Friday, March 4, 2011
Posted: 4:50 p.m.
By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com
BRADENTON, Fla.The Phillies reach the three-week mark of spring training this weekend. They have played a weeks worth of exhibition games. Sounds like a good time to step back and look at a few issues.
Chase Utley
Domonic Browns difficulties at the plate are dissected daily, in Florida and Philadelphia. But in terms of importance to this team, the Brown saga does not even compare to the issue surrounding all-star second baseman Chase Utley and his health.
Utley and his condition is the biggest, most important story in this camp. Think about it. Heres a guy who loves to play, a guy who is crucial to this teams chances in 2011, and he hasnt been able to get on the field because of a tendinitis-stricken right knee.
Thats bad news.
MLB
Utley detests talking about injuries. A ligament usually has to be shredded before he will even admit to one. But Utley was unusually open in talking about his current problem last weekend. Maybe thats because hes not overly worried about it. If thats the case, its a good sign. But in talking about the problemthe official name is patellar tendinitisUtley disclosed that hed been affected by it in the past, that it comes and goes and there was no rhyme or reason for it. That would make the problem chronic, and that has to be worrisome for Phillies officials because the issue could pop up again and impact Utleys play or knock him off the field during the regular season.
This entire issue has played out against a longstanding undercurrent of concern that Utley is wearing down physically after years of playing the game like a strong safety.
The Phillies say they are taking a cautious approach with Utley. They are addressing the problem with medicine -- he had a cortisone injection on Friday -- and treatment now, in the early weeks of spring training, so it doesnt affect the second baseman during the season. But on Thursday, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Utleys condition was the sameno better, no worsethan it was when he first diagnosed. No improvement in five days? Again, bad news.
Utley has continued to take batting practice. Theres plenty of time for him to get the 10 or so games he needs to be ready for opening day.
If he can get on the field.
For now theres no timetable for that. And thats troubling.
Domonic Brown
Hes 0-for-15 this spring. You know what that means? Nothing. Charlie Manuel likes to say, Watch the game. What tells you more about a hitter, three bloop hits or three line outs? In Browns case, the 0-for-15 isnt so much the story as how it has been attainedwith nine strikeouts along the way.
Brown hasnt made enough contact. Hes been fooled on pitchesa sure sign that the wheels inside his brain are spinning a million miles per hour. Thats never good because any successful player will tell you that the first step toward success is having the game slow down for you.
Brown, who did not play against the Pirates on Friday, has a lot on his plate. He is attempting to make a major change in the hand positioning in his batting stance. He seems to tinker with that positioning almost daily, sometimes even from at-bat to at-bat. It is very difficult for a player to make a major adjustment in his game and make a team at the same time. Brown probably needs time in Triple A to make it all workPhillies officials have said that since Septemberand theres nothing wrong with that. He is 23 years old. He missed some development time during a stint in the majors last season. He is not a finished product and hes bright enough and mature enough to know that. From Day 1 this spring, Brown has said that he wants to be in Philadelphia. But hes also said that if he has to go to the minors he will take the assignment with a level head and try to improve his game.
As for that development time that Brown lostwell, it amounted to about a month. He can make that up in a hurry. The kid has too many tools and too impressive a minor-league track record to let a few difficult weeks in winter ball and spring training cast clouds on what should be a bright future. This is a tough game. Brown isnt the first who couldnt master it overnight.
Ben Francisco
Hes well on his way to winning the starting rightfield job. Hes winning it with his bat and his body language. He is confident. From Day 1 of camp he acted like it was his job. Teammates have commented privately about how eager Francisco is to prove himself. He is hitting a hard .375 (6-for-16) with five RBIs in six games.
Remember, it wasnt all that long ago that another reserve player with aspirations similar to Francisco got a chance with the Phillies and seized it. That guy was Jayson Werth, who signed a 126 million contract with Washington in the offseason.
Jimmy Rollins
He is definitely in better shape than he was last year. Hes leaner and sleeker. All the ingredientsfrom good health to a contract pushare there for Rollins to have a big season. He had a couple hits against the Pirates on Friday. But the real read on Rollins wont come until opening day and the red light goes on.
Cole Hamels
He is in tremendous physical shape. He is more comfortable with his deeper arsenal of pitches. He grew from his struggles of 2009 and used them to sharpen his concentration and mental focus as well as his preparation. It was all so evident in the second half of last season when he had the fifth-lowest ERA (2.23) in the game after the all-star break, and it is again evident now. He is throwing the ball brilliantly. Dont be surprised if the best is yet to come from Hamels.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.comRelated: Phillies notes: Utility man Valdez flashes versatilityBuy Phillies gear