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Chase Utley News & Rumors

Would Utley work as Phillies' leadoff guy?
October 16
CSN Philly
 
"In the world of professional sports, a disappointing season usually means changes at the top. A spectacular September collapse in Boston led to a pair of dramatic moves. Neither Theo Epstein nor Terry Francona was "fired," but Red Sox ownership certainly did not make an effort to keep either man that formed the foundation of their only modern-era titles. Every October, there's another lesson or two that proves a baseball life is not a fair one. Thankfully, for the Phillies' brain trust of Ruben Amaro, Jr. and Charlie Manuel, they are at least one more underwhelming October outcome removed from job security issues. The names will stay the same, but that doesn't mean the Phillies couldn't"
Utley's play backfires
October 6
Courier-Post
 
"Chase Utley looked up, saw David Freese's glove extended, and he knew he was meat. It was the type of play he'd built his legacy upon — hard-nosed and aggressive. It was a hit-and-run, and by the time shortstop Rafael Furcal secured Hunter Pence's grounder, Utley was already at second base. When Furcal launched the throw to first, Utley broke for third, hoping to spark a rally with a heads-up play. But Albert Pujols was ready."
Utley cleared to play; Rollins back in lineup
September 13
CSN Philly
 
"Tests on Chase Utley were normal Monday and the Phillies' second baseman will be available to play when the team returns home on Thursday. Utley sustained a concussion when he was hit in the head by a pitch last Wednesday night. Utley had been cleared to do light exercise after a test on Saturday. After Monday's test, he was deemed fully recovered and cleared to resume baseball activities. The Phillies play a doubleheader against Florida on Thursday. It is unclear if Utley will play Thursday or if the team will ease him back into action over the weekend."
News on Utley encouraging
September 11
Courier-Post
 
"Odds are, Chase Utley won't be back in the Phillies' lineup until they return home Thursday, but the early results following concussion tests Saturday were encouraging. Utley is showing no symptoms of a concussion, and test results Saturday showed near baseline results — meaning the risk of any long-term problems was minimal. "It's positive, very positive," assistant GM Scott Proefrock said. "Good news. We're going to be very cautious, obviously. But it seems like he's making progress. We'll make sure he's 100 percent before we get him back on the field.""
Utley may miss entire trip; Rollins 4-5 days away
September 10
CSN Philly
 
"Chase Utley has a concussion and probably won't play for the remainder of this roadtrip, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said on Friday morning. "He's going to be re-examined on Saturday," Amaro said. "If the test goes well, he could go ahead and meet the team in Houston on Monday. But I don't expect him to play the next two series just so we can be cautious. That's my guess." One of those series is the current one against Milwaukee. It runs through Sunday. After that, the Phils play three in Houston beginning on Monday. The Phils return home on Thursday for a doubleheader with Florida then entertain St. Louis beginning Friday. Amaro mentioned that Utley might not play until the"
Concussed Utley likely out for additional week
September 9
CBSSports.com
 
"The Phillies' Chase Utley, who suffered a concussion on Wednesday, will be out longer than anticipated. "He's going to be re-examined on Saturday," GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told CSNPhilly.com. "If the test goes well, he could go ahead and meet the team in Houston on Monday. But I don't expect him to play the next two series just so we can be cautious. That's my guess.""
Utley Out All Weekend
September 9
Rotoworld.com
 
"Phillies second baseman Chase Utley suffered a mild concussion on Wednesday evening when he was struck on the top of his batting helmet by an Eric O'Flaherty pitch. Utley is not being nagged by headaches, nor is he experiencing any concussion-related symptoms that could be considered severe, but the Phillies are going to take advantage of their comfortable lead in the National League East standings by giving their star second baseman all the time that he needs. And more. If he needs it. You get the point. According to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Utley is going to remain sidelined for the Phillies' entire weekend series against the Brewers. If he passes an IMPACT concussion test"
Utley to sit out after being hit in the head by pitch
September 8
CSN Philly
 
