Philadelphia Phillies’ Chase Utley Creates Knee-Jerk Panic With Latest Diagnosis

Those already panicking over Chase Utley‘s knee problems were given more fuel to add to the fire today. 

The Philadelphia Phillies announced that not only does Utley have patellar tendinitis, he also has chondromalacia and bone inflammation.

Utley has had both patellar tendinitis and chondromalacia in the past, so the recurrence of these issues, plus the fact that the cortisone injection did nothing, is very, very bad news. 

In a fantasybaseball.com article, a former athletic trainer states: “…inflammation of the bone, which generally means that the cartilage has completely worn away in spots and Utley’s knee now has portions where bone is rubbing directly on bone.”

Because both rest and cortisone have not helped, the outlook for recovery is grim. The Phillies plan to exhaust all non-surgical options, but those options may be slim.

And if Utley had these symptoms right at the start of spring training, that raises some questions. Did Utley have the same symptoms during his offseason workouts? And if so, why did he not seek help earlier? 

He could have had surgery in the offseason and saved months of possible playing time.

Now that the Phillies are trying to avoid surgery, that may just be postponing the inevitable. This is also wasting more time if he does eventually need surgery.

According to multiple medical sites and patient testimonies, the rest time needed for non-surgical recovery from chondromalacia, also known as “runners knee,” is listed as “months,” not weeks. 

If rest will take months to help, why not just do the surgery and get it over with?

This is obviously a frustrating scenario all around. If Utley is going to be out for an extended period of time, the Phillies need to know as soon as possible.

Either they will hand the job to Wilson Valdez or they need to look elsewhere for help.

Either way, it is bad news for the Phillies.

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Cortisone Injection for Chase Utley Is Bad News for the Philadelphia Phillies

About a week ago, a MRI revealed that Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley had patellar tendinitis in his right knee.  He was prescribed rest and expected to show improvement quickly.

But after a full week of rest, Utley reported that he did not feel any better.  So today, he was given a cortisone injection in an attempt to reduce the swelling.

The quiet and reserved Utley normally says very little in regards to his physical condition.  But in an interview today with Phillies beat-writer, Todd Zolecki, Utley said, ” There is a little bit of concern.”

Knowing Utley’s usual demeanor, to hear him utter the words “a little bit of concern,” is akin to a normal person shouting, “Fire! Fire!” and sounding a very loud alarm.  This is not good news.

Worse than Utley’s own words is the fact that a cortisone injection was needed.  If a week of rest did nothing to alleviate the pain, one could speculate that the condition is more serious than originally diagnosed.

Patellar tendinitis can lead to small tears in the tendons over time and weakening or tears of the knee cartilage.  If that occurs, surgery may be needed.  The minimum recovery time of such a surgery is usually at least six months.

While that may be jumping ahead a just a tad, the reality is that a cortisone injection to the knee is very bad news.  Any swelling that cannot be reduced by rest indicates a real problem.

Should the Phillies sound the alarm and start looking for help at second base?  It may be too early for that, however, it also could not hurt to have a back-up plan.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Domonic Brown and the Invisible Battle for Right Field

After Jayson Werth’s departure, a seriously intense battle was expected to ensue this spring over the right field starting position.  However, the first few weeks have been a total knock-out for Phillies‘ top prospect, Domonic Brown.

In 15 spring at-bats so far, Brown has come up with a great big, ugly goose egg.  Eight of his 15 unsuccessful attempts were strikeouts.  Brown is swinging at balls and watching the good pitches fly by as he continues to tinker with his mechanics.

In the meantime, Ben Francisco is quietly ripping the cover off the ball.  Francisco has tallied eight hits, five RBI and one home run while batting .375.  He is wiping the field with Brown to point where it is no longer even a contest.

But for Brown, this is actually not a sudden decline in performance.  He hit only .069 in nine games during the Dominican Winter League.  Before that, Brown averaged .210 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 35 games with the Phillies big league club.

Essentially, Brown has been in a slump since August of 2010, nearly eight months.  And this happened after he hit .346 in 28 games with Lehigh Valley.  His combined minor league average for 2010 was .327 with 20 home runs and 68 RBI over 93 total games.

Most people love a good train wreck, but for Phillies fans, this has been hard to watch.

Brown is the kind of home-grown player that every team strives to produce.  Much like Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins, he represents the best of an organization’s farm system.

