If you haven't already, and you live in the area, go grab a copy of today's Daily Times. Included is our annual baseball preview, chock full of stories and pictures celebrating the beginning of another Phillies season.

You can read most of the content online.... but if you want a collectible, poster/schedule of the four aces, go grab the hard copy at WaWa or wherever you normally buy a newspaper.

The Phils are off today - Roy Halladay takes the mound in 25 hours, not that anyone is counting - but the official MLB schedule gets underway in about an hour. With that, here's one man's view into the crystal ball for 2011:




NL MVP: Ryan Braun, Brewers
AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

NL CY YOUNG: Roy Halladay, Phillies
AL CY YOUNG: Francisco Liriano, Twins

NL ROOKIE OF YEAR: Brandon Belt, Giants
AL ROOKIE OF YEAR: Jeremy Hellickson, Rays


















NL EAST: Phillies
NL CENTRAL: Brewers
NL WEST: Giants
WILD CARD: Braves


AL EAST: Red Sox
AL CENTRAL: Twins
AL WEST: Athletics
WILD CARD: Yankees


NLCS: Phillies over Braves
ALCS: Red Sox over Yankees

WORLD SERIES: Phillies over Red Sox

From the moment the Phillies starting five arrived to spring training, their every action was documented, by pen, recorder, microphone and camera.

So it's only fitting that the first of many pictures that was taken went viral when the five aces landed in Philly tonight. The SI cover for the magazine's annual Baseball Preview issue.





This is the third straight year a Phils pitcher has been on the cover before the season. Roy Halladay was on the SI Preview issue last season, Cole Hamels was on the cover in March of 2009.


I thought this year's cover is interesting for one reason: Cliff Lee is front and center. A little odd since Halladay is the unquestioned ace of aces, but Lee's arrival did take the rotation to a different level (just as Roy Oswalt's arrival did last July) and Lee is the fresher story as the guy who turned down more money from the Yankees).

Anyway, enjoy the photo (and the ribbing of cover jinxes from your non-Phillies fan friends).


But do yourself a favor and take time to read the actual story within SI's pages, which I plan to do when the magazine lands in my mailbox this week. Gary Smith is the best sportswriter in America.

So set aside some time and enjoy.




(Oh, and as for that cover jinx: the Phils pitchers are 50/50. While Hamels struggled through 2009, don't forget all Halladay did was throw the 20th perfect game in baseball history, win 21 games, win the NL Cy Young Award and pitch the second no-hitter in postseason history in his playoff debut).

A Phillies camp soured by injuries at least ended with some optimism.

Chase Utley, who has not appeared in a game this spring as he battles a right knee injury, said he started taking light ground ball-work in the last couple of days.

Also: GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said Utley is not headed to the 60-day DL (which would open a spot on the currently-full 40-man roster). Why isn't Utley headed to 60-day DL?

"We're hopeful that he comes back long before that," Amaro said.


Here is more from Utley this afternoon:


Q: What kind of progress are you making?

Utley: "Over the past few weeks I think we have made some progress for obviously the good. We’re going to continue to stay on top of what we’ve been doing, sop I’m optimistic at this point. We’re going to continue to do what we’ve been doing and go from there."


Q: Close to running, grounders?

Utley: "I’ve started to take some light ground balls the past few days and that’s definitely a positive. We haven’t started running yet. We’re just going to let my body dictate how it’s going and make progressions from there. At this point, we want to take steps forward and not back."


Q: What are you optimistic about, getting on field or avoiding surgery?

Utley: "I think both, absolutely. The whole goal is to get back on the field and in my mind we’re making the right steps to do that."


Q: Is part of avoiding surgery because microfracture surgery can be complictaed?

Utley: "You can talk to 10 different doctors and they might give you 10 different answers. There are a few different types of surgeries that guys would probably recommend. None of them I feel that comfortable with at this point, and I think we can alleviate this without the surgery, but time will tell."


Q: Could surgery really make you worse?

Utley: "That’s what a few different doctors have said. Hey, listen, if surgery were the answer and I could be back on the field in six weeks guaranteed, it’d be a no-brainer. But I don’t think that’s the case. It’s a little unpredictable at this point. SO I want to take as many steps as I can at this point to avoid that surgery and see what happens."



Q: Ground balls now, are you moving laterally?

Utley: "I’m moving a little bit laterally, nothing too intense, but I’m definitely moving around."



Q: Hard not to have a timetable because you try to beat it?