"The first words out of Chase Utley's mouth after Eric O'Flaherty's pitch bounced off the back of his batting helmet were fairly poignant. "What happened?" It appeared as if nothing much happened after Utley was beaned with a pitch in the back of the head with two outs in the sixth inning of Wednesday night's victory over the Braves at the Bank. Utley jogged to first base and then took his position after Ryan Howard struck out to end the inning. But it was when Utley was standing in the infield waiting for the top of the seventh when things took a turn. According to manager Charlie Manuel, Utley complained about a headache and was removed from the game. As it turns out, Utley won't be in"
Utley's trademark hustle evident on inside-the-parker
July 27
CSN Philly
 
"Chase Utley always runs hard out of the batters' box. That's pretty much a given. There are certain things people can depend on in this life and they are death, taxes and the fact that Utley will play baseball as if his hair is on fire. So as soon as his long shot off Giants pitcher Barry Zito caromed away from centerfielder Andres Torres near the 409-foot marker, it was obvious that Utley had a chance for an inside-the-park home run. At the very least, he was going to go for it. "I saw the ball kick off the wall and I knew there was a possibility," Utley said after the Phillies' 7-2 victory over the Giants on Tuesday night at the Bank. "I didn't see what was going on behind me."
Does Philadelphia Phillies' Chase Utley ever do anything wrong?
July 21
LehighValleyLive.com
 
"Before his huge two-run, game-tying double in the eighth inning Tuesday night against the Chicago Cubs, Chase Utley was hitless in his previous 15 at-bats. And following the Philadelphia Phillies' victory over the Cubs on Wednesday, Utley has only four home runs and 22 RBIs in 178 at-bats this season. That is only six more RBIs than Michael Martinez, who has 72 at-bats less than Utley on the year. Despite his less-than-stellar numbers this year, Utley never seems to face much criticism from the tough Philadelphia fans and media members. There's always Ryan Howard strikes out way too much. Jimmy Rollins always swings at the first pitch. Raul Ibanez and Brad Lidge are washed up. Domonic"
Utley's stats looking better these days
June 13
Allentown Morning Call
 
"Chase Utley officially returned to the Phillies lineup on May 23. Hit bat didn't join him right away. It has now. After hitting .195 (8-for-41) in his first 11 games, the Phils' All-Star second baseman is batting .357 (10-for-28) in his last six games. This weekend went particularly well. Utley was 2-for-4 with a key, seventh-inning double and scored twice Sunday after going 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and four RBIs on Saturday. "He's starting to get his stride down at the plate. His swing is better," Manuel said. "He can stride a little bit too quick and get on his front side, especially against slow stuff or secondary stuff. The last couple of days, I like to say [he has], 'Slow"
Utley's late-inning at-bat sets up Phillies' win
June 12
CSN Philly
 
"Charlie Manuel was excited about the intricacies of the at-bat, the nuance of it after Shane Victorino led off the seventh inning with a double in a one-run game. Rather than flail at a pitch in attempt to do something heroic, Chase Utley played the game the correct way. In the box score it will go down as another out — a harmless grounder to second base. But to Manuel it was an at-bat that set up the inning. "He did a super job with no one out in the seventh inning when he pulled the ball to the right side," Manuel said about Utley's at-bat. "That's how you play the game. Then Howard knocked in a big run." Call it a trickle-down effect of sorts. Earlier this week Manuel had been lamenting"
Utley's bat Heats up in Phillies' win
June 12
Courier-Post
 
"It has been nearly three weeks since Chase Utley made his 2011 debut, stepping to the plate at Citizens Bank Park as a raucous crowd showered him with applause. Since then, the enthusiasm has dimmed a bit. Utley was to be the savior for a struggling offense, but it would take more than a few swings to shake all the rust off his bat after a knee injury cost him the entirety of spring training and the first 46 games of the regular season. The numbers - a .230 average, just three extra-base hits, discouragingly few line drives - told the story of a player struggling to hit big-league pitching in June when his bat was working at a speed much closer to the easy pace of mid-March. But after"
With Utley back, Phillies are thriving
May 29
Wilmington News Journal
 
