Philadelphia Phillies: Can Chase Utley Return to All-Star Form in 2012?

With spring training right around the corner, the Philadelphia Phillies have many questions for the 2012 campaign. One of them regards one of the faces of the franchise, Chase Utley.

The impact Utley has on the Phils is unmeasurable. Last season the Phillies played 46 games without Utley, ironically still accumulating the best record in all of baseball. Imagine if he did play in those 46 games what their record would have been.

When Utley was announced in the starting lineup after his 46-game hiatus against the Cincinnati Reds on May 23, the home crowd at Citizens Bank Park was one of the loudest it had been all season, and rightfully so.

Their hero was back in action.

So how exactly can the man return to his throne as the king of middle infielders? Rest.

Utley is used to playing every day, and when he was younger he would beg Charlie Manuel to put him in the lineup all the time. Now as he is getting older, wiser and suffering from serious health problems, the second baseman needs to know when to take a break. The 162-game season is a marathon, not a sprint, and the Phils need him to be in Usain Bolt form come October. 

However, Utley’s production has been on a severe decline since 2007, causing his batting average and slugging percentage to drop every season. Also, he has spent more time on the disabled list in the past two years than games played.

That’s not saying Utley isn’t working hard, he’s just being over played. Like every MLB player, he wants to perform to the best of his ability day in and day out.

“I’m always looking for ways to improve. I haven’t come to the conclusion that I need to change things. I think what I’m doing now is putting me on track to contribute like I have in the past,” he said.

Utley was sidelined last year with patellar tendinitis in the knee, bone inflammation and chondromalacia, which is pain due to irritation under the kneecap.

He said he is feeling better than he did at spring training last year.

It feels significantly better. Last year it was very uncomfortable, especially the first week. Right now, I think I’m in a good place. The goal for me is to kind of stay in the same place and improve in small increments and not try to irritate it to the point where I’d have to slow down.

For the Phillies fans’ sake, hope he can keep the pedal to the metal and bring home another ring in the 2012 season.  

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Fantasy Baseball 2012 Outlook: Can Chase Utley Return to Fantasy Dominance?

There was a time when Chase Utley was not only far and away the best second baseman in the league, but he was among the elite players, period.  A former surefire first-round draft choice, injuries have helped to rob him of some of his upside.  Just look at the numbers over the past two seasons combined:

823 At-Bats

.267 Batting Average (220 Hits)

27 Home Runs109 RBI

129 Runs

32 Stolen Bases

.367 On-Base Percentage

.435 Slugging Percentage

.278 Batting Average on Balls in Play

 

Let’s keep a few numbers in mind:

• He has four seasons with 28 HR or more (including three of at least 30)
• He has four seasons with at least 100 R (three of at least 110, including 131 R in ’06)
• He has four seasons of at least 100 RBI
• He is a .290 career hitter with four seasons above .290 (including one of .332)

We all know that at 33 years old, Utley is not the player he once was.  If you are going to draft him, you just can’t expect the type of production that he gave you from 2005-2009.  That is the past.  The question is, exactly what is the present?  How should owners value Utley heading into 2012?

You have to think that, a year removed from missing the first seven weeks of the 2011 campaign, he would be on the upswing.  Of course, how do you then explain him hitting .245 with seven HR over 241 AB in the second half?

The truth of the matter is that Utley’s knee issues could be a consistent problem for him throughout the remainder of his career.  Last year, Stephania Bell of ESPN posted an article (click here to view) that she concluded with a great analogy on his situation: 

Perhaps the best analogy for Utley’s knee condition is that of a worn tire. You know that if you continue to drive on it, you may be able to get another 20,000 miles out of it, but if the tire blows, it won’t come as a great surprise. And if you put the car in the garage and ‘rest’ it, it doesn’t improve the tire tread.

We all know that Utley is as tough as they come and is going to give the Phillies everything he can, if he can.  The problem is that he may only be able to do so much and his physical ability may simply not be the same that it once was.

