Posted: Sunday, July 27, 2008, 9:11 PM | 7 comments |
 

Utley has hip injury
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From Paul Hagen at the ballpark today:

There has been some thought recently as second baseman Chase Utley’s slump has deepened that the All-Star second baseman must be hurt.

Pat Gillick confirmed the speculation Sunday.

“Chase has been bothered by a little bit of an injury that he’s been playing with,” the general manager told the Daily News. “(He’s) having a little bit of a problem with his hip. It’s been a little bit sore. Nothing to keep him out of the lineup, but certainly if it’s sore a little bit it could have some effect on his hitting.”

Utley was a career .300 hitter at the start of this season. Through the first 33 games this year, he was hitting .362 with 13 homers and 26 runs batted in and appeared to be well on his way to becoming the third straight Phillies player to be named the National League’s Most Valuable Player.

In 72 games since, however, he’s batting just .253 with 12 homers and 45 RBI.

He had a pair of singles in Sunday’s 12-10 win over the Braves at Citizens Bank Park, leaving his overall average at .288.

After the game, Utley continued to deny that he’s hurt.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said with a smile. “That’s a good question, because I don’t know anything about that. I understand why you’d ask the question because I think I’d ask the same question.”
Posted by Paul Hagen @ 9:11 PM  Permalink | 7 comments
7
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:17 PM, 07/27/2008
    I've been saying for 6 weeks he's hurt......it's the only explanation for a player of his caliber to have such a drop off in avg and power....there can be no other reason.
    — Mark1npt
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:25 PM, 07/27/2008
    ...and if you believe this hip injury story, theres some Arizona lake front property waiting just for you. In this day of computerized coaching, the opponents pitching people have figured Chase out. That he is not a great "junk" ball hitter. He is not Pete Rose incarnate. Sorry.
    — SPBilly
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:28 PM, 07/27/2008
    Lots of guys are banged up this time of year. The gamers just want to go out and play and not talk about the aches and pains.
    — xfactor
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:33 PM, 07/27/2008
    Chase Utley is batting .310 against change ups and .306 against sliders. He hit .332 last year and .309 before that. I'll take my sample size over your armchair analysis about his inability to hit junk ballers. Besides how many junkball pitchers are there in the Majors? You are way off here.
    — Philip Levitsky
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:42 PM, 07/27/2008
    Pat Gillick telling the media want they want to hear. Utley is the golden boy.
    — Leron
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:49 PM, 07/27/2008
    Utley blew out his hip in the homerun derby!!
    — Clinton, NJ
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:30 PM, 07/28/2008
    Chase Utley is a saint, just like Dorthy Mantooth...
    — scuba


7 comments
About David Murphy
David Murphy joined the Daily News as its Phillies beat writer in February of 2008. Born in Upper Merion and raised in the Poconos, he attended college at La Salle University before taking jobs with the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News and the St. Petersburg ( Fla. ) Times. E-mail Dave at dmurphy@phillynews.com.

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