"Saturday marked the third straight game Chase Utley was in the Phillies' starting lineup, the fifth time in six games he has been on the field since being activated from the 15-day disabled list on May 23. Not coincidentally, the Phillies have won all five games he has started. Utley had two hits and scored two runs while stealing his first base of the season to help spark an eighth-inning rally Saturday night, and his manager hasn't seen any lingering effects of the knee injury that cost Utley all of spring training and nearly two months of the regular season. "He's fine," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He doesn't look to me like he's favoring anything." Not that it has been an easy"
Utley gets day off as Phillies continue to monitor his health
May 26
Courier-Post
 
"After each game, Charlie Manuel said he plans to sit down with his star second baseman and discuss playing time. Chase Utley returned to the lineup Monday after missing all of spring training and nearly two months of the season because of patellar tendinitis, and Manuel aims to monitor his playing time closely. But on Wednesday, there was no need for a discussion. Manuel already had Utley penciled in for a day off. Utley did, however, pinch hit in the ninth and was intentionally walked. "I kind of knew after putting him out there the last two days that I was going to rest him," Manuel said. After two days of work, Utley is actually feeling pretty good -- and his manager said he's looked"
Gload has hip tear; Utley gets day off
May 26
CSN Philly
 
"Not only do the Phillies lead with 29 wins, but they very well could lead the way with injuries and time spent in the training room. Every day it seems as if there is a new injury or nagging ache or pain to report on and Wednesday was no different. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said before Wednesday's game that pinch hitter Ross Gload had a tear in his hip and would be out for a couple of days. The GM said there are no plans to put Gload on the disabled list for the injury now and will test out the hip in a couple of days. Gload would have been a suitable pinch hitter in the ninth inning of Tuesday night's 6-3 loss to the Reds, but manager Charlie Manuel said the lefty slugger was"
Utley's back, but the Phillies have actually done better without him
May 24
Allentown Morning Call
 
"The buzz radiated everywhere. It started on social media networks around 3:30 p.m. Monday as Chase Utley's name was tweeted in a major league lineup for the first time this season. It continued when the Phanatic gave the Wayne's World "We're Not Worthy" bow as the second baseman's name was announced. It peaked when Utley's standing ovation from 45,841 fans, the most to ever see a regular-season game at Citizens Bank Park, seemingly wouldn't end as he stood in the batter's box for the first time since the 2010 NLCS against the Giants. Utley is revered in this city. By the fans. By his teammates. By his manager. "He's probably one of the most respected players that I've been around," Charlie"
Hitless Utley is life of the party for Phils
May 24
CSN Philly
 
"As he walked to the plate in the first inning Monday night, Chase Utley received a long and loud standing ovation from the largest regular-season crowd ever at Citizens Bank Park. It was the kind of greeting usually reserved for Cliff Lee. Utley had been receiving ovations such as this long before Lee came to town. He is the original favorite Phillie and everyone from the upper deck to the dugout was eager to see him make his long-awaited 2011 debut after three months of painstaking rehab on his injured right knee. "I tried to tune it out, but it was a little too loud," Utley said of the deafening roar that accompanied his first at-bat of the season. "I'll take that any time. The crowd was"
Utley's back; so are Phillies bats
May 24
Courier-Post
 
"Chase Utley doesn't say much, but his manager swears it isn't necessary. On the day in which Utley made his 2011 debut, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel compared his second baseman to Harmon Killebrew -- a quiet leader who commands respect without saying a word. "He's probably one of the most respected players that I've been around," Manuel said. "I think his attitude and what he brings is very special to us." Utley was the first player out of the dugout before the game, sprinting to his position on the right side of the infield as his teammates followed. He wasn't tested at second base, although he made a few routine plays. At the plate, Utley provided no punch. A sixth-inning lineout to"
Utley to play Monday; Blanton to DL, Worley recalled
May 23
CSN Philly
 
