Utley looking realistic for Opening Day
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Utley looking realistic for Opening Day
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
It's looking more and more like Chase Utley is going to be ready for Opening Day. While the Phillies will be extra-cautious with their star second baseman, he appears right on schedule for a four-month return to full health. Utley has been taking ground balls during fielding practice since Tuesday and has been hitting in the cage, both off of a tee and off of soft tosses. There is the pain, not fatigue, in his surgically-repaired right hip, leading Utley to believe that his hope of an Opening Day return is now a reality."I think it's pretty realisitc at this point," he said this morning. "We've pushed it over the past week and a half, two weeks that I've been down here and it's responded extermely well. We're not overdoing it yet but we are putting it to a good pace ans I think we are all pretty comfortable with it."
Asked to handicap his chances of returning by the start of the season, he said they were "fair to quite fair."
When Utley underwent his surgery in New York on Nov. 24, the Phillies announced a four-to-six month rehab for him. Monday marked the start of his 13th week after the operation. He'll be at 16 weeks -- four months -- post-op on March 16, which would give him 19 opportunities to play in spring training games before the start of the season.
^
Other stuff that didn't fit into the paper today:
1) It is a gray and windy day in Clearwater, snapping more than a week straight of perfect weather. It is supposed to drop into the 50's tomorrow before climbing back into the 60's for the weekend.
2) Newly-signed veteran Miguel Cairo worked at third base with Greg Dobbs yesterday, while prospect Jason Donald fielded balls at second base. If Pedro Feliz starts the season on the disabled list, I wouldn't be completely surprised to see someone like Cairo make the Opening Day roster.
3) 2008 first-round draft pick Anthony Hewitt might hit the ball as hard as anybody in camp. The ball just explodes off his bat. It's pretty amazing to watch and consider that he is still a teenager. That said, don't expect to see him in the big leagues any time soon. He is very much a project. Still, it is fun to watch him take batting practice.
4) The Grapefruit League opener is less than a week away. The Phillies travel to Pittsburgh on Wednesday for their first game of the spring.
Comments (32)
How's Mayberry's bat? If I remember right, he is supposed to be all power and little else— jeff gross- Is Cairo good on defense? I haven't hear that much about that.— betsy72
- You wrote... "There is the pain, not fatigue, in his surgically-repaired right hip, leading Utley to believe that his hope of an Opening Day return is now a reality." I'm not sure if there is something (a word or two) missing here or I am missing something, but does this make sense? Is there pain, fatigue, etc...?— J C
- 1— jeff gross
- I think he's trying to say that while it hurts as he uses it for the first time in a while, its not getting tired easliy and he's not having the same kind of pain as he had last year. That said, you could have written it better Dave. Pain is like fire, when it exists there's smoke and somethings wrong— jeff gross
- I guess I get it now, in that if it was "fatigued", Utley would be worried, but some pain he expected. I don't know. Seems to me the hope would be that he would be free of pain, but what do I know. He'll be out there Opening Day (night) regardless.— J C
- Im curious about Mayberry as well. Sounds like a lot of potential not too far from being big league ready. With Werth and Victorino not really locked up long term he could be a piece of the puzzle for the future, whats the scoop? anyone...— philsfan in the atx
- Mayberry AAA fodder...Utley hip "pain" not good...he should only be experiencing fatigue and stiffness at this point. Pain now will lead to more long term joint damage in the future....with his future being maybe 5 years down the road rather than 25....— Mark1npt
- btw, there are those in baseball (many) that think Hewitt will never amount to anything close to a ML hitter....Rob Deer springs to mind....K or HR, nothing in between.....do we need more of that?— Mark1npt
- Apologize it wasn't written clearly. There is no pain or fatigue in Utley's hip, which is a good sign. Mayberry's size is tremendous. He looks like an NBA small forward. He obviously has some power, but it's tough to tell much else without actually facing pitching. There are indeed some questions about Hewitt's ability to make contact, but keep in mind he is still young.
- Hey Murph, First off, I'm curious how some of the battling positions are looking so far (i.e. Costs-Paulino-Marson (?), Kendrick-Happ-Park-Eaton (just kidding), Donald-Cairo-Giles)). Also, of the new guys, which ones seem to fit well into the clubhouse so far, and which - if any - seem alienated or not mixing it up? How bout the coaching staff? Have the dynamics been totally different at this camp without some of the old, familiar faces (i.e., Smith, Williams)? Finally, I'm curious of your feelings about the psyches of the fringe players right now. Let's say Coste got sent down, for example. Is that it for him, or is the career minor-leaguer still able to make the quantum leap from A-Town to the Bank? How bout some of the other guys?— Philth
Comment removed.- I think I need to apply for an editor position. Anyway... glad to hear Utley appeears to be fine. I got from what he said that he was, but how you wrote left me/us confused. Have fun on the beat Murph.— J C
- Hewitt sounds like an interesting story... Why not do an expanded piece about him, so Phillies fans can become better acquainted with his background, abilities, etc. and follow his progress?— JimmyD
- The Zo Zone reports, there is no pain according to Utley. Must be a misprint in this article because Utley repeats "no pain" for multiple questions on the Zo Zone.— hoyaray
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