Comments on: Charlie Manuel on Chase Utley’s spring debut: “It’s going to be a while yet”

By: greymares

greymares — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:55:59 +0000

this era won’t be over until the Phillies are without Halliday,Lee and Hammels, period.

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:35:09 +0000

Remember that 10 minute long typhoon they had a couple summers back? And that game when they moonlighted as the Rockies grounds crew?

By: drmonkeyarmy

drmonkeyarmy — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:15:15 +0000

Also, from the All-Star break on they scored the second most runs in the NL after the Cards. So, all this talk of a terrible offense is woefully misinformed.

By: ame123

ame123 — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:59:44 +0000

EVERY team is collectively down from 2 years ago, as offense is baseball is in a total decline.

By: professor59

professor59 — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:57:15 +0000

*wins, not wind. If the Phillies experienced 90+ MPH WIND, then Howard might be the ONLY player left on the field!

By: professor59

professor59 — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:54:48 +0000

With run production down 100 runs from 2 yrs ago, and Howard out indefinitely, I think we’ll be getting to 90+ wind the hard way, with a lot of 2-1 games.
Those big names in the lineup may sound good, but only because it’s easier to remember their best past years.

By: drunkenhooliganism

drunkenhooliganism — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:38:28 +0000

Jonny- The scouts have been saying that his defense was Major League ready when he was 18. His offense was brutal until last year though.

By: cur68

cur68 — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:38:05 +0000

Who is this “Manning” of whom you speak? Charlie Manning, the career minor leaguer, is the only current one Baseballrefs list. If so, I’m sorry to hear he hurt his neck: get well soon Charlie. Any word on what he was doing? Rubbernecking girls? It seems he’s a free agent (since 2009, yet), so pitching couldn’t have hurt him.

Anyhow, Utley’s Knees are nowhere near as shiny-new as his hair, so unfortunately, I think you’re going to be right: time and wear & tear will take their toll. Cholly’s right to save Utley from ST, IMO. Ease him in, give him days off, and let him play more as the season progresses. Come August, he’ll be in better shape for the playoff run.

By: El Bravo

El Bravo — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:26:20 +0000

touche

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:24:26 +0000

The Phillies had the second best run differential of any mlb team last season. Right behind the Yankees. Now they get a whole season of Pence, and hopefully Utley to help things along. You know not what you say troll boy.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:16:08 +0000

Galvis has looked pretty awesome defensively in spring training so far.

By: randygnyc

randygnyc — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:08:00 +0000

Phillies starters could throw 81 no hitters this year and finish .500 this year with their offense. Also, hamels DEFINITELY hits the open market after this season. He’s not giving any discounts. 6 years for 120 million. Might even wind up in the Bronx.

By: Utley's Hair

Utley's Hair — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:05:25 +0000

But his Hair is still all kinds of awesome…as is that wife of his…

By: philsbirdsflyers

philsbirdsflyers — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:58:38 +0000

“Outside of pitching?” As in “outside the historically most important aspect of baseball?” Teams are afraid of the Phillies because they’ve invested more into their starting rotation than any other team – as opposed to loading up on offense. 102 wins speaks for itself, and I’ll take my chances with Halladay/Lee/Hamels with any offense come playoff time.

By: El Bravo

El Bravo — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:57:54 +0000

But, you see, time is what will destroy said knees…his injury seems a lot like Peyton Manning’s in that the damage is done, cannot be undone, and now coping is their only option to resuming their respective careers. It’s kinda sad, but I don’t expect either of these two super athletes to ever fully recover. I like Utley (and Manning), so I hope I’m wrong.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:50:26 +0000

A top 5 of Rollins, Utley, Howard, Pence, and Victorino (in some order) is a pretty good top 5…but yeah, age and health should be major concerns for 3 of those guys.

By: cur68

cur68 — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:49:24 +0000

I thought Utley’s Knees were?

By: El Bravo

El Bravo — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:46:40 +0000

Time: the Phillies’ biggest opponent.

By: randygnyc

randygnyc — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:33:35 +0000

Outside of pitching, why would any teams be afraid of the phillies. Do they have any real offensive threats? Seems like all their stars are in rapid decline through age and/or injury.

By: deathmonkey41

deathmonkey41 — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:22:11 +0000

FOX needs to change it’s stance and start interviewing Charlie in the dugout during games instead of the pitching or hitting coach. It’s an outrage that we are being robbed of Charlieisms.

By: drunkenhooliganism

drunkenhooliganism — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:16:03 +0000

Galvis needs to play everyday and hopefully get another full season in the minors. Wigginton is past his prime as a third basemen, and well past his prime as a 2nd basemen. But he can still play 3rd a little bit and 2nd if needed.

By: bjavie

bjavie — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:15:42 +0000

Several weeks ago I commented that we Phillies fans would look back on this offseason and wonder why the team didn’t do more to add a veteran infielder. I noted that by year’s end Mike Martiniez will have started 120 games overall at 2b, 3b, SS. I received more thumbs down for my comments than I did thumbs up.

I’d like to revisit that.

Unfortunately, Mike Martinez is the most important person on the Phillies roster and his stats are those of a AAA situational player.

By: captainwisdom8888

captainwisdom8888 — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:10:00 +0000

As a Phils fan, it’s scary to think that we should probably look into turning the page on Utley, Howard, and Rollins. These three pillars of our franchise will give way sooner rather than later and the greatest era of Phillies baseball will sadly be over with.

By: xpensivewinos

xpensivewinos — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:05:13 +0000

…certainly if they’re not even finding ways for him to get at-bats.

By: mdpickles

mdpickles — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:04:55 +0000

Starting to look like the Phils will be utilizing a 7 man infield. Freddy Galvis needs to make the team coming out of spring because Michael Martinez cannot fill in at 3b and 2b on a consistent basis.