"Chase Utley turned up at the ballpark Sunday, and will return to the Phillies lineup on Monday night. Utley has missed the entire season with knee tendonitis, but had played nine rehab games for Single A Clearwater, where he went 9 for 32 with a homer, two doubles and six strikeouts. Utley, as usual, chose against discussing baseball with the local media, but manager Charlie Manuel says he will have a spot for Utley in the lineup. "Third is what comes to mind first," Manuel said. "Excited to have him back, looking forward to it." Manuel said he and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. had a chat with Utley where, presumably, they laid out a plan for days off for the second baseman. Known for"
Utley to the rescue
May 23
Courier-Post
 
"The Phillies will pin their hopes to rejuvenate a punchless offense on the often-reliable shoulders of Chase Utley, whose troublesome knee is what makes that a venture wrought with risk. Utley's absence -- or the need for someone, anyone, to light an offensive spark -- was clearly apparent again Sunday as the Phillies went down quietly 2-0 to the Texas Rangers in the wrapup of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park. The Phils did manage to win the first two games 3-2 and 2-0 behind the pitching of Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee. Roy Oswalt held up his end of the bargain Sunday, when the Phils' desperation included Ryan Howard, leading off the ninth, trying to put down a bunt just to give"
Signs point to Monday return for Chase Utley
May 22
CSN Philly
 
"Signs continue to point toward Chase Utley making his big-league season debut Monday night against Cincinnati. "He's getting close," manager Charlie Manuel said Saturday. Utley was in the lineup for a fourth straight game at Single-A Clearwater on Saturday. Playing four days in a row was said to be his final minor-league test. Indications were he would rest Sunday and be evaluated. If he checks out, he would likely be in the Phillies lineup Monday night against Reds' righthander Bronson Arroyo. Utley is 4 for 9 with a homer in his career against Arroyo."
Amaro hopes Utley is answer
May 20
PhillyBurbs.com
 
"Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., hasn't been working the phones looking for a trade partner. As consistently unproductive as the Phillies offense has been so far, it's looking like it'll get a jolt when Chase Utley returns, not with Amaro dealing one of his spare starting pitchers for a bat. "I think it's too soon for that," Amaro said before offensive woes continued Wednesday in a 2-1 Phillies win over Colorado. Amaro prefers keeping starter-turned-middle-reliever Kyle Kendrick and Triple-A righty Vance Worley in the organization at least for the time being because they were pressed into starts this month while Joe Blanton and Roy Oswalt were on the disabled list. "I really"
Utley's return like a big trade
May 20
Courier-Post
 
"There is no relief coming for the Phillies' slumping offense in the immediate future. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said second baseman Chase Utley won't be back this weekend while he continues to serve a minor league rehab assignment with Class A Clearwater. And Amaro said he is not about to trade for a hitter. Amaro said the plan was for Utley to play full back-to-back games Wednesday night and tonight. Utley has played two straight games on two occasions during his rehab stint, but has has yet to play two straight full games. Amaro said he's not about to rush Utley, even though the offense is struggling. The Phillies came into their game Wednesday hitting just .204 over their"
Utley plays again for Clearwater; Amaro says Wednesday call-up not happening
May 17
Philly.com
 
"Chase Utley has had more than 30 at-bats in the minors during his rehab for patellar tendinitis in his right knee, has played in the field on back-to-back days twice, and has experienced no setbacks. But he will not be with the Phillies when the team begins a nine-game homestand Wednesday. "Let's put it this way: He's not coming to Philadelphia in the middle of the week," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "He needs at-bats." Utley played the whole game, eight innings, for the first time Monday for single-A Clearwater. He was 1 for 4 with a first-inning RBI single in a Florida State League game against the Pirates' single-A affiliate in Bradenton, Fla. Counting extended spring training"
Utley works his way back
May 16
Courier-Post
 