Utley: "I think at this point to try and put a timetable on it wouldn’t be beneficial. I think I have to listen and respect the way my body’s responding and make progressions off of that. If it tells me to slow down a little bit, obviously it’s not what I want to do, but I understand what’s the smart thing to do. As long as we’re moving forward, like I said, I think we’re OK."


Q: What else doing to help it?

Utley: "We’ve come up with a good stretching program. I guess you could say massage type program. A little bit more intense than just a standard massage and I think it’s loosening everything up and it allows my knee to work a little more efficiently."


Q: If you can get back on field, fearful that playing on it will make it flare up again?

Utley: "That crosses my mind. That’s why we’re trying to take this process slowly, to read how I’m responding. I try something one day and see how you respond the next day and if it’s OK, you can make progressions off that. As long as we’re moving in the right direction, I think we’ll be OK."


Here's some video of Utley's press availability.

I'll take this break from figuring out the preview issue and packing and printing out boarding pass for a somewhat quick exercise in predictions.

What predictions? No, not the division winners or World Series winner or NL MVP and all that jazz. That stuff will be in Thursday's Daily Times Baseball Preview.

This is a quick rundown of what I think the final roster will look like when its submitted Thursday and then what my best guess is the Opening Day lineup looks like Friday.


First, the 25-man roster.

Josh Barfield was shipped out today to minor league camp. So there are 4 guys for 2 spots on the bench: Pete Orr (of @PeteOrrFacts on Twitter), Luis Castillo, Delwyn Young and Michael Martinez).


Charlie Manuel has talked about Michael Martinez quite a bit. And, other than Castillo, who won't be going to Lehigh Valley if he doesn't make the squad, he's the only guy they could lose by not putting him on the 25-man. He's a Rule 5 guy, meaning he'd have to be offered back to his original organization (the Nationals) first.

Martinez has two things going for him: he plays excellent defense and he's versatile. Versatile as in can play all the infield spots very well and a decent center field (keep in mind, without Martinez this team's backup CFs are John Mayberry Jr. and Ben Francisco).

The argument against Martinez is he has no MLB playing time. But Manuel was asked about that today and shot it down quickly. He likes Martinez.

Castillo is also on the roster, in my mind. I think they want to give him a longer look... and he does have the highest ceiling, even at age 35, than the rest of the group.

Orr sounds like the average, AAAA-type who can be inventory at Lehigh Valley, much like Cody Ransom was last year.

What about Young?

Well, here's where it's interesting. Young and Martinez basically offer the exact opposite: Young is a capable, proven pinch hitter; defense isn't his strong suit and since he hasn't played the infield in a few weeks, they see him strictly as a corner-outfield type.

Michael Martinez is not a proven bench player. But he can be plugged into several spots and hold his own defensively. (Manuel said today he made maybe "the best play he's ever seen" at short yesterday... and, remember, Manuel had Omar Vizquel in Cleveland).


Given the injuries to Placido Polanco and Jimmy Rollins last year (and Chase Utley's current status), I'm leaning to them keeping Martinez over Young. Young can go to Lehigh Valley.... and just because he goes now doesn't mean he has to stay.


Projected 25-man roster:

Ryan Howard
Jimmy Rollins
Placido Polanco
Carlos Ruiz
Luis Castillo
Shane Victorino
Raul Ibanez
Ben Francisco

Brian Schneider
Wilson Valdez
Ross Gload
John Mayberry Jr.
Michael Martinez


Roy Halladay
Cliff Lee
Roy Oswalt
Cole Hamels
Joe Blanton


Ryan Madson
Jose Contreras
Danys Baez
J.C. Romero
Kyle Kendrick
David Herndon
Antonio Bastardo


If there's a guy I'm not so sure about among the relievers, it's Bastardo. He has a big arm, sure. But he's been wildly inconsistent and not very durable when given chances in the past. Still, I think he's on and they'll give him a shot to prove himself.




Projected Opening Day Lineup


Now, this shouldn't be seen as a regular lineup; only the lineup I think we'll see on Opening Day. There's a very good chance Manuel flips things around according to if they're facing a left-hander or a right-hander, or on other matchups.


The Phils face old pal Brett Myers, a right-hander, on Opening Day. (Two lefties, Wandy Rodriguez and J.A. Happ, follow in the next two games).

So, since they're facing the right-handed Myers, I think Raul Ibanez hits third. Manuel likes him there. Ibanez has been very productive and has shown some pop this spring.

Also, I believe Castillo will start. I also think he could hit higher in the order than you might expect. He sees a lot of pitches, gets on base as well (or better) as anyone in this lineup when healthy.