To see Brown fail now, after all the hype and all the expectations, would simply be a punch in the gut to the Phillies organization.

So while the battle for the right field position may be over, the fight for Brown’s redemption is just beginning.

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Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training: Is Chase Utley Healthy?

Second baseman Chase Utley is a perennial All-Star and the best all-around player on the Phillies roster.

But recently, rumors have been flying about his physical condition.

Mentions of “soreness” in his knees and legs are raising eyebrows. Utley missed both the exhibition game and the first official game this week after “intense workouts” during the first week of camp.

He may not play in the next game either.

Utley has been developing a pattern of injuries over the past several years which are becoming alarming.

Rumors of a hip injury followed him throughout the second half of 2008. After winning the World Series, he did finally undergo surgery.

His health was questioned after that for much of the 2009 season, although he did not miss significant time. In 2010, Utley sprained his thumb and was put on the DL in June. The injury was more serious than initially disclosed, and Utley had to undergo surgery on the thumb. He missed 47 games that year.

Not only have the injuries become a pattern, but so has disguising them. A war of words ensued in 2008 when then-GM Pat Gillick slipped and told a reporter that Utley was experiencing hip problems. Utley vehemently denied the statement, yet in the offseason, it became apparent that Gillick was telling the truth, as Utley had hip surgery.

The thumb injury was underplayed as well in 2010. Now, when rumors of Utley’s health arise, most are inclined to think there is truth to the rumor. Then when Utley drops coy comments to reporters like, “If there’s cause for concern you’ll be the first to know,” it leads people to wonder if they should be worried.

Utley is not a big guy. His weight has been generously listed as 190 pounds on his MLB bio page. His smaller-than-average baseball player frame has led to questions about his endurance for years.

When the previous injuries and previous denials about injuries are all mixed in, it is a recipe for trouble.

The current issue may just be a simple matter of Utley being overzealous and working himself too hard in camp. But until he gets into a regular spring routine, the questions will linger.

 

Chase Utley photo by Jenn Zambri

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Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training Secrets: Top 10 Ways To Get Autographs

Spring Training is the best time to add to your autograph collection.  The atmosphere is laid back, everyone is relaxed and enjoying themselves and you can find many unique, up-close opportunities with the players.

If you are lucky enough to be in Clearwater, Florida from mid February to late March, chances are good that you will get some autographs.  But to make it easier, you will need to know a few autograph-hunting secrets specific to the Clearwater area.

From specific locations to proven methods, the following is a list of the top 10 ways to get Phillies’ autographs at Spring Training.

 

Photo: Jenn Zambri

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Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training: Top 10 Things To Do in Clearwater Area

February and March are ideal months to visit Clearwater, Florida.  It is not too hot, not too cold and, even better, the Phillies are there for spring training.

The list to follow is an excellent guide to both Phillies spring training and the Clearwater area in general.  Whether or not you have ever been to Clearwater before, you should find this information very useful or, at the very least, entertaining.

However, be forewarned: spring training in Clearwater can be addictive and may turn into a lifelong habit. 

There is currently no support group for spring training addicts, so managing this addiction will be up to you.  Just remember to bring friends to share the fun.

 

Photo: Clearwater, Florida by Jenn Zambri

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Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Good Omens to Start Spring Training

Hope springs eternal for all 30 MLB teams this time of year. 

Spring is a time of rebirth, renewal and new beginnings.  At the first crack of the bat, anything is possible.

For the Phillies, 2011 could be all that and more.  The potential of this team is unlimited.  But potential does not guarantee success, as execution and a little bit of luck will play a major role in the outcome.

However, the Phillies do have plenty of reasons to be hopeful.  Here are five good omens for the Phillies as they begin spring training.

 

Photo: Jenn Zambri

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Should Philadelphia Phillies Leadoff Hitter Be Jimmy Rollins or Shane Victorino?

Coming off a year plagued with injuries, Jimmy Rollins has many reasons to rebound in 2011.

But should he bat leadoff or should the job pass to Shane Victorino?

In 2010, Victorino took the majority of the at-bats in the leadoff spot while Rollins nursed a sore calf.

In 348 at-bats in the leadoff spot, Victorino posted a .276 batting average; Rollins, in 294 at-bats in the same spot, batted only .242.