"The long wait for Chase Utley's return to the majors is nearing an end, but GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said the injured second baseman still has work to do before he's ready to make his 2011 debut with the Phillies. Utley missed all of spring training with patellar tendinitis, and while his progress during his current rehab assignment has largely been encouraging, Amaro said, there's still more the team needs to see before Utley is activated. "He needs to get timing, at-bats and get a good feel from seeing live pitching," Amaro said. "At the same time, he needs to be honest with us and let us know that he's progressing. As long as he's progressing that's good stuff." Entering Sunday night's game,"
Chase Utley on fast track for return to Phillies' lineup
May 13
Courier-Post
 
"After weeks of negligible gains in his rehab from a knee injury, Chase Utley finally appears to be on the fast track for a return to the Phillies' lineup. A month ago, light jogging was news. A week ago, he was playing in simulated games. A few days ago, he was in extended spring. Thursday, he was hitting second in a lineup for Triple-A Clearwater that looked remarkably similar to one that might be trotted out at Citizens Bank Park on most days. In his highly anticipated minor league debut -- televised locally by Comcast SportsNet -- Utley homered in his third plate appearance against the Palm Beach Cardinals. He went 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored in the game. Catcher Carlos Ruiz"
Utley goes deep, Ruiz feels no pain, but Oswalt struggles with velocity in Clearwater
May 13
Philly.com
 
"It was 2-for-1 drink night at Bright House Field as it is every Thursday when the Threshers play a home Florida State League game. But for five innings, it was far from a normal night on the farm. A few more fans than usual dotted the blue seats for Thirsty Thursday. Four TV cameras transmitted the action to the Philadelphia area, where fans could watch three rehabbing Phillies - Chase Utley, Roy Oswalt, and Carlos Ruiz - compete for Clearwater against players in their professional baseball infancy at single A. The results were a mix of promise and concern. Utley homered and handled limited strenuous chances on his right knee with ease. Ruiz singled and felt no pain in his back when"
Utley, Ruiz won't solve all of the Phillies' offensive troubles
May 12
Philly.com
 
"Sure, Charlie Manuel looks forward to getting Chase Utley back. What manager wouldn't want an All-Star second baseman in his lineup? Carlos Ruiz, too. But even though both players appear to be on the verge of returning to the Phillies, Manuel isn't sure that players' poor health is the only thing that plagues his offense. "We need for our lineup to get [physically] better, but we also need our lineup to hit better," he said yesterday, before the Phillies' series finale against the Marlins. "We need some guys to have the kind of years they are capable of having." Manuel didn't mention anything specifically, but you can bet the thing on his mind was the Phillies' sudden power drain. A team"
A minor step toward return of Ruiz, Oswalt, Utley
May 12
Philly.com
 
"When Carlos Ruiz returned to Bright House Field after playing in his second straight extended spring game, something had changed in the clubhouse. Two lockers to the right of the one the Phillies' rehabbing catcher was using was a new nameplate - Oswalt - and a nice, clean Clearwater Threshers uniform with No. 44 on the back. Yes, it looks like it's all starting to come together. Ruiz had a half-dozen plate appearances against a ragtag lot of Pirates minor leaguers yesterday. He had a single and a sacrifice fly but, more importantly, had better at-bats. "He swung the bat much better," said Roly de Armas, who managed the Phillies squad. "He hit the ball hard four times." In his first game"
Utley's return not far away
May 11
Courier-Post
 
