phillies. On Monday night, he played a complete game for the first time this season. He went 1-4 at the plate with an RBI single.
Utley continues to make progress in his recovery, but the Phillies aren’t ready to activate him just yet. There was some optimism that former All-Star could be ready to go when the Phillies open up their homestand on Wednesday. General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said “I don’t think so. He needs at-bats. Even if he’s 100-percent healthy, he needs at-bats.”
Allowing Utley to spend an extended amount of time in the minor leagues to collect at-bats, and continue to test his knee is the correct course of action. The offense is in desperate need of help, struggling to produce three runs a night. The sooner that they can have their regular three-hole hitter back in the lineup, the better, but unless he is truly healthy he won’t help solve the offensive woes.
There is plenty of reason for optimism regarding Utley. There have been no reports of him having any discomfort, or suffering any setbacks with his knee’s progress. The second baseman’s recovery has taken a long time, but has been making steady progress in recent weeks. He’ll continue to take his recovery one day at a time, and if his progress continues as it has been, it won’t be long before he returns.
Good call. Stay the course. The goal is to win the WS and not the most games in the regular season. Let Utley work things out in the minors, so that he can immediately contribute when he comes back.
Phils are 8-11 versus teams with Winning Records so far (Braves,Marlins,Brewers & Cardinals)
This 25-16 Record is a little skewed in my opinion since they are 17-5 versus the Mets,Nats,Astros,Padres & Diamondbacks
They better worry about making the Playoffs first with this “Phillie Lite”
line-up they are putting out there every game.. Anyone think that the Big-4 are all going to Top 20 Wins and that the Team was going to win 110-120 Games…Ridiculous how so many people bought into the hype which is typical Philly.. Phils are a good team, no doubt, but fans and local media always seem to put the cart before the horse and over-hype and over-rate their home town teams.. It’s happens with the Eagles and the Flyers all the time… Too many fans have “blinders on” for their home town teams and don’t realize the quality of other teams and the match-up problems they present and weaknesses of their own clubs..
I will continue to call them as a I see them…
Shut up paulman.
I know Stopgoat, the Truth hurts sometimes…