"Nobody knew for sure that Chase Utley had a hip injury last year until the offseason when the Phillies announced that he was undergoing hip surgery and might not be ready for the start of the season.

Sure, it was easy to speculate that he was hurt. But Utley would never utter a word about it.

He kept playing all the way through the World Series.

That brings us to this season.

It has been speculated that Utley has an injured foot after fouling a pitch off it against Houston on Sept. 4. It has also been speculated that his hip might be bothering him, too.

Raul Ibanez, meanwhile, went on the disabled list in June with a groin injury. He clearly hasn't been the same hitter upon returning on July 11.

Both insist that they're fine, and that they aren't injured.

But you can expect an offseason announcement detailing some kind of injury, or medical procedure.

That's just the way they are. It's sort of like that playoff hockey mentality where no one admits injury.

Not even Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.

"He's not hurt," Manuel said about Utley. "He's just not swinging good right now. It's a feel -- some days when you pick up a bat, you feel like you can hit anybody. Then you go through streaks where you're not hitting. That's kind of how it goes."

Maybe he's right, and it's nothing. The performance on the field would indicate otherwise."