"For two months, the Phillies have refused to put a timetable on Chase Utley's return. On Tuesday, the clock officially began. Utley began a rehab assignment with Class A Clearwater on Tuesday night -- going 1-for-4 with a single and a strikeout. The move means he must be activated on the big league roster within 20 days. Odds are, however, the All-Star second baseman, who has yet to play this season while nursing an injured knee, will be back before that. Utley had 14 at-bats in extended spring training, where the looser set of rules allowed him to see more pitches and play just every other inning in the field. With Clearwater, however, Utley will test his knee under similar conditions to"
Utley pleased with performance in first real game of year
May 11
Philly.com
 
"If there's a secret plan, an itinerary that plots out each of the dates and places of Chase Utley's rehabilitation before he plays his first big-league game this season, the Phillies have done a good job of keeping it to themselves. The mantra has remained unchanged almost from the moment during spring training that the Phillies revealed the All-Star second baseman had a patellar knee tendinitis that both was serious and defied easy diagnosis: There is no timetable. There are, however, clues he could be getting closer. Last night at Bright House Field, before a few hundred scattered fans on a muggy spring night, Utley started at designated hitter and batted third for the Class A Clearwater"
Utley to make rehab start tonight for Clearwater
May 10
Philly.com
 
"Chase Utley will step up his rehab tonight, making his first official rehab start for Class A Clearwater. This is significant first, because it is his first affiliated game. Second, it will be his first action on back-to-back days. Utley played in extended spring training games on Saturday and Monday. The move also means that the clock is started for his return to the Phillies. Players can only stay on rehab assignments for 20 days, meaning until May 29. Presumably, though, the clock could stop if he has a setback."
Utley appears to get his fielding legs back in extended spring game
May 10
Philly.com
 
"This extended spring-training game yesterday was in Tampa at the Yankees' minor league complex. Like Saturday's 5-for-7 debut against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Utley was facing pitchers destined for the rookie, short-season Gulf Coast League. To go lower than that in professional baseball, you have to be assigned to an academy team in the Dominican Republic or Venezuela. First inning, Williams was on first and looking runnerish, as Rich Ashburn liked to say. Diaz has a rocket arm and was a 20-year-old catcher on last summer's Gulf Coast League champions. Francisco has been having trouble with accuracy this spring. A good throw might have nailed Williams. But the throw was high, and Utley"
First game just a day of batting practice for Utley
May 9
Philly.com
 columnist Bill Conlin
"Hitting will not be as easy as Utley made it look Saturday in his first seven rehab at-bats. After the Phillies second baseman went 5-for-7 with a pair of homers against two Blue Jays extended-spring-training lefthanders in Dunedin, I told him, "That was one helluva endorsement for 3 months of nothing but batting practice." "I guess," Utley said, expansively. I asked if the next test for a knee wounded by patellar tendinitis would be how it feels the next day. "One day at a time," Chase elaborated. Back in the Dark Age of the Ashburn Era, the Phillies had a 1952-54 catcher named Smokey Burgess. Smokey was also an extraordinary pinch-hitter, and as his 18-year career took him to the Reds,"
Utley comes out swinging in first rehab appearance
May 8
Philly.com
 
"Showing no signs of any knee problems, Chase Utley batted seven times, all against lefties, during his first extended spring training game in Dunedin. Utley, who has yet to play this season while recovering from a knee injury, went 5-for-7 with two homers, three singles, two RBI, and three runs scored off a pair of Toronto lefthanders. More impressively, Utley was able to beat out a throw on one of the singles, a good sign that his health is improving. His first home run went about 390 feet to the opposite field, but his second was a tape measure shot to right field that would have been in the second deck at Citizens Bank Park. "I tried to fool him with a change up on 2-2," said Blue Jays"
Utley may start Fla. workouts soon
May 6
Courier-Post
 