And although Rollins was injured much of 2010, his 2009 numbers are not much better. In 640 at-bats that season, Rollins hit just .245 as the leadoff hitter.

In fact, since his 2007 MVP year, there has been a steady decline in Rollins’ performance. Whether that is due to age, injuries or a combination of both is not certain. But with 2011 being a contract year for J-Roll, he should have plenty of motivation to get into better shape and improve.

Victorino is two years younger, but has also had his share of injuries. Also, neither player is a typical leadoff hitter: Both Rollins and Victorino are aggressive at the plate and routinely swing at first pitches.

This approach does seem to work for Victorino, who batted .352 when swinging at the first pitch in 2010. Similarly, Rollins hit .333 in the same situation.

Both players have speed on their side, but Rollins may be more tentative than Victorino after dealing with so many leg issues in 2010.

And then there is the psychological battle to be fought. For years, Rollins has been the engine that kicks this team’s offense into gear. Without him at the top of the lineup, the offense seems to fizzle. 

But this magical momentum Rollins provides is more mental than physical. In order to change the entire team’s outlook on the situation, the Phillies would need to start off the year with Victorino in the top spot.

This is by no means an easy decision. If Rollins has a comeback type of year, he should be in the leadoff position.

But there is no way to know how it will go until it actually happens.

And if they start the year with Rollins batting leadoff and he flops, the transition to switch Victorino into that spot will be more difficult. 

So who should it be? Right now, a slight edge goes to Victorino.

But if Rollins catches fire in spring training, he could reclaim that edge.

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Philadelphia Phillies Honored At the PSWA Awards Banquet

On Monday night, the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association held their 107th annual awards banquet in Cherry Hill, NJ.  The PSWA honors athletes in every sport around the Philadelphia area. 

This year, the PSWA honored Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay as the Outstanding Pro Athlete of 2010.  He was also presented with his 2010 Cy Young award.  Shane Victorino received the Humanitarian Award for his charitable efforts in the community.

A large portion of the Phillies family was in attendance as well, including President Dave Montgomory, the Phanatic, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. and manager Charlie Manuel.  As a guest speaker, Manuel had the crowd in stitches with his southern humor. 

Manuel spoke about his home state, saying, “You know they don’t have Christmas plays in West Virginia, you know that? They cut it out. They couldn’t find three wise men and a virgin.”

Also present was comedian Joe Conklin, who attends every year to entertain the guests.  He does amazing impersonations of a variety of Philly athletes, including Manuel, Cole Hamels and Eagles coach Andy Reid.  Conklin’s routine is the highlight of the banquet.

All of the Phillies’ speeches, plus Conklin’s appearance, are on video as well. Just follow the link.

The full Photo Album from the event includes members of the Phillies, Flyers, Sixers and Eagles, plus college and high school athletes.

 

Photos by Jenn Zambri Photography

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Philadelphia Phillies: Why Charlie Manuel Deserves a Contract Extension

Charlie Manuel‘s contract as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies is set to expire at the end of the 2011 season. With Spring Training just weeks away, the Phillies have yet to finalize an extension for their skipper.

No manager likes to enter a season with their status up in the air. It can raise questions about why a manager is not yet re-signed and can sometimes even undermine a manager’s authority in the clubhouse.

In the case of Charlie Manuel, the Phillies surely must want him back. A winning percentage of .560 over six years with the team, four division titles, two National League pennants and a World Series championship should be reasons enough for an extension.

The only feat Manuel has yet to accomplish is winning a second World Series title. If the Phillies are trying to squeeze more than that out of him, they may have to hook Manuel up to an IV.

Besides the winning record, Manuel has many intangible qualities that make him a perfect fit for this franchise. The players love him. They play hard not just for the love of the game, but for their love and respect of Manuel.

Because of his reputation as a player’s manager, other major leaguers want to come to Philadelphia.  Just ask Cliff Lee, who turned down more money and additional years to come back and play for Manuel in 2011.

The fans love him, too. They love him not only because he brought winning baseball back to Philadelphia, but also for his kind, approachable attitude. Fans can walk right up to him and engage in a conversation.

Manuel genuinely respects and appreciates the fans, treating them as equals.

The Phillies should take that to heart and give the same respect and appreciation back to Manuel. Whether it is two or three years, give the man what he wants.  He’s earned it.

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