Two months ago, Phillies fans were wondering just how long it would take Chase Utley to recover from hip surgery. Most experts penciled in Utley’s return for late May, maybe June.
Instead, it’s April 13, Utley has played every inning of the 2009 season, and these are his numbers through six games:
21 AB / 6 R / 1 HR / 5 RBI / 2 SB / .476 AVG / .577 OBP / .667 SLG
Moreover, his defense has been steady as usual, and of course, he’s running well. He hit the two-run home run that tied the game in the eighth inning Sunday against the Rockies. Yes, so far, Utley is playing the best baseball of any Phillie hitter. But honestly, did you doubt it?
Tim MalcolmTim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.