"Second baseman Chase Utley could begin extended spring training as early as today after coming out of several days of simulated games without any setbacks. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the team was "still trying to decide the next step," but CSNPhilly reported that sources close to the team believe Utley could leave for the team's facilities in Clearwater, Fla., today. "We haven't set any schedule yet," Amaro said, adding that once Utley arrives in Florida, "I would assume it would be a slow progression." Manager Charlie Manuel said he wasn't sure how many at-bats Utley might need in a minor-league rehabilitation assignment, but Utley has a history of progressing quickly"
Utley updates becoming big business in Philadelphia
May 5
Philly.com
 columnist John Gonzalez
"In the Pacific Northwest, Bigfoot is big business. There are fan clubs and podcasts dedicated to the legend, and local police stations often field calls from true believers eager to report the latest sighting. The Loch Ness Monster enjoys the same sort of attention in Scotland. Nessie even has her (his?) own website. Here in Philly, Chase Utley is building toward that kind of crazy cult treatment. At this point, the patellar tendinitis in his right knee should have its own PR handler. Every step he takes is evaluated, every simulated game dissected. The reports come one after the other now. He's close. He's not close. He's not working out. He is working out. The truth is in there"
Utley nears next step
May 4
Courier-Post
 
"For the better part of two months, no one within the Phillies' organization wanted to say much of anything when it came to a timetable for Chase Utley's return to the team. But after Utley participated in his second simulated game in three days Tuesday, manager Charlie Manuel finally offered some insight fans have been waiting to hear. "It might be time to let him go somewhere, like Clearwater (for extended spring training), and start getting into a broader, bigger routine," Manuel said. "I think he's doing much better. He's getting there in how he responds after he does that kind of workout like he did the last couple days. That's what counts. I definitely think he's closer than what he"
Utley closes in on return
May 2
Courier-Post
 
"The progress has been slow for Chase Utley for more than two months, but a return to action could be just around the corner. Utley played in what general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. described as a "semi-simulated" game Sunday, hitting off pitching coach Rich Dubee, running the bases, taking ground balls at second base and resting between innings to simulate the up-and-downs of a real game. It marks the most significant progress yet for Utley, who has not participated in normal baseball activities since being shelved with patellar tendinitis in late February. "He's progressing," Amaro said. "If he comes out of it OK, it was good. We'll find out (today) how he feels." If the response is"
Utley plays in simulated game; Amaro upbeat about return
May 2
Philly.com
 
"Since the Phillies shut down their star second baseman in late February, the only certainty about Chase Utley's recovery from a painful knee condition has been the club's steadfast refusal to even address a timetable for his return. That did not change yesterday, when Ruben Amaro Jr. briefed the media on his team's densely populated disabled list. But the general manager's tone was far more upbeat than it has been at any point over the previous 2 months, and there are plenty of indications that the Phillies are expecting Utley to return at some point this month. Yesterday, Utley participated in a short simulated game in which he took batting practice, fielded ground balls, then sat on the"
Utley's workout called 'good sign'
May 2
Philly.com
 
"The progressions of Chase Utley's recovery have been measured in accomplishing simple baseball tasks made difficult by a bad right knee. Sunday brought another milestone: Utley played in a "semi-simulated" game, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. It marks a key step in Utley's return from patellar tendinitis. The second baseman saw breaking balls (thrown by pitching coach Rich Dubee) for the first time since the beginning of spring training. Utley then ran the bases and also took grounders at second base. To simulate a game, he sat in the dugout in between "innings" for a few minutes. This all happened for about three innings with Charlie Manuel and a number of Phillies"
Phillies' Utley making gradual progress
April 24
Philly.com
 
"Besides Scott Sheridan, the Phillies' head athletic trainer, the man working closest with Chase Utley during his nebulous rehab process is Sam Perlozzo. The first-base coach and infield coordinator is the one who intently watches Utley as he participates in fielding drills on his chronically pained right knee. On some days, he'll watch the second baseman do his running exercises and hit a few extra grounders to him. "One day you think he's close," Perlozzo said, his voice trailing off. He did not complete the sentence. Utley has shown progress, no doubt. He has gone from not running to running, and that was the biggest step yet. But the repetitions increase gradually. He is taking Saturday"
Utley takes baby steps
April 21
Courier-Post
 
