Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Posted: 9:32 a.m.Updated: 12:48 p.m.
By John R. FingerCSNPhilly.com
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The biggest question of the Phillies 2011 spring training camp was answered on Wednesday morningsort of.
Chase Utley will not have surgery for his injured kneeat least not in the immediate future. Instead, the team will continue to non-operatively treat what is termed tendinitis, chondromalacia (a.k.a. runners knee) and bone inflammation by team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti.
Surgery, of course, is an option for Utley, and some doctors might say that it is the quickest way back to health, but others might offer that non-invasive treatments are the way to go.
Thats the course of actionfor nowthat Utley has chosen.
Thats the last resort at this point, Utley said about surgery for his knee. Were going to try and exhaust every avenue prior to that and continue to see how it goes and monitor it on a daily basis.
Again, it is frustrating, but at this point we have to stay positive and stay on top of things and thats what weve been doing.
MLB
Surgery has not been ruled out.
Were trying to do this non-operatively, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. Thats one of the reasons why were ... wed rather not go in there and operate. Were trying to treat this non-operatively, and if theres a way to do that well try to exhaust all those possibilities. Now, it may turn out we have to do something as far as operations are concerned, but the goal is try to get him well without doing it.
Non-surgical treatment for Utleys injury takes time, head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan explained, and at least for now, the Phillies have some time to investigate.
They can be very effective, but the problem is no one wants to take the time, Sheridan said. Thats the important thingwe have to take the time to do this right.
There were no visible signs of injury for Utley during a batting practice session at Bright House Field on Wednesday morning. With most of his teammates on a bus ride to Lakeland to take on the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium, Utley stayed behind and worked on his swing. He can play catch, too.
Basically, anything that does not require running, jumping or stress on his knee is doable.
Yet whether or not Utley will be taking swings and running the bases any time soon remains a mystery. Though Amaro and Sheridan gave the long-awaited update on Utleys sore knee on Wednesday morning, it remains unknown when the All-Star second baseman will be ready to play again.
We dont know exactly when hes going to be playing for us, Amaro told the assembled Philadelphia baseball press corps. I expect him at some point, hopefully, in the early part of the season.
But thats not guaranteed. For now, all the Phillies were ready to do was say that they were not going to suggest surgery for Utley. At least until they have gathered all the information they can dig up.
So heres what we really know. Utley received a cortisone shot last week and had a second MRI on Monday to look at the injury from a different vantage. In the past, Utley said he has had cortisone shots when needed and the treatment worked successfully. The difference this time is the shot provided very little relief.
In fact, Utleys knee hurts badly enough that if the season were to start today, he would not play. In other words, its serious. After all, Utley played through a torn labrum in his hip during the 2008 season without a second thought.
I think at this point were not trying to find the easy way out, Utley said. Were looking at the big picture and thats the frustrating part, because everyone who knows me best knows that the only place I want to be is on the field. It is disappointing because its not in my best interests to be out there.
Amaro concurred.
He doesn't feel comfortable enough to be able to play, the GM said. If he could, knowing Chase, he would be playing. Right now it's just too much discomfort for him to be playing. And frankly, rest might be the best option here. That's one of the reasons why we continue to do what we're doing right now, which is some of the rehab stuff Scott has been doing and Dr. Ciccotti has been doing with him, is rest and some of the other things that he's done. I think rest may be the best option here.
Covering the bases
Amaro said he is not too concerned if Utley, 32, can play when the season starts on April 1. The objective, the GM said, is to make sure Utley can play as soon as possible this season and then for many seasons after this one.
For us this is a long-term thing. Frankly, I do not care if hes making Opening Day or if hes not making Opening Day, Amaro said. For us, this is for him to be able to play long termlong term meaning through this year, through next year, through the following year.
This is something that we want to make sure hes 100 percent so when he gets on the field that we dont have any missteps beyond that. Thats really the goal here. Thats why weve been holding him back so much.
With Utley out indefinitely, Amaros job seemingly has gotten more difficult. However, Amaro said he has no immediate plans to swing a deal to bolster his infield, despite contradictory speculation.
For now, Wilson Valdez will be the regular second baseman, which is kind of funny considering manager Charlie Manuel called the utility infielder one of the teams MVPs in 2010.
Based on what he did for us last year, he would be the answer, Amaro said about Valdez.
That might be the only concrete answer for anything given on Wednesday morning. Actually, considering the number of injuries Utley has suffered during his career, the latest one might be the most perplexing.
I broke my hand a few years ago, which I consider a freak thing. I tore a ligament in my thumb, which again is a freak-type injury, Utley said. I had an issue with my hip that has been treated and has responded very well. So in that aspect its been tough. Ive played this game for a little while and I feel like Ive played it the right way and I dont know any other way to play it.
For Utley, its just another test of his resolve.
When things arent going your way, thats when someone shows his true character, he said. At this point I cant change things the way I have in the past so all I can do is have a positive attitude.
E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com
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