Now, this is more guesswork than the 25-man; I just think Manuel has a lot more options here and could do a number of things. So take this for what it's worth: it's just one man's guess.


Here goes:


1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Luis Castillo, 2B
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Placido Polanco, 3B
6. Shane Victorino, CF
7. Ben Francisco, RF
8. Carlos Ruiz, C
9. Roy Halladay, P


Against a lefty, I could see Manuel slotting Rollins third. Maybe moving Victorino to leadoff. But, as I said, I was only projecting Opening Day. Don't get greedy on me.

First, it was biceps tendinitis.

Brad Lidge overcame that.

Now he has a much bigger hurdle to clear, something he's never experienced in his career. Shoulder soreness.

A day removed from an outing where he was oddly removed mid-inning, after giving up a home run and back-to-back walks with two outs, Lidge told reporters he is experiencing right shoulder soreness. He will see team Dr. Michael Ciccotti Saturday.

He'll have an MRI when the team returns to Philadelphia Monday.

“It’s very frustrating,” said Lidge, who appeared in a Grapefruit League game for the first time in nearly two weeks Thursday. “Yesterday I was really pretty upset just because coming into camp I felt really good. I don’t know where along the line I did it. I’m sure it was pretty early in those games I was in. It’s just been very frustrating that it hasn’t gotten a lot smoother.”



Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said Lidge would be shut down for a little while and would "likely" begin the season on the DL. But there is honestly no good reason for him NOT to begin the season on the DL, so, as with Chase Utley, that would seem to only be a formality.

"It makes sense," Amaro said of a DL stint.

"Opening day - I won’t be ready based on what they’re telling me," Lidge said. "We’re going to have to rest it for a while, and it’s basically up to them how long they want to rest it for."

Amaro said either Jose Contreras and Ryan Madson would take over closing duties. He alreayd has a herd of infielders, including Luis Castillo, Michael Martinez and Josh Barfield, trying to temporarily replace Utley.

"I think we have the personnel in here to pick up the slack, which we've done before," Amaro said. "Of course we want all of our guys on our club. But we can't do much about it other than have the guys step up and perform in place of those guys."

If there was any good news in the clubhouse, it was this: the injury-depleted Phillies have both Placido Polanco and Shane Victorino back in the lineup for this afternoon's game vs. the Braves.

Lidge sounded pretty down when discussing the injury. Probably because shoulder injuries can be particularly problematic.

"I don’t know. I know I wish there was no pain," when asked if the new pain was a particularly bad sign. "There was always a little bit of pain in the back (of the shoulder) that we thought was from the biceps tendinitis, but there is that. So I’m not really familiar with the shoulder, I haven’t had shoulder injuries before – at least not in a long time – so I’m not really familiar with the pain and discomfort I’m having so we’re going to have the doctor do a look at it tomorrow.”

We'll obviously know more early next week, following the MRI.

Several members of the Phillies management contingent was late to yesterday's game in Port Charlotte.

Why?

Assistant general manager Scott Proefrock's car ran out of gas. Proefrock was driving team president David Montgomery and general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., among others.


"We were in a hurry to get there and I didn't even look at my gas (tank)," Proefrock said Thursday, taking the ribbing pretty good from the press corps. "(The car) just stopped."

Montgomery, Amaro, Proefrock and company were left waiting on the side of the road for assistance from AAA.

Brian Schneider, was escorted Roy Oswalt back from Port Charlotte back to Clearwater in Oswalt's truck, on the other hand, got a glowing report from the injured pitcher.

"We hit some traffic there for a little while," Oswalt said. "(But) he did well."

Roy Oswalt was sporting a bit of a bump behind his right ear, but otherwise looked completely unaffected by yesterday's scary scene at Port Charlotte: he took a line drive from Manny Ramirez to the back of the head.

Oswalt said he's a little stiff, but feels OK. He expects to make his next turn in the rotation.

Although he was able to talk and joke about the incident, Oswalt also understood the severity of getting hit in the head. When he was a rookie with the Astros, Oswalt was teammates with Mike Coolbaugh.


Coolbaugh died in July of 2007 after getting struck in the head with a foul ball while standing in the first base box as a minor league coach.

"We used to play cards all the time in spring training," Oswalt said. "I knew him pretty well."


Here is some of his Q&A with the media this morning:


Q: Did you sleep OK?

Roy Oswalt: I actually slept pretty well. It was a little bit stiff this morning but overall it went pretty well.”



Q: Any time to react, looked like you tried to shield yourself?