There is a ray of light, though, since despite the knee issue he still managed to steal 14 bases in 2011—but that is far from enough.  The leg issues could easily zap him of his ability to hit for power or any general authority. 

Last season he posted a minuscule 12.7 percent line-drive rate, which would’ve been the second worst in the league had he qualified for the batting title (Vernon Wells posted a 12.3 percent mark).  While it’s impossible to expect him to be that bad once again, we also can’t expect him to be slugging the ball all across the diamond either.

Is there still enough there to consider him a starting option at the position?  Yes, but he’s more of a mid-to-back-end option.  He’s not likely to hit .300. He’s not likely to hit much more than 20 HR. He’s not likely to surpass 170 RBI/R.

Just go into the season with realistic expectations.  In other words, don’t expect him to be the player he once was.

What do you think of Utley?  What type of expectations do you have?  Is he a player you are willing to draft?

 

Make sure to check out all of our 2012 rankings:

• First Basemen
• Second Basemen
• Third Basemen
• Shortstops
• Outfielders: 1-20 | 21-40

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Joe Blanton: Just How Overweight Is Contract of Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher?

Last week was Philadelphia’s most recent attempt to unload Joe Blanton and his salary. The Phillies, according to Buster Olney, were looking to trade Blanton to bring Los Angeles Angels outfielder/DH Bobby Abreu back, temporarily. They would then flip Abreu back to the New York Yankees (again), and acquire A.J. Burnett.

What probably prevented that nightmare of a trade, Blanton for Burnett, from actually happening was the money didn’t work out for the Phillies. Good. They would have fallen victim to the Yankees again, but also would not really be gaining any salary relief from Blanton, if they were to pay roughly what the Pittsburgh Pirates are going to pay Burnett (granted over two years).

But why is Blanton’s deal perceived as so terrible that there are often desires, from both the Phillies and their fans, to unload his deal? It’s not as terrible as bandwagon perception would suggest.

Interestingly, the deal Blanton and the Phillies agreed to in January 2010 is one of the most talked-about signings in the franchise’s recent history. It’s not crazy to say it is as discussed as much as Jim Thome’s original deal with the Phillies in 2002, which, of course, was a pretty remarkable signing for a few other reasons.

People are able to recite Blanton’s salary for 2012, $8.5 million, like no other Phillie. It probably would require someone more thought (or time if they forgot and had to go as far as looking it up) to remember Chase Utley’s salary off the top off their head than it would to think of Blanton’s.

The number and the agreement itself have been mentioned so much because they are both discarded as “wastes of money” and add to Big Joe’s alternate nickname of “Heavy B” because of his heavy cost. Should they be regretting the contract though?

First, let’s keep in mind that it really only was a two-year extension. Blanton was up for arbitration in 2010, the first year of the deal, and the Phillies, having tendered him, would have to pay him for that season, even if they settled before a hearing. According to Baseball-Reference, his 2010 salary in the deal was $3 million, but that was because it was part of the extension.

If it was just a one-year deal, there is no chance he makes anything less than $5 million more than that. Pitchers usually receive a $2-5 million raise going into their final year of arbitration. Blanton took a $2.5 million pay cut. And he had a very solid 2009 campaign on top of that.

With that in mind, the real extension, not even counting his 2010 salary that was spread out across his 2011-12 salaries, would be keeping him in his free-agent years, his first chance to be paid and on the open market. He received $10.5 million in 2011, and will make $8.5 million in 2012, again according to Baseball-Reference. That equates to a two-year, $19 million extension.

Then consider that they spread out a majority of his true 2010 salary the other two years, and the extension could really only be worth about $15 million for two years.

Even if we temporarily ignore that part of it and value it at what it is in paper for now, which people ignore quite often, and value it at two years, $19 million, is that so terrible?

