Thursday, March 3, 2011
Posted: 1:55 p.m.
By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com
FORT MYERS, Fla.Chase Utleys condition has not improved since he was diagnosed with patellar tendinitis in his right knee on Saturday.
Hes the same, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Thursday in his first update on Utleys condition since the weekend.
Better? Worse?
The same, Amaro said.
No dissipation of the tendinitis?
Same, Amaro said. Status quo.
MLB
Is that bad news?
Its not good news or bad news, Amaro said. Its the same news.
From this vantage point, status quo leans toward bad news. One would think that after five days of treatment, Utley might have shown some improvement. Who knows? Maybe Amaro was just being coy because manager Charlie Manuel took a slightly different slant in his update on Utley.
Hes getting better, Manuel said. Its just a matter of time till well be able to turn him loose more. Its taking some time but we want to get his condition healed and have him 100 percent when we turn him loose.
Although there is no timetable for Utleys spring debut, Manuel thinks his all-star second baseman will get enough playing time in spring training to be ready for opening day.
Weve got three or four more weeks, Manuel said. Weve got all the time in the world. Hes going to get some at-bats.
Amaro said surgery has not been discussed for Utley and added that Utley has not received a cortisone injection. All in all, the GM does not seem alarmed about Utleys condition.
I told him yesterday if he gets 10 (spring training) games in, I'm happy, Amaro said. I don't know how many games he actually needs to get in. If he gets 10 games in, that should be OK.
Utley is still able to take batting practice. He has done some light fielding drills but is mostly trying to avoid the pounding that running and fielding can put on the knee.
With Utley out, the Phillies have been playing Wilson Valdez at second base. Delwyn Young, Pete Orr, Josh Barfield, Brian Bocockand Michael Martinez are also getting looks at the position. Amaro said these players werent receiving any extra evaluation because of Utleys condition.
Well watch these guys play, but we expect Chase to be our second baseman, Amaro said.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.
Related: Phillies Notes: Brown sits; Victorino buntsPhillies schedule