Amaro on Utley: He's taking baby steps
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Amaro on Utley: He's taking baby steps
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
At 10 a.m., Ruben Amaro Jr. received a contract extension to remain the Phillies general manager through 2015.
Before 11 a.m., he had issued an update on second baseman Chase Utley's ailing right knee.
We learned a lot more about Amaro's past than Utley's future.
"We have done some consultations with some doctors and right now after consulting with (team physician) Dr. Ciccotti as well, we're comfortable with what we're doing here right now," Amaro said. "He's actually been able to do some more exercises that he had not been doing before. He showed some progression in some of the exercises. I don't think he's taking ground balls quite yet, but some of the work he is doing with (trainer) Scott Sheridan on his rehab, he's done some more things."
Amaro described the progression as "baby steps" and added he thinks Utley is "feeling a little bit better."
Utley, diagnosed earlier in the week with patellar tendinitis, chondromalacia and bone bruising in his right knee, has done little more than take batting practice and throw a baseball since the start of spring training.
"We're comfortable with the things we're doing with him right now and we're hoping to see progressions," Amaro said. "We're trying to progress him slowly. I can't sit here and say he has taken a giant step forward and he's going to be ready for opening day."
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How about mor "reporting" on the players who are on the field and a little less on those who aren't. We get that Utley may miss some time. But there will be 24 other pretty darned good ballplayers who will be there and I'm sure they're pretty confident they can win regardless.— JLH- this sounds like good news. thank God.— Bob65S
- Bigger concern should be the performance (or lack there of) of Lee and Oswald— farley
- Who the heck is Oswald? If you don't even know the guy's last name, how can you be worried about his performance? — The Pack Leader
- Yea lots to worry about in March with 2 aces.. — pattymac3
- its March 12...relax — wobblie
- JLH - Utley is the only real story worth following in camp that will impact this team - unless you're the type that cares if John Mayberry went 1 for 4 against the Bucs— jr1116
- Unless there's some pitching health issue we haven't heard about, looks like the primary concern will remain the #3 and #5 hitters around Howard. Then the bullpen. Let's hope they're good for 4/1, they should be. Rubes will get the guy(s) he needs, just like he did when he got Iguchi.— PhillySubsMac
- CHASEMAN.... WF CHAMPION OF THE SUN!!!!....aaaaaahhhhhh!!!
-and i am not concerned about roy oswalt or cliff lee. just as i wasn't concerned when they wrote an article talking about the lack of offense. just enjoy the phils and stop worrying so much... - Worried about Oswalt or Lee? Come on. Guys have proven themselves for years. THESE GAMES DON'T COUNT, REMEMBER?— corporatehuman
- chase needs rest... if we weren't asking about his knee every 24 hours and left the guy alone we'd all be better off— recoveryroad
- no one who knows baseball is worried about oswalt or lee. pitchers are supposed to stretch out their arms and try new pitches in spring training.— The Boston Strangler
- Hey JR116. Sure he's a story but how many times do we have to be subjected to the same storyline? The Phillies have sustained and overcome injuries to Rollins, Howard, Ruiz and others as valuable to the Phillies and never have we seen coverage like this. I and many more I know get sick of the media portraying the guy as our only hope.— JLH
- Well it is the 1st time we have heard anything good. You guys complain if there is no news, complain if there is too much.. I guess there is nothing we don't complain about. — pattymac3
- Agreed recovery-Chase's knee is over analyzed right now. Bottom line, nothing with his knee is going to change in the immediate future. Reading/hanging over every reread word is getting old. I am not worried about Oswalt or Lee either, they are only working on their pitches, that is why they are struggling.— phigglesfan75
