Phillies second basemen Chase Utley is set to have surgery on his hip sometime next week. While this may send many fans into a frenzy, I do not believe there is much reason to panic.
Last season, the Phillies had one of their best starts to a season in recent memory. In the beginning of the season, Utley had one of the best starts to a season a player can wish to have, leading the majors in home runs and RBI through mid-May.
The consensus seems to be that the Phils will now get off to a slow start, with Utley presumably not at full strength when the 2009 season begins.
However, before last season, the Phillies always got off to rough starts, something many fans have gotten used to this over time. It's nothing to worry about.
The team always start off slow and usually gets hot right around the All-Star break.
The key thing for the Phillies will be looking to be a buyer in this free-agency period. With starting left fielder Pat Burrell and veteran pitcher Jamie Moyer in the open market, the Phillies need to build.
So, for the fans, it might be back to the normal Phillies—start off the season slow, get hot, make a run at the N.L. East title, and then lose games to make it close.
Don't look for the Phillies to repeat next season, but look for them to shake things up a bit. While they will most likely not make the World Series again, they will make the postseason, perhaps as a wild card.
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about 1 month ago
So how was this article supposed to make a Phillies fan not worry?
from about 1 month ago
Because we are already used to the team getting off to a bad start that without utley it will not affect it much they will still do fine.
from about 1 month ago
How do you think not having utley won't affect it though? To start the season last year the Phillies were off to a great start behind the bat of Utley. So why can we just get right used to being a bad start team again?
Just because they won the world series this past season does not mean they can't do it again. A good start is something they can use to get there next season going and then when Utley gets back thats just an added bonus really.
An article saying how the Phillies really will be fine without Chase Utley would have been better than just saying they will be fine.
from about 1 month ago
I did state in my article that utley did have a great start. I also said the Phillies need to be buyers in the market if they do go out and get another big bat. They will be fine but i don't believe that the team will get off to the start they had last year. I also feel that if they don't get another big bat they will not have enough to make it back to the world series. That is just my opinion I'm not saying that its right its just what i believe.
about 1 month ago
You may not have to worry about a bad start, but I am worried about Utley. You don't miss up to 6 months for a minor "arthroscopic procedure." Hip stuff is serious stuff, and depending on what they find in there, he might not be the same player.
That all being said, knowing the guy toughed it out the whole season to lead us to a title... if you didn't love the guy already, this has to put you over the top. It also may explain the "World [bleeping] Champs" line—the guy was probably on some serious painkillers!
from about 1 month ago
Haha your absoutley right he was probably on some strong pain killers when he did say that. I do believe that he might not return to be the same player he was but he also may return even stronger. I do believe the actuall team will be fine. In my article i was not trying to focus so much on Utley but more on the team.
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