"For about 15 minutes before Wednesday's game, Chase Utley shuffled around second base, taking grounders, flipping balls to second and making throws to first. The image is so tantalizing for the Phillies. Despite continued soreness in his knee caused by patellar tendinitis and bone inflammation, Utley looks smooth and moves well. But while his progress has been consistent, a return to action is still a ways off, he said. "That's the goal but that's definitely not the next step," Utley said. "The next step is just to continue doing what I'm doing and to hope that it responds well. And so far it has." Utley said his knee feels significantly better than it did when the team left Florida to"
Amaro tempers Utley optimism
April 16
Courier-Post
 
"Chase Utley wasn't talking one day after doing his first serious running since injuring his knee, but general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. cautioned that progress for the second baseman remains slow. Utley did about 15 minutes of shuttle drills and base-running work Thursday in Washington, his first running since being shelved a week into spring training with tendinitis and bone inflammation in his knee. Amaro said that's a good step, but he'll need to see a lot more from Utley before entertaining the notion of getting the second baseman into a game. "He's going to probably have to do several days of going 100 percent and not feeling (pain) before we do anything as far as a rehab," Amaro said."
Utley shows improvement
April 15
Courier-Post
 
"Chase Utley took another step toward a return Thursday, running and moving laterally on his sore right knee. Utley spent about 10 minutes doing shuttle drills in left field, shuffling laterally and jogging lightly around four cones. He then came in and ran from first to third a few times, going slowly at first, then picking up speed to nearly his capacity. The workouts mark the most concrete evidence of progress for Utley since he was shelved indefinitely before Grapefruit League games began in February. "He's slowly getting better, he's slowly feeling better," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "Hopefully he keeps going that way, too." Utley has made steady -- if not always discernible"
Phillies' Utley is progressing slowly
April 15
Philly.com
 
"Five hours before Thursday's series finale here, Scott Sheridan watched Chase Utley do some light running around the infield and some shuttle drills. Two hours later, Sheridan took a seat directly behind the batting cage in the dugout tunnel to watch Ryan Howard swing a bat. Utley, of course, remains sidelined for an indefinite period with chronic pain in his right knee despite his increased work with Sheridan, the Phillies' head athletic trainer. Beginning to run is an obvious sign of progress. The news on Howard was encouraging, too. He had an X-ray on his right wrist after Wednesday's game, when he was hit by a John Lannan pitch there. The X-ray was negative and Howard batted cleanup"
Utley progressing by 'baby steps'
April 6
Philly.com
 
"Progress in Chase Utley's chronically injured right knee is measured these days in the lateral steps he can make at an empty Citizens Bank Park. Hours before each game, Utley trots out to second and fields a barrage of ground balls hit to him by first-base coach Sam Perlozzo. On Sunday, Utley made more movements in the field than he has yet, going to his right to flip a ball to second and even going down on one knee to make a pivot throw. Utley has yet to run, and that will be the ultimate test of the patellar tendinitis, chondromalacia, and bone inflammation in his right knee. He has not even jogged and is not close to doing so. Translation: a return is still far off. "Oh, he's made some"
Utley 'not close to jogging'
April 6
Courier-Post
 
"In the ongoing saga of Chase Utley's injured knee, there has been little in the way of specific progress. So when GM Ruben Amaro told FOX Sports that his second baseman would begin jogging soon, it seemed to be a big step forward. Turns out, that may have been a bit premature. Utley, who missed all of spring training with patellar tendinitis, bone inflammation and chondromalacia, has been taking grounders at second and moving around a bit more, but his progress has been minimal. "Right now he feels some discomfort, but not to the point where it's debilitating for him," Amaro said. "He's made some progress in so much that it's not as painful." Diminished pain is progress, but it's not the"