It just seems like the Phillies players are dropping like flies to injuries this spring and limping their way into the Major league season where there is likely to be two of the Phillies big bats out of the lineup on opening day in Pittsburgh.
No Philadelphia Phillies fan ever wants to hear this and I’m cringing right now typing this so just bear with me through this story. Chase Utley has left camp to go see a specialist and is doubtful for opening day in Pittsburgh. Freddy Galvis likely will be the opening day starter at second base
Phillies General Manger Ruben Amaro Jr. issues a Statement through the team.
“Chase’s rehab process has come to a bit of a plateau. He has made some strides but not enough to take the field. He is headed out-of-town for a few days to be evaluated by a specialist that has helped athletes overcome his issue. We anticipate that this trip will allow him to build on what he has already done with Scott Sheridan in order to get over the hump. He wants more than anything to be on the field with his teammates and we believe that this is a step in that direction.”
If you recall last year Utley missed all of spring training and the first 46 games of the regular season due to this same type of problem. The Phillies really can’t afford that this year because Ryan Howard is also out due to injury as he tries to recover from his Achilles tendon injury he suffered on the final play of the Phillies playoff last year and probably is not expected back into the lineup until about June. So that is the number two hitter and the number three hitter out for the Phillies. This is just kind of depressing as I type this, we really don’t know if Utley will be out long or anything at this point we just have to wait to see what the specialists have to say.
It’s hard to picture the opening day lineup without Chase Utley in it and now especially with slugger Ryan Howard not going to be it. This will be the second year in a row that Utley is not penciled in at second base on the opening day lineup card for the Phillies.