According to the market, which in reality is the most important thing, it is not terrible at all. For those same two seasons, 2011 and 2012, Jake Westbrook will be paid slightly less than that at around $17.5 million, at the minimum. He has options and other clauses that could flocculate that. But Westbrook, at the time a career sub-.500 pitcher, is past his prime and at the time of both his and Blanton’s deal was far more of an injury risk.

Furthermore, he got this deal after the St. Louis Cardinals were able to witness the Phillies give Blanton this deal and be injured in 2010.

Pitching for the World Champions in a lineup with Matt Holliday, Lance Berkman and Albert Pujols, Westbrook was able to ride on a 4.66 ERA to squeeze out 12 wins with the help he received. He by far led the league in run support and got almost a run per inning to work with from the offense.

Is Blanton definitively worse than he is, and not worth paying a tick more for his prime years? It’s not a logical argument to make. Even now, with two injury-plagued down seasons, Blanton still has a better career winning percentage and ERA compared to Westbrook. So you figure that with Blanton being healthy and if you gave him nine runs to work with per start, he could win a dozen games easily.

Also remember that the Phillies could not assume that Blanton would be injured the first two years of the deal. He had been extremely durable before then. In addition to pitching in and out of the bullpen for them in the postseason, Blanton consistently made every start and led the American League with 34 starts in 2007.

Then, factor in that the two seasons really included part of his 2010 salary, and they clearly were not well beyond the market. If anything, it was less than that, given the contract Westbrook received.

Taking a different angle and playing along with the anti-Joe team, let’s say the Phillies went along with their wishes and only gave him one post-arbitration year, 2011. Who is pitching every fifth day after Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Vance Worley in the rotation? Remember, the Phillies are right up against their desired budget to avoid the luxury tax.

Right away, throw out Roy Oswalt, as his desire for $10 million can not be accommodated in this scenario. There isn’t anyone making more than Blanton they can consider for the spot, given the budget limits.

It is tough to find one person making what Blanton is set to make or less, about which you can say he is clearly a better option than Blanton for a healthy 2012.

Going over the list, pretending as if Edwin Jackson wasn’t overpaid and would shave off a few million to come to a winning team would not be a better option. The man whose initial claim to fame was being the pitcher that served up a home run to Blanton in the World Series is a .500 pitcher, with an ERA around 4.5, much higher than Blanton’s. He also has struggled in the National League for his career.

Moving on, Paul Maholm is mediocre at his absolute best, and is no better than Blanton. He followed up a 15-loss season with 14 losses this past year, and has lost 14 or more games three of the past five seasons. He’s not worth giving any significant amount of money. If you’re not for counting wins and losses, which at the end of the day is the most important stat, Maholm’s ERA is higher than Blanton’s anyway.

Then there was Jason Marquis as an option this offseason. Marquis is worse than Jackson and has an ERA nearly a quarter of a run higher than Blanton. Incredibly, Marquis is about a .500 pitcher, despite pitching for 11 playoff teams in his 12-year career. How does that happen?

Additionally, Marquis is awful at Citizens Bank Park. His career ERA there is around nine; would you like to see him make 20 or so starts there?

Jamie Moyer technically is an option, but with people upset about him being signed a year too long, is there any reason to think he is worth bringing back again compared to Blanton, especially coming off Tommy John surgery? He is no better.

Freddy Garcia is the last option even worth considering, and the reality is he will never be brought back here after his 2007 season. He is even more of an injury risk than Blanton is anyway.

No one in the minor leagues is ready for this season, and the team remains committed to Kyle Kendrick in the bullpen as a long man and not starting. It’s not a slam dunk that he is better than Blanton anyway.

So while Blanton may frustrate people at times for being just what he is and we all expect from him—an average starting pitcher just giving his team a chance to win—there is not much logic or merit behind it. If you’ll recall, the Phillies recently paid someone more than what Blanton makes to go 14-18 with an ERA above six.

