Monday, May 9, 2011
Posted: 6:25 p.m.
By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com
MIAMIA few pregame notes before the Phillies play the Marlins on Monday night:
Chase Utley went 1 for 7 in an extended spring-training game Monday in Tampa. Utley played four innings in the field against a team of Yankees farmhands.
According to manager Charlie Manuel, Utley checked out fine after the game. It was unclear if Utley would play again on Tuesday. The all-star second baseman has yet to play this season because of patellar tendinitis in his right knee. In addition to getting his timing at the plate, Utley is testing the overall health of his knee. According to Manuel, the Phillies want to see him withstand the pounding of playing several days in a row before they activate him.
Because of the uncertainty of Utleys condition and the teams overall caution, there is no official timetable for his return.
Teammates have said they would not be surprised to see Utley back some time during this eight-game road trip, which begins Monday night and ends next Tuesday night. The Phillies open a nine-game homestand a week from Wednesday. (It runs May 18-26.) That might be a likely timeframe for Utley to returnif all continues to go well with his knee.
MLB
Oswalt update
The Phillies have made it official. Roy Oswalt (back) will not come off the disabled list to pitch Friday in Atlanta. Cole Hamels will make that start on regular rest. Joe Blanton and Roy Halladay would follow Hamels in that series.
Oswalt will throw in the bullpen on Tuesday. If all goes well, he will pitch in a minor-league game on Thursday in Clearwater.
Ruiz update
Catcher Carlos Ruiz, on the DL with a sore back, took batting practice before Monday nights game. He will spend the next few days rehabbing in Clearwater, where he could get some at-bats in extended spring-training games and catch Oswalt on Thursday. He could be activated on Friday.
Lineup matters
Ross Gload got the start in rightfield against the Marlins on Monday night. He entered the game 16 for 38 with seven RBIs in his career against Marlins right-hander Javier Vazquez.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com
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