Utley headed to DL, Polanco nearing return

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Ruben Amaro Jr. acknowledged the obvious Thursday, saying that he anticipated second baseman Chase Utley starting the season on the disabled list as he continues his battle with patellar tendinitis, chondromalacia and bone inflammation in his right knee.

"I would think so," Amaro said when asked if Utley would start the season on the DL. "I haven't seen him on the field yet, and we're a week away."

Utley spent the Phillies' pre-game infield practice on Thursday morning the same way he has spent each one this spring: watching from the sidelines, in this case chatting with hitting coach Greg Gross.

Teams are allowed to back-date season-opening disabled list stints to March 22, meaning the first day the player can return to the active roster is April 6. But Utley will likely be sidelined much longer than that. He has shown little progress in his knee since the Phillies shut him down after one week of spring training. Utley continues to take batting practice, but his fielding has been limited to catching routine groundballs while seated on a stool.

The pain in his knee is worst when he attempts to make sharp movements, such as the ones involved in the starting and stopping of running.

Utley saw a rehab specialist last week. The team is determined to avoid operating on the knee.

"It's a long-term process," Amaro said.

The injury news is better elsewhere in the infield. Third baseman Placido Poalnco took batting practice on Wednesday and felt ready to play today for the first time since hyper-extending his elbow on March 15. The Phillies will give him one more day of rest, but anticipate having him in the line-up on Friday.

Brad Lidge is scheduled to make his first pitching appearance in a Grapefruit League game since March 11 today against the Twins, leaving Utley as the club's only serious injury with eight days to go before Opening Day.