And they considered trading for a pitcher in A.J. Burnett who has posted ERAs above five the past two seasons. The Phillies and their fans last saw him get torched by a Phillies lineup that included Brian Schneider, Wilson Valdez, Greg Dobbs and Ben Francisco for six runs in less than four innings.

Is he really better and worth more than Big Joe? Is anyone truly better than Blanton at the same price or less than he’s being paid?

As far as fifth starters go, the Phillies are and will be fine with Blanton for this season. The guy actually could be the Opening Day starters for some teams in the league, so he’s good enough to be the least-relied-upon starter in Philadelphia while making his market value.

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Ryan Howard: Philadelphia Phillies 1B Takes First Batting Practice

Ryan Howard took his first batting practice since rupturing his Achilles tendon on the final out of the final game of the 2011 playoffs, according to Jim Salisbury of Comcast Sports Network. Of course, he is still quite far away from actually picking up a bat in a real game, but it is definitely a step in the right direction.

However, what will happen to the Phillies lineup without Howard in the middle of it? He has protected Chase Utley in the lineup for the past several years, and while some people have been disappointed by his performance, he has still not hit below 30 home runs in a full season or driven in fewer than 100 runs. He does strike out far too much, but he still has been a presence in the middle of the Phillies lineup.

How will the Phillies fill that gap? They seem to have an interesting type of platoon situation that will probably develop. After bringing in right-handed Ty Wigginton and left-handed Jim Thome this past winter, it seems as if that is how first base will play out.

This could be changed, however, with a very strong spring from Domonic Brown. If he is able to prove that he deserves playing time in left field, John Mayberry Jr. could also factor into that first base platoon. He played there a little bit last season, and he was definitely a serviceable option.

While the Phillies wait for Howard to return, first base will probably not be quite as productive. However, these options definitely should be solid and provide the Phillies’ lineup with enough support to stay competitive until he is able to pick up a bat in an actual game.

Whether you think I know everything or nothing about Major League Baseball, you should follow me on Twitter and keep in touch. I love hearing what you all have to say!

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MLB Spring Training 2012: Predicting Every NL East Team’s Home Run Leader

Strikeouts are alright, steals are fine and outfield assists are nice, but home runs are still the most consistently exciting and gratifying plays in baseball.

In this current age of sabermetric statistics and analysis, we know that categories like home runs and RBIs aren’t the best measures of a player’s worth (sorry Mark Reynolds), but that doesn’t mean we enjoy seeing the ball jacked out of the park any less. 

And even after all the scrutiny that classical statistical measures have come under, home runs remain the quickest—and most macho—way to put runs on the board.

So with the 2012 season nearly upon us, and not a minute too soon, let’s take a look at who will likely end up leading each National League East team in homers.

Begin Slideshow

MLB Rumors: Philadelphia Phillies Must Lock Up Cole Hamels Long-Term

The Philadelphia Phillies need to make sure they do the right thing and lock up elite left-handed starting pitcher Cole Hamels long-term before he hits the open market this offseason.

With rumors that the Phillies were in talks with the teams involved in the A.J. Burnett deal about acquiring the streaky starter, the focus should be on signing Hamels long-term now more than ever.

With Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee 34 and 33 years old, respectively, 28-year-old Hamels is about to reach the prime of his career. The Phillies have always been known for locking up their homegrown players and Hamels needs to be here for the next five seasons at least.

Cole Hamels told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports about the Phillies’ ability to keep players they draft:

Ever since I’ve been here, they’ve done a really good job keeping the guys they draft, especially the guys they like. I just hope I’m one of those guys they like.

From all the reports coming out, Hamels has said all the right things to the media and seems open to re-signing with the Phillies long-term. With that said, Philadelphia needs to get this done as soon as possible.

As we saw last season with the St. Louis Cardinals when their prized player about to hit free agency, when you don’t get it done in a timely fashion and feelings get hurt, franchise players will walk away.

