Tough decision on Utley availability for Wednesday against Kershaw
The latest Phillies and baseball news from Philly.com.
Tough decision on Utley availability for Wednesday against Kershaw
In some ways, the Phillies' horrendous play in the month before the All-Star Break protected Charlie Manuel from having to make some difficult decisions with regard to his deployment of Chase Utley. For an example, see the scenario that could confront him before Wednesday's series finale at Dodger Stadium. Heading into tonight's game, the Phillies have won three straight games. But tonight will also be Utley's second straight game in the lineup. Thus far, Manuel has kept him on a schedue of two games on, one game off. But what if the Phillies are carrying a four-game winning streak into a series finale against Clayton Kershaw?
Manuel remained non-comittal this afternoon.
"It's mine and Utley's call," he said. "But at the same time, we definitely still have to watch Utley. We definitely don't want to set him back. He's come a long ways, but there again, we definitely need him in there."
Utley is 4-for-17 with two doubles, a home run and three walks in his career against Kershaw. Ryan Howard, who is also on a two-on, one-off schedule, is 3-for-14 with three doubles and six walks. Keeping both out of the lineup would put more pressure on Hunter Pence, who is just 1-for-15 with four strikeouts in his career against Kershaw. It would also require that lefty Mike Fontenot (0/3, 3 strikeouts) start at second base.
Could Thursday's off day factor in?
"It could factor a whole lot," Manuel said. "We've got a long plane ride. If he was off tomorrow, he could be off two days. The travel gets you. The travel definitely is not good for his knees and stuff."
Does Charlie want to win? Is he telling us they can't find a spot on the plane ride home for Utley to stretch out? Are they flying commercial all of a sudden? They got a day off Thursday, so there's no excuse for Chase not to play wednesday. Period.— dfc5632- Where can I find an employment schedule of two days on, one day off.... oh yea throw in a couple million salary to boot. Chase is living the dream and milking the franchise.— 76sixers
- dfc5632
So the fact that the guy has hobbled through the last three seasons is no excuse for what Manuel is doing? And really, a place to stretch out? So all the sudden the cure to arthritic knees is stretching out? Man, with that sort of brilliant diagnosis, you must be a doctor.— Hemingway - Cholly knows he has a lifetime job, must very cushy feeling which is why he doesn't have the slightest scintilla of fear that he'll lose his job and as a result, has not made the slightest attempt to motivate or jump start his players. He sits, chews his gum and dreams of his next pay check knowing he's the gift that keeps on giving to Monty and Giles. Once he's out, I doubt that even a backwoods minor league single A club would hire him to sell deep fried onion rings.— daystrum
- Hemingway, Utley does not have arthritic knees, so you must not be a doctor either. His problems are in his tendons (depending on who you believe, either patella tendonitis or chondromalacia) and the overall point is not that he can't find a place on the plane to stretch, but that your mega-contract 2nd baseman can't handle a plane ride that hundreds of other MLB players undergo regularly. I'm one of Utely's fiercest defenders but I don't see how this plays out well. Man, I think back to the days when I was sure it was a Howard/Rollins/Utley MVP trifecta...— kgall
- If Utley can only play 2 games on, 1 game off, then he has to go. Trade him to an AL team, where he can DH. Get some bonafide relief pitchers for the bullpen. The Phillies are mired deep in last place and cannot afford to have Utley at less than 100%.
— Cornwall Citizen - Chondromalacia is degeneration of cartilage. One of the main causes of arthritis is degeneration of cartilage. To distinguish between chondromalacia and arthritis of the knee is to make a distinction without a difference. Either way, Utley's knee needs regular rest. And giving him a day off after every two days on seems like a good way to provide that rest. Why would we assume Utley's doctors and the Phillies' trainers have no idea what they're doing?— Dave Clemens
- 76sixers, you are a moron, sir. You probably don't even have a job.— PhillySubsMac
- I'm with PhillySubsMac— cloudkitt
- Clemens nailed it.— NewMick314
- daveclemens . You are so correct !
All the 'no nothings' are out in force today. There must be a hole in the fence. Utley's original diagnosis
paralleled my condition in every way. I was more than surprised to see him ever field a baseball again.
Unfortunately, the resident 'Quacksters' on this forum
aren't equipped to know the difference between iodine and rubbing alcohol.
Perhaps the mouths that roar may have noticed who runs out ground balls faster than anyone on the team? Who tries the hardest to play the game, as it should be played ? I wonder why these 're-turds' give Dumb-inic Brown passes on far less sustained injuries than Utley has endured ?
Howard has been rehabbing from a serious injury. Why no hue and cry for his impaired performances ? He can't run well, and Charlie brings a sub in hoping to add speed to the lineup. Oh ! I forgot. Different strokes for different folks.
— phineas - Sorry guys. Easy decision. Get him in the lineup, particularly with the Thursday off day. This isn't a game, it's an occupation. Get to work— SteveP
Comment removed.
I feel like if you can score runs, that's good. You know, like, that's good.— 1980
