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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Cue the injury bug.....— phigglesfan75- Al lot know because they will look desperate.— EL Zorro
- what part of his body has he not injured yet? I think he's gonna be hurting all season— franknbeans
- Opening Day lineup:
Rollins
Polanco
Ibanez
Howard
Francisco
Victorino
Ruiz
Valdez
Halladay— NJguy 
Comment removed.
Plan B?— ej610- Great article by Stark on the Phillies offensive decline: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2011/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=6182253— EL Zorro
- Did Mike Lowell retired? He can play third and Polly second.— EL Zorro
- 3 years ago Chase was on the fast track to the HOF, but he has fallen off the cliff. He and Jimmy are the two oldest 32-year old players that I've ever seen. Whatever happened to the days of Pete Rose, when players weren't considered old until they were in their late 30s? Chase and Jimmy seem to be old and broken down before their time.— phink
- They were both taking them special vitamins that Lenny D took. Thats why they are breaking down now.
- It would be nice to have a young, major league ready 3rd baseman to come up and move Placido back over to his natural position of 2nd? Our farm system seems completely bereft of infielders not playing first.— bobcitydoc
- they have known for years, he has been breaking down and now the cats out, he stopped juicing and he is breaking down, they knew and did ntohing— tooltime
- A week of rest is nothing for acute tendinitis. It often takes prolonged rest to really heal. I'm not convinced the cortisone shots are good for the long haul. We'll see. Good Stark article El Zorro. Give the Phillies credit for seeing this trend and loading up on pitching because other teams have figured this lineup out. That article maybe has the best indication I've seen that Charlie realizes the problem. He clearly says his hitters have to adjust, particularly those at the top of the order.— s
- Yes, bobcitydoc: the Phils have no infield prospects ready for the big leagues in my opinion. Particularly at second and third. They'd have to trade to get someone. That's where having all the extra pitching could come in handy.— s
