Utley Out 4-6 Weeks With Broken Hand
The Phillies' slim playoff hopes may have crashed into a wall today, with news after the afternoon game that Chase Utley suffered a broken hand when hit by a pitch in the 5th inning. Utley has easily been the heart and soul of the team this year and might have been a candidate for MVP, but now it appears he will be on the DL for at least a month.
This likely puts Abraham Nunez at 2B, Wes Helms a regular (though he'll probably platoon with Greg Dobbs) at 3B, and the Phillies up shit's creek. The hot hitting Aaron Rowand will likely no longer be protection for Ryan Howard, as he'll probably move to the 3 hole. Chollie will have to rely on Pat Burrell in the 5 now...
Does this single injury, occurring just a few days before the July 31 deadline, make the Phillies sure sellers? Or will the replacement crew rally to give Chase a reason to come back ASAP? My guess is that August probably just got a lot longer. Mini Camp!
(Hat tip to Chris)
Eventually, a team that has as many HBP as the Phils do will suffer an injury like this.
But I do hope they are sellers...as long as its Burrell, Garcia, Lieber, Helms, Barajas and Eaton.
Posted by: Tartan69 | Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 07:52 PM
this certainly ruins my day...
Posted by: Charlie | Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 08:40 PM
Shit. Couldn't get much worse news than this.
Maybe, just maybe, he'll be ready to play at the end of August when the Dodgers, Pods, and Mets come to Philly. Somehow I doubt it though...
Lannon!
Posted by: Flexabull | Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 09:01 PM
Phillies are a team of women. When will someone on that staff grow a pair and hit someone from the other team. They drilled Utley and Howard. I don't care if there was ejections. You throw at their best player the next time up.
Posted by: PJ | Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 09:41 PM
"You throw at their best player the next time up."
Would that be the fat second baseman or the singles-hitting first baseman that should be hitting 35 HRs?
Posted by: Baker Bown | Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 10:54 PM
Someone explain to me why Wheels didn't think Lannan should've been tossed. Him and Sarge were going at it. Stupid Wheels. Show some loyalty for once.
Posted by: jb | Friday, July 27, 2007 at 07:59 AM
This fucking BLOWS. Yeah we should have hit somebody, but who really cares. Forget about going to get pitching. Let's just can the season right?
Actually on SR950 this morning, Jayson Stark said the Phils will try to make a deal for Mark Loretta or Mark Grudzelanik. I have NO idea who they think they will be able to give up to get these guys, but it's a hopeful sign.
Posted by: Chris | Friday, July 27, 2007 at 09:46 AM
does jeff garcia play second base?
Posted by: nuuuuny | Friday, July 27, 2007 at 10:45 AM
Then you throw at the guy who leads off the next inning. This is the way it should be done.
Posted by: PJ | Friday, July 27, 2007 at 10:47 AM
There is no doubt in my mind someone from the Nationals should have been hit, but in a close game and Eaton running out of gas and Joe Table on the mound the last thing we could afford is a freebie.
Furthermore, Wheels needs to watch a replay. Lannan hitting Utley was seemingly unintentional, but when he hit Howard square behind the shoulder with a fast ball it was clearly intentional. The thinking for the umpire was that he knew Howard had hit walk-off bomb the night before, which he stopped and stared at for a good two seconds then flipped the bat. I don't care if your playing the Nats or the Red Sox, when you do that at home plate, you're going to get drilled at some point the rest of the series. So Wheels, watch a replay of both Howard's homerun in the 14th and then watch where Lannan released that ball. CLEARLY INTENTIONAL. Stop being such a tool and show some love for the team that has employed you for your entire life.
Posted by: ColeHamelsIn2008 | Friday, July 27, 2007 at 10:51 AM
I think the phitins can still get by w/out Utley - the offense is solid right now, its just that some guys are going to have to step up (ahem...pat the bat). we still need some effin pitching...its obvious since they cant seem to hold a lead in the late innings against possibly the worst offense in the league.
Posted by: MasterlockJr. | Friday, July 27, 2007 at 11:12 AM
baker brown youre a moron, the nationals best player is zimmerman
Posted by: jon | Friday, July 27, 2007 at 04:26 PM
Did you see that? That thing that whizzed right by?
That was just my point. No biggie.
Posted by: Baker Bowl | Friday, July 27, 2007 at 11:00 PM
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Posted by: genesis thats all lyric | Saturday, July 28, 2007 at 08:32 AM