Oswalt: “He didn’t hit it the best he could hit it. I got the ball in far enough where he didn’t get the barrel on it all the way. I saw it a little bit out in front of me. I thought it was going to go above me. That’s why I tried to duck to get under it. But it had a little bit of topspin on it and the ball kind of tracked me.”


Q: No pain?

Oswalt: “Just stiff.”


Q: No headaches?

Oswalt: “No. Last night a little bit, but not too bad.”


Q: Concussion test?

Oswalt: “I don’t know. We did a CAT scan yesterday and everything looked good on that.”


Q: Was the pitch a changeup?

Oswalt: “No, two-seamer. Most of the time when you throw in like that guys don’t hit ‘em back toward you. Usually they either pull it or hit it straight to right field if they can get their hands through it. Usually the ball doesn’t come back toward the mound. Usually you have to worry about sliders away to righties or fastballs away that will come back at you. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen a guy hit one back toward the mound inside.”


Q: Every have anything like that before?

Oswalt: “I’ve been hit a bunch but not in the head. It’s the first time I got hit in the head.”


Q: Feel lucky, to not get hurt that badly?

Oswalt: “Yeah. As long as you don’t get hit in the face or hit anywhere else it’s going to hurt, but I actually had a good friend that got hit in the neck – Mike Coolbaugh that used to play with the Astros. When I first got hit, you kind of ask yourself did you really get hit right there. I remember laying on the ground thinking, did I just get hit in the head? It kind of surprises you more than anything and then you don’t really know what to do. You don’t know if you need to get up real quick or whatever. So I just stayed there and asked Mark, could I get up, and he made me stay down for a little while longer.”



Q: When I first got hit, you just kinda ask yourself, did I really get hit right there?

Oswalt: "I remember when I was laying on the ground thinking, Did I just get hit in the head? Surprises you more than it does anything. You don’t really know what to do. You don’t know if you need to get up quick or whatever, so I just stayed there and asked Mark and he made me stay down for a little while longer.



Q: Heard you wanted to stay in?

Oswalt: "Yeah. I figured once I got up, I could probably finish the inning. I didn’t get knocked out or anything."


Q: How well did you know Mike (Coolbaugh)?

Oswalt: :We used to play cards all the time in spring training. I knew him pretty well."


Q: Did you attend his services?

Oswalt: "We did some stuff for his wife. We knew it was going to be pretty hard coming through there and the Astros did a real big thing for him."



Q: How does not getting pitch count up affect you for regular season?

Oswalt: I’ll be fresh when the season starts.


Q: Can you make next spring start?

Oswalt: "Yeah. Whenever (I’m supposed to pitch) I should be fine. Probably take today off and maybe try and throw some tomorrow and see how it feels."


Q: End up feeling kinda of lucky thinking about what could have been?

Oswalt: "You don’t really think about it. There’s a lot of if-it-could-haves. You could drive down the street and get in a wreck. So you don’t really think about it.
-You seemed coherent right away: I’ve been in a few fights in my life and I’ve been hit pretty hard, but that right there stunned me for a little bit when it first hit me. Before I went down, I was thinking, Get the ball. I thought it might have just deflected enough where an infielder could have gotten it. In the game I’d have probably gotten up and gotten the ball."


Oh, in case you haven't checked it out, here's the first few minutes of this Q&A on video.


Also, if you're interested more in the story of Mike Coolbaugh, I read an excellent book about him and the tragic incident two years ago: The Heart of the Game.

UPDATED: A Phillies media official just passed this along --- Roy Oswalt was hit behind his right ear. He didn't lose consciousness, nor did he feel dizzy when walking off the field. The injury is being called a neck contusion.

He left the ballpark here in Port Charlotte with team trainer Mark Andersen to get X-rays.


ANOTHER UPDATE: The X-rays on Oswalt came back negative.

------------------------------------------------

It's one of the scariest things in baseball: pitcher delivers ball, batter swings, line drive comes in warp speed back at the pitcher.


In the bottom of the fourth inning in Port Charlotte, that's exactly what happened when Manny Ramirez stood in for his second at-bat against Phillies pitcher Roy Oswalt. Oswalt had just given up a solo home run to Evan Longoria to begin the half inning when Ramirez came to the plate.

- Ramirez hit a line drive.

- Oswalt barely had time to react in post-windup, spinning out of the way in an effort to protect himself.

- But the ball appeared to strike him in the back of the head, or the back of his neck.

Charlie Manuel, the Phillies training staff and the eight other players on the field rushed to the mound. After no longer than a minute or two, Oswalt popped up.