The Phillies would still be a great team without Hamels, but they are obviously much better with him. Letting a left-handed pitcher of Hamels stature walk is the wrong move for the Phillies and it will certainly come back to bite them later on.

If the team can sign the soon-to-be free agent to a five-year deal worth $110 million like Rosenthal’s report says, the Phillies would get their hometown discount and Hamels can live fat on the farm for the rest of his life.

With Hamels locked up, the Phillies 1-2-3 combination would be a nightmare on opponents for at least four more seasons.

 

Check back for more on the Major League Baseball as it comes and check out Bleacher Report’s MLB Page to get your fill of all things baseball.

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Philadelphia Phillies: 25 Storylines to Watch in Spring Training

It’s finally here.

The smell of freshly cut grass. The warmth of sunshine on our faces. The sound of wooden baseball bats making contact with a baseball, like the sound of a metronome beating against either side of its container.

All of the things that make a baseball fan tick, well, they’re back, and though not all of us are feeling the warmth of the sun or smelling the freshly cut grass just yet, we can’t help but realize that all of these pleasures are just around the bend.

That’s because it’s finally here: Spring Training.

Nothing quite foreshadows the coming baseball season like watching all of the players workout in their respective camps, and nothing signals the coming of spring quite like the arrival of the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, Florida for the club’s faithful followers.

As is the case with every season and every team, there will be plenty of news to keep an eye on this spring, particularly out of the Phillies’ camp. This slide show will serve as a primer to make sure that you don’t miss a beat.

For up to the minute Phillies’ information, check out Greg’s blog: The Phillies Phactor.

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Begin Slideshow

4 Keys to a Philadelphia Phillies Improved Offensive Attack This Season

It may be hard to believe that one of the questions facing the Philadelphia Phillies—a team that set a franchise record in wins and scored the second-highest amount of runs in the National League following the All-Star break last season—is how their offense will perform this season.

However, after posting their lowest home run total in over a decade last season, and after finishing with the ninth-highest team batting average in the National League, the Phils’ offense heading into this season is not as certain as it has been in past seasons.

Following their .226 team batting average in the 2011 NLDS and an injury to Ryan Howard that could cause him to start the season on the disabled list, the Phillies may use spring training to improve their offensive attack while finding a player to bat in the cleanup spot until Howard returns.

An improved offensive attack, as well as strong pitching performances, may help the Phils improve on last season’s success.

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies: Spring Training Preview: A Look at the New Guys: Part One

**** This is Part One of a two-part series.  This edition covers the fielders/hitters.  Part Two will cover the pitching additions. ****

 

The Philadelphia Phillies decided they were going to do something few people can do.  They thought about whether they wanted quality or quantity, and ol’ Rube decided he was going to get both.  Adding names like Jim Thome and Laynce Nix, among others, the Phillies’ bench was remade. 

Now let’s take a look at how he did.

Begin Slideshow

2012 Philadelphia Phillies: Predicting Their Opening Day Lineup

When Philadelphia Phillies slugging first baseman Ryan Howard grounded weakly to second to shockingly finish off the 2011 season against the eventual World Champions St. Louis Cardinals, an immediate impact on the 2012 opening day lineup was born.

Howard not only made the final out of the Phillies’ most successful season (regular season record-wise) but he also blew out his left achilles tendon in the process.  Affectionately known as “The Big Piece” by Phils skipper Charlie Manuel, Howard was undergoing surgery five days later and the prognosis was quickly released as being out for five-to-six months. Manuel will have to start the season with a big missing piece right in the heart of the lineup.

Also gone from 2011 will be left fielder Raul Ibanez.  Ibanez finished second on the team behind Howard in games played.  Howard played in 152 games while Ibanez participated in 144. Most would be surprised to know that Ibanez, not Victorino, Utley or Rollins, was also second on the team in home runs and RBI.

Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. went out and found plenty of options for Manuel to work with to replace Ibanez and hold down the fort until Howard is due back, which can be anywhere from early May to the All-Star break.

First, Amaro signed former Phillie and future Hall-of-Famer Jim Thome. Thome will turn 41 in September and hasn’t played first base in the field since the 2007 season, just four games since being traded from the Phillies after the 2005 season. So it still remains to be seen how many games Thome can play at first. He might be more of a replacement for the departed left-handed pinch-hitting specialist Ross Gload.

A little after the Thome signing, Amaro swung a deal with the Colorado Rockies to bring in versatile slugger Ty Wiggington.  Wiggington was a 2010 All Star for the Baltimore Orioles and played 98 games at 1B that season.  Last year, Wiggington played 3B primarily but still saw 36 games at 1B and 21 in left field.  Without a doubt, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to play all three of those positions this season while hopefully still knocking the ball out of the park on occasion.

Next, the Phillies surprisingly gave 1B/OF Laynce Nix a two-year contract. Nix set career-highs in games played in 2011, playing in 124 for the Washington Nationals.  85 of those games were in the outfield (73 in left) and he also chipped in nine games at 1B without making an error.  Nix also slugged 16 home runs in 2011 and could possibly surpass that in the much more HR-friendly Citizens Bank Park.

The trio of Thome/Wiggington/Nix have one more teammate that should assist in making up for the Howard injury and Ibanez departure.  John Mayberry was one of the bigger Phillies surprises in 2011.  In just 267 at bats, Mayberry hit .273 with 15 Home Runs and 49 RBI.

Big John played primarily CF in 2011 but he also played 21 in LF and 18 at 1B. So again, Manuel has four options for LF and 1B come opening day: two left-handed sluggers in Thome and Nix and two righties in Mayberry and Wiggington.

The rest of the every-day players will look very familiar.  Two of them, 2B Chase Utley and 3B Placido Polanco have been given clean bills of health after injury riddled seasons in 2011.  SS Jimmy Rollins will return after signing a three-year contract in the offseason.

CF Shane Victorino is coming off one of his better seasons while RF belongs to Hunter Pence, who will make his first Phillies opening day lineup. Lastly, Carlos Ruiz returns to handle the pitching staff while providing the Phils with one of their more clutch bats.

So how does this all shake out? I really don’t think Jim Thome can just dust off his first baseman’s mitt and go out there and not be a liability.  The Phillies bats aren’t what they used to be and they tend to play a lot of close games.

Due to Thome’s age and lack of defense to back up their fine pitching rotation, he’ll be resigned to late inning pinch-hitting duties.  That leaves Laynce Nix to play either 1B or LF vs. right-handed pitching and Ty Wiggington will play 1B vs. left-handed pitching, leaving LF for John Mayberry.  Mayberry might also get the opportunity to play full-time if he has a strong spring, no matter who is pitching. Here’s how it all shakes out for opening day:

Vs RIGHT

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS

2. Placido Polanco,3B

3. Chase Utley, 2B

4. Hunter Pence, RF

5. Shane Victorino, CF

6. John Mayberry, LF

7. Laynce Nix, 1B

8. Carlos Ruiz, C

 

Vs LEFT

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS

2. Placido Polanco, 3B

3. Chase Utley, 2B

4. Hunter Pence, RF

5. Shane Victorino, CF

6. John Mayberry, LF

7. Ty Wigginton, 1B

8. Carlos Ruiz, C

 

Couple of notes. If Polanco shows signs of not being 100 percent this spring, look for him to drop down to seventh in the lineup like late 2011.  Victorino would then move to second with Mayberry protecting Pence at fifth.  That scenario is much more likely versus lefties, as I don’t think Manuel wants two RH hitters back-to-back at the fourth and fifth hole vs. right-handed pitching. Nix would probably move to fifth vs. righties.

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