Chase Ultey talked to the media yesterday about dealing with tendonitis in his knee and his plan of staying healthy this season. It’s a tenuous situation because he can’t workout too much or the tendonitis will flare up and he will be sidelined. On the other hand he can’t neglect working out on his legs to keep them strong or his power numbers will continue to drop.
Utley said he is doing a lot more stretching and not very much lifting as a way of staying healthy and fit.
Last year he hit .266 with only 11 home runs and 44 RBI’s despite playing in over 100 games. Charlie Manuel who is as loyal and slow to change as anybody, demoted him to the second spot in the batting order during the playoffs because of his lack of power.
The Phillies need Utley to be the Chase Utley of old if they are to cruise to the playoffs with Ryan Howard missing part o the season. If they move Utley back to the three hole, they need him to be driving in runs and hitting home runs. Who knows what they can expect of John Mayberry or Domonic Brown.
Things are going in the right direction now and Utley is better off this year than he was in 2011 when he showed up to spring training and could only field ground balls while sitting in a chair. I think it’s the key to the season.
Utley showed up in the playoffs and played well offensively just needed one clutch hit from the RBI guys behind him in game 5 or any game, the meat of the order was dominated by the Cardinals pitching
Yes he showed up in the playoffs and I give him credit for that. But they wouldn’t have been in the playoffs if they had to rely on his .266 average, 11 home runs and 44 RBI’s. There’s something wrong with Phillies fans because they will call out anybody else but Chase Utley and Cliff Lee. Is that fair?
the whole infield except Jimmy Rollins looks like damaged goods entering the 2012 season
Chase Utley last 5 years Stats
2007 – 132 games .332 Batting Avg 22 HR 103 RBI (Age 28)
2008 – 159 games .292 Batting Avg 33 HR 104 RBI (Age 29)
2009 – 156 games .282 Batting Avg 31 HR 93 RBI (Age 30)
2010 – 115 games .275 Batting Avg 16 HR 65 RBI (Age 31)
2011 – 103 games .259 Batting Avg 11 HR 44 RBI (Age 32)
2012 – Utley is now 33 Years old with a Chronic Hip issue which affects his lower body torque and power and bat speed..
If you average his last 5 Years Stats, Utley would play in about 130 games
and hit .288 with 22 HR and 82 RBi which I think the Phils,and the Fans would be happy with this production… but if you look at his decline physically the last couple of seasons and now at his age of 33, who knows if he can be healthy enough to put these types of #’s up..Also, I am all would agree that his quickness and laterl movement playing 2B is not what it used to be either and has difficulty in getting to balls that a few steps either side of him while playing 2B…
I will always contend that when Relief Pitcher J Romero was busted with HGH/PED’s and had that 50 Game Suspension back in Spring of 2009 that Utley’s health and performance began to slide from this time period as well… Coincidence, probably, but he clearly is not the same player he was a couple of Seasons ago.
If Utley can get back to a .280 Hitter with 20 HR & 80 RBI player, then the Phils should be ok for 2012, but if he’s hurt a lot, and falls back to the #’s of the last 2 Seasons, they are in trouble in my opinion
Utley looks, plays older than his stated years, but paulman, you cannot make unfounded accusations, suggestions about illegal drug use, completely irresponsible
Utley is baked. Too many lower body injuries the last 4 years. Thus his decline in power #’s & hard hit balls. He has 2 separate degenerative injuries to his hip & knee, & if anyone thinks he is going to miraculously find good health, is delusional & are setting themselves for disappointment. He is a shell of himself.