Chase Utley broke his right hand today after being hit by a pitch in the fifth inning of today's 7-6 loss to the Washington Nationals.
This is a major blow to the Phillies.
Utley insists he will be back this season, but nobody can be certain at this point. He said from everything he has heard, he thinks he could be back in less than a month. But he also acknowledged he could require surgery. Utley has a fracture of the fourth metacarpal, but both the Phillies and Utley insist the injury is not season ending. Utley will meet with hand specialist Randall Culp today, and see what kind of procedure he needs to take to return him to the field as quickly as possible.
“There is a best case and there is a worst case,” Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.
The best case?
“We absolutely believe that he will back this year, yes,” Amaro said. “We actually feel pretty good after the diagnosis from Dr. (Michael) Ciccotti. As dismal as this situation may sound, we actually feel pretty confident that he’s going to be back in a pretty timely fashion. On a scale of a 0 to 10, it was probably a 2 to 3 type of a fracture. Zero being the most mild.”
Comments (13)
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Anonymous | July 26, 2007 7:24 PM
Posted on July 26, 2007 19:24
This is one of those things that really just makes you shake your head. Man, this stinks.
Posted by Drew | July 26, 2007 7:57 PM
Posted on July 26, 2007 19:57
This team can't catch a break. I was just starting to get excited about Myers and Gordon coming back, and then this.
Posted by drew2 | July 26, 2007 8:54 PM
Posted on July 26, 2007 20:54
Time to cut your losses and look to the future. Despite how well they have played, this team was borderline contender anyway. Keep the young guys and deal the old. Hate to say it, but look to the future. KEEP Bourne, 'cause you know that Rowand will not be back.
Posted by JRH13 | July 26, 2007 9:02 PM
Posted on July 26, 2007 21:02
This is worse than a 10-game losing streak. This is worse than losing another starter to injury. This basically makes this season a lost cause. Let's take the rest of this year to give Kendrick, Durbin and Bourne more experience, cut our losses and get ready for 2008. It pains me to say that, but it might be the case.
Posted by V | July 26, 2007 9:08 PM
Posted on July 26, 2007 21:08
This sucks! I know Manuel said the rookie didn't try to hit Utley and Howard (back to back on fastballs), but I guarantee there will be payback in the next game they play the Nationals. And there should be - you have to be really bad or try really hard to hit back to back guys, who by the way are the 2 best hitters.....
Posted by Kevin | July 26, 2007 9:24 PM
Posted on July 26, 2007 21:24
While it's clearly a huge loss, keep in mind the Phils lost Rowand and Abreu last year and still made a late run. Utley comes back in September and we'll see. Plus, Pat the Bat is hitting .440 the last 17 games...
Posted by John in LA | July 26, 2007 9:41 PM
Posted on July 26, 2007 21:41
With the Simpsons Movie opening tomorrow, it's appropriate to point out that the Phillies are in Deep, Deep Trouble...
http://bestofyt.com/video/simpsons-deep-deep-trouble
Posted by Joe in Philly | July 26, 2007 10:02 PM
Posted on July 26, 2007 22:02
It was intentional. The Nats are bad, but their pitcher isn't bad enough to hit two guys back to back. As the Eagles chant says: hit high, hit them low. Hopefully Manuel lets a couple high wild pitches go on Friday.
Posted by Bryan | July 26, 2007 11:29 PM
Posted on July 26, 2007 23:29
So Todd, are you the new SI jinx? A cover Inquirer story earlier this week on Chase, and now he's hurt.
I just don't have any words. Without fail, you get excited and think maybe, just maybe it can happen this year...and then something happens.
Why do the Phillies lead the league in HBP, and still never retaliate. I know it's not always done on purpose, but you need to stand up for your team at some point. I remember Hamels hitting a batter after Rowand was hit earlier this year, but that's about it.
Posted by Heather | July 27, 2007 4:32 AM
Posted on July 27, 2007 04:32
This is a devastating loss. The domino effect of this is Nunez now plays second which puts Helms at third even more. Manual's love affair with Helm's has mystified me all year, he is absolutely useless to this team and weakens us terribly. Remember, last years run was made with Abe at third base. Rowand now has to bat third and hoping that Burrell can play consistantly is right up there with thinking you might win the powerball. Amaro said. “We actually feel pretty good after the diagnosis"....I feel so much better knowing Dr.Ciccotti, the Wes Helms of doctors, thinks it's not that bad (see Garcia,Myers and Gordon). I wouldn't trust him to give me the right time, much less an accurate diagnosis.
Worst of all, this sets up the front office to make the excuse (when we miss the playoffs again) that we should stand pat in the offseason, we just had bad luck with injuries, our team is fine the way it is now, etc.
And boy is Heather correct...we never bow tie anyone while our best hitters continue to get plunked. Always an excuse, bad time in game, didn't want to lose our pitcher, yada,yada, yada. I don't know if the pitchers or Manual that are more gutless.
Posted by jimmymack | July 27, 2007 8:50 AM
Posted on July 27, 2007 08:50
I agree w Jimmy that Nunez is much better than Helms at 3B. They just have to justify the money spent on Helms, but I never realized what a liability he is in the infield.
The Phils should get Cantu from the Devil Rays (who should be cheap) and platoon Dobbs and Nunez at 3B. Cantu can hit for power in CBP and pinch hit when Utley gets back.
Posted by Ian | July 27, 2007 9:07 AM
Posted on July 27, 2007 09:07
I guess Nunez is a much better fielder.. he should start.
Posted by Ian | July 27, 2007 12:05 PM
Posted on July 27, 2007 12:05