The Zo Zone

The Phillies have been hit hard in recent seasons with multi-year contracts that have not panned out like they had hoped: Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell, Tom Gordon, Jon Lieber, Mike Lieberthal, Jim Thome and Randy Wolf immediately come to mind.

Then there is Chase Utley.

Is there any doubt that Utley, if he stays healthy, will be productive throughout the remainder of his seven-year, $85-million contract extension? His swing is so consistent that I just do not see him capable of a long term slump like Burrell. He works incredibly hard. I can say from spending countless hours in the clubhouse that Utley watches more film than any hitter I've seen. If he's not taking extra hitting, there's a very good bet he's sitting in the video room trying to find an edge against that night's pitcher.

Utley went 3 for 4 with a double, home run and three RBIs in last night's 4-2 victory over the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.

“What do you want me to say about him?” Charlie Manuel said. “I can’t say enough. If I start talking about Chase, you could come back next year and I’d still probably be talking. He’s that good. He’s something very special. I used to say Kirby Puckett was my favorite player. I love Kirby Puckett, but Chase is getting there. Just the way he plays the game. How hard he plays. How mentally tough he is. Plus how he hits and hustles. I like everything about his game.”

Puckett smiled more than Utley.

"Kirby was more flamboyant," Manuel said.

True, but Manuel knows it's the results that matter.

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Utley continues to lead the National League all-star voting for second basemen. Can you see anybody unseating him in the next several seasons?

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Brett Myers said his target date to the bullpen is June 18. That means the Phillies will have to play series against the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers without him. Ryan Howard also is beginning a running program he said is designed to help keep his left quadriceps in shape. But I can't help but wonder if Howard also wants to be in better shape overall. He has acknowledged that he didn't get to work out in January, a very important month for a baseball player, like he had in the past because of the banquet circuit after winning the NL MVP and other awards.

"You learn a lot of lessons," Howard said. "Everything and every day is a learning process. All those banquets, all the extra curricular activities that takes place … I might do it again, but I might do it differently. Maybe spread it out instead of doing so much in January, which is probably the most crucial month in getting ready."

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Did anybody see Mets manager Willie Randolph use closer Billy Wagner in a non-save situation last night? Is Randolph losing his marbles or what? Serioulsy, there's no question the Mets are the team to beat in the NL East.

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Baseball's draft begins Thursday. The Feed discusses some of biggest busts ever.

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My apologies to every hoagie place in Philadelphia, but yesterday I ate incredibly well at Mama's of Corona in Queens. It's a very short drive from Shea and well worth the trip.