2012 Top Moment #3: The Return of Chase Utley
Posted by Amanda Orr, Tue, December 18, 2012 08:14 AM | Comments: 18
Posts, Top 10 Moments of 2012
Photo: ESPN
When first learning about Chase Utley’s knee injury, most Phillies fans didn’t seem overly concerned. As days turned into weeks, more questions came up. Why isn’t he playing? What’s wrong with his knees? Why aren’t they saying anything? When is he going to come back?
There was no more shrugging off the injury. Phillies fans knew something was wrong with Utley, one of the toughest, hard-nosed players in baseball. Fans were getting worried.
Weeks turned into months, and still no Utley. Finally, a timetable for his return was set. On June 27, Led Zepplin’s Kashmir once again blasted over the Citizen Bank Park speakers.
Chase Utley was back.
The second baseman that the great Harry Kalas once referred to as “The Man” was back in the Phillies lineup. It didn’t matter if he struck out or hit a home run; the fact was that he was back. But of course he wasn’t going to strike out: Utley’s first at-bat was practically scripted.
With the count at 2-2, Utley launched Pittsburgh’s James McDonald’s offering into the right-center field seats. Utley was mobbed in the dugout with high-fives, as he gave the Phillies the early lead. He received a curtain call, as the fans couldn’t have imagined a more dramatic return.
Unfortunately, the Phillies could not hold onto the lead, and lost the game 11-7. But it didn’t matter. Chase Utley was back, and the Phillies are always better with him in the lineup. He gave the fans hope and something to look forward to. The team has a different look when Utley is in the lineup, and it was a terrific feeling to have him back and hitting homers.
Posts: 0 bacardipr
The lack of info especially in situation like this with this particular player was worrisome. Utley the mute left everyone wondering and guessing. Not that we have the right to know everything, but we didnt know anything. We shall see how he bounces back next year.
Posted: 09:40 AM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 0 Frank
I would care about these if the Phillies season wasn’t a failure last year.
Posted: 09:58 AM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 0 Don M
Even in a “season of failure”… it’s good to look back at the high points, and this was definitely a cool thing that i’ll always remember about Utley
Posted: 10:15 AM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 0 Dave P
If I recall, he also hit some really deep fly balls this game that almost went out as well. It was encouraging to see the power behind the swing return.
Posted: 10:34 AM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 770 betasigmadeltashag
Am I the only one that thinks with Chase’s limited time playing last year and having no playoffs, will help Chase be ready for spring training, and with some regular rest during the year could play 135-140 games. I really think that was part of the Young signing, to have him play second, and actually have a real bat in the line up when Chase is siting
Posted: 10:49 AM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 0 bacardipr
Beta i also thought of the possibility of Young switching over to 2nd to spell chase. Presumably Frandsden would slide over to 3rd. I also think Galvis would get a few starts @ 2nd as well. Young is no spring chicken as well so im sure he will need to be relieved more periodically. That is if Cholly learnt his lesson.
Posted: 10:59 AM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 0 Jaron B
Not to mention Chooch hit a homer right after him. I watched it live and WHAT A SHOW!!!
Let’s hope for a bounce-back year communication and playing time wise for “The Man” in 2013!!!
Posted: 11:39 AM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 0 brooks
My buddy and I got there just in time to see his hr. We had to stand in the concourse but it was worth it! What a thrill. Chooch followed up, hard to believe they lost that game.
Posted: 09:10 PM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 531 schmenkman
There’s an assumption among some that he knew a lot more than he let on. To me, this is at least as plausible: he had been working on his right knee all winter (the one that bothered in spring ’11), it’s feeling good, and he comes to spring training expecting he’ll be ready to play and that he can work through any minor pain issues, as he always has in the past.
It turns out that when he ramps up baseball activities, his left knee now feels a lot worse than he expected, so he realizes he can’t play, and goes and gets another opinion on a physical therapy regimen to strengthen it.
Posted: 11:58 AM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 3461 Lefty
Hard to say what really happened since none of us were close enough to the situation to really know, but I agree that’s just as plausible. What is more important to me is that he’s on a different regimen this offseason that hopefully will bring better results. RA Jr. also said that Halladay was on a different program and should be fully ready. He also said he wasn’t sure we’d see the 09-10 Halladay again, but he should be much healthier than last season. You could verify this, but everything I’ve read says not too many pitchers who lose velocity, regain it without surgery. I think Dave Cameron wrote a piece on this some time back.
Posted: 12:57 PM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 0 brooks
Agreed Lefty. The anger that most of us felt was more due to the dissapointment of how the season was turning out, kind of like the ‘Perfect Storm’ for the negative.
I believe that Ruben made the ‘Giddy’ coments while answering questions from ticket holders? I know he also mentioned that the Phils were thinking that by airtime (of this video) they might have already signed another starter. I suppose he meant Lannan? Can you imagine the meet and greet with the other players? Smack in the head then, “How you doin’?”
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=25529947&topic_id=27294146&c_id=phi
Posted: 02:37 PM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 3461 Lefty
Well, RA Jr. says Chase is “giddy” right now about how his knees feel. I find it hard to imagine Chase being giddy about anything, but it’s good to hear anyway. He said he’s taking ground balls every other day and is looking like he will be ready this time around.
Posted: 12:50 PM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 1077 EricL
Yeah, Ruben is putting words in Chase’s mouth. Chase Utley has never been giddy about anything, ever.
Posted: 01:48 PM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 0 bacardipr
As anyone that post on here probably knows. The Phillies especially the offense revolves around Howard, Chase and Rollins. (Also Chooch’s clutch hits)Every one else is just supporting characters. The fact that Shane and Werth (back then) turned out to be stars was just gravy. In other words if Chase and Howard dont bounce back we up the creek…Not to mention Doc but thats another story.
Posted: 02:24 PM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 0 schmenkman
I agree with your main point, but I want to pick up on something you said about the core of the offense. Like a lot of fans, you added Chooch as afterthought, and then noted his clutch hits.
But over the last three years, Chooch has actually been the best hitter on the team, and while he has been clutch, he hasn’t been the most clutch.
Best hitters in 2010-12, using OPS (could use something more advanced, but it wouldn’t change the ranking):
1. Ruiz .842
2. Howard .822
3. Utley .800
4. Mayberry .763
5. Rollins .729
Best hitters in high leverage situations, 2010-12:
1. Howard .923
2. Utley .840
3. Rollins .781
4. Ruiz .740
5. Mayberry .728
Another way some view clutch is hitting with runners in scoring position. Best with RISP, 2010-12:
1. Rollins .936
2. Howard .923
3. Ruiz .894
4. Utley .858
5. Mayberry .786
So in a sense you could have just as well said “the offense revolves around Chooch, Howard, and Utley (also Rollins’ clutch hits).”
Of course, Chooch was already headed for some regression after his great 2012, but we’ll have to see how he hits post-suspension.
Posted: 02:40 PM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 3461 Lefty
I think it’s possible, (I shouldn’t put words in bacardi’s mouth) that he meant what most of us feel. And that is that big hits from Ruiz, for many years our eight hole hitter, were more like “a pleasant surprise” or “additional hits” instead of “clutch” hits. But we all get that confused sometimes.
Posted: 03:06 PM on December 18, 2012
Posts: 0 bacardipr
Nice info Sheck…Lefty yep pretty much that is what i meant…
Posted: 05:19 PM on December 18, 2012
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