Utley has cortisone injection; injury could be worse
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Utley has cortisone injection; injury could be worse
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The week-long rest for Chase Utley had done nothing to improve the patellar tendinitis in his right knee that has prevented the Phillies second baseman from playing this spring. So the team took the next step Friday morning and administered a cortisone injection into Utley's right knee.
The Phillies won't know for a few days if the cortisone shot works to alleviate the pain. There is some concern the injury could be worse than originally diagnosed.
"We feel it's patellar tendinitis," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "Could it be more than that? Perhaps. I just right now... that’s what we have."
Utley, who has experienced the tendinitis in his knee before, making it chronic, said it has never lingered this long.
"I've had it maybe in terms of pain here and there," Utley said. "But this is lingering longer than it has in the past. So with that said, there is a little bit of level of concern. But I think we're doing the right things to try to get it better."
Utley said he's concerned it could be worse, but doctors have not told him anything to indicate that. Amaro said the MRI done on Utley's knee Feb. 26 showed no structural damage.
"I think we have an idea of what's causing it, it's just not progressing," Amaro said.
The GM repeated it is patellar tendinitis. So what is the cause of that?
"We're still piecing this together," Amaro said.
Utley has been prevented from running or fielding drills since being diagnosed with the tendinitis. He is still hitting during batting practice and did so again Saturday.
Neither Amaro nor Utley would say what is next if the cortisone shot doesn't work.
"The whole goal for me is to try to get this fixed as soon as possible, but also keep it in perspective," Utley said. "I have to keep it right for the long haul as well. I think we're making the right progressions.
He added: "I don't think at this point I'd be much help to our team or to myself."
More to come in Sunday's Inquirer.
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he's out for at least 3 months— jttemp2000- My first thought when I say the Delmon Young piece and that he was starting at 2b base for the second consecutive day was that Utley's injury was worse than anticipated. Yikes... A specialist said in DNL this week that a cortisone shot is not ideal to treat patellar tendinitis because it could damage the tissue. So this comes as a surprise.— EL Zorro
- The cortisone shot should be taken as good news (in the short term) because it shows that he doesn't (in the estimation of their doctors) have any structural damage to the ligaments or tendon. Our course, if this is a chronic condition, it will shorten his career. — tgray83
- I think the Phils and Utley know that he needs a month of rest. That leaves them in a position where he enters the season with little to no preparation or stays in Clearwater for 15 days. Tendonitis is the most vague description they can plausibly give, so they'll stick with it. If he looks good in batting practice all month, then he may just get out of Clearwater on time.— tgray83
- Unless is something else. I won't be surprised. They told us he had "general soreness'' at the beginning and lied about Dom Brown Winter League meltdown.— EL Zorro
- I don't know. Utley's notorious for hiding physical issues until they blow up in the team's face. I am getting the impression Utley is selfish. I say Utley needs to either "Man up" and play through the pain OR at least notify the Phils so they could have found an adequate substitute while he's out. He's being paid millions to play a kids game while millions of people are unemployed and losing their homes.— Citizenc92
- Ruh-ro...this isn't what we need. Starting to get very worried. If he comes back and contributes anything, I think it's time to see what we can get for him. We should be able to con someone b/c he is a "name". Thanks for the great years Chase but the injury bug is starting to get too much.— DennyP
- Both of our all-star caliber middle infielders have a few miles on them. Long live Wilson Valdez!!!— fillyfan
- And this is why you play 162 games, dreamers.
Guess you won't be going 162-0/— TenThousandLosses - When will the surgery be scheduled? In the meantime, what would the Phillies have to give up to get Michael Young at this stage of the game?
Comment removed.- There is no such thing as having the same injury. And you know how strenuous Major League baseball is because you play 18 games a year in a beer league? Try playing 200 games in 8 months at a professional level and traveling constantly and then get back to us. — tr88
- Many beer leagues have 21 or more games and involve travel. — P2will
- Comment removed.
- Next we'll learn he's out for the year.— 4thand10