He was taken out of the game. He walked back to the clubhouse with trainer Mark Andersen.

The way Oswalt walked off, you wouldn't have thought anything happened.


The folks at Crossing Broad just shared this video of the incident. Scary.

Luis Castillo was added to the lineup today, he's hitting second, playing second.

So today marks the beginning of Castillo's week-long tryout. But there are plenty of other infielders still fighting for spots on the 25-man roster, too, with a week left before decisions have to be made.

Prior to today's game in Port Charlotte, Charlie Manuel was asked how much Chase Utley's health - and the unknown time table of his return - factors in to who the team keeps.

"I don't know," Manuel said. "I think when we get there we'll pick the best guys."


So is the severity of Utley's injury just as much as a mystery to the manager? Does he think Utley will be out for the season's first month, say... or doesn't he have a good read on it either?

"I think he's slowly getting better," Manuel said. "I want to believe he's getting better."

Utley took batting practice in Clearwater this morning.

In Port Charlotte, Castillo, Pete Orr, Josh Barfield, Delwyn Young and Michael Martinez continued competing to be Utley's understudy. Two of those names will most likely be on the 25-man roster when the season begins in eight days.

So here's a video of the beginning of Luis Castillo's five-minute chat with the media upon reporting to Phillies camp today.

And here are some snippets of what he said if you're more into reading than watching video and what not.


Q: Excited about being here, winning a job?

Luis Castillo: "Yeah, anybody would be excited playing with the Phillies, man. They play good. I'm happy I'm here."



Q: Phillies expected you here yesterday...

Castillo: "Yeah, I think I had communication with me and my agent and I thought I was supposed to report today. That's what it was about. More importantly I'm here and I'm excited to be here."


Q: Ruben said this is like a seven-day tryout, that you won't go to minor leagues, you'll be released if you don't make team?

Castillo: Yeah, you know. I'm healthy. And I'm healthy and I feel good. I have to prove that I'm ready, and that’s all. I'm here to play baseball and help the team wins some games.


Q: How much do you think you are player you were 5 years ago?

Castillo: Like I said, my last five years, this year I feel more in shape than I was five years ago. Now I'm fine, man. I'm fine. I'll give it everything I have on the field. Working hard and showing people I can still play.


Q: What did Phils tell you of situation here, chances of earning playing time?

Castillo: You know, right now I know that Valdez is doing a good job and that Utley is hurt right now. So I'm trying to find a job here. I want to compete, I want to win the job. I want to play. I have 10 days to prove it and get ready.


Q: Is 8 days enough time to do that?

Castillo: Man, I have like a week of playing. I've been doing batting practice and other stuff. the more days I'm here and playing, that's better for me. I'll do the best I can.


Q: Mentally a fresh start for you in Philly?

Castillo: It's hard. New York you know how it is, it's New York. I want to be focused on playing baseball, I don't want to think about the fans, the media, all this stuff. I want to focus on baseball and show people I can still play.


Q: Scouts have said you're not playing you used to be. Bother you?

Castillo: "It bothers me a little bit, but that’s the chance I have here. I have an opportunity to show I can still play. That’s why I'm here. That’s what I'm going to do."


Q: Has your name been sullied because of everything that went on in New York? Fell you have to reclaim your rep?

Castillo: I feel like I'm just starting to play baseball again, like I'm rookie guy, man. I know a lot of stuff was coming out… I'm trying to forget about that, keep it in the past. I want to focusing on playing, on the opportunity here.


Q: You met with Mets manager Terry Collins earlier this spring. How did that conversation go?

Castillo: "When I spoke with Terry, we spoke about the situation. I needed a chance to play, he wouldn’t give me the chance to play. It didn’t work out. I told him if he didn’t give me the chance to play, I don’t know if I have to be on the team. He decided to release me and wouldn’t give me the opportunity, and I’m here.

UPDATE: Luis Castillo arrived in camp just before 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. He will likely be in the lineup vs. the Rays on Wednesday in Port Charlotte.


-----------------------------------------------------------

In case you haven't heard (where the heck have you been??!), Luis Castillo was scratched from this afternoon's lineup when he was not in Phillies camp this morning.

The Phils have their medical staff ready to give Castillo a physical... but Castillo never showed.

Not good, huh?

Not necessarily. Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. downplayed the whole thing, mostly calling it a miscommunication issue.


You take it from here, Rube.


Q: Why is Castillo not here?

Ruben Amaro Jr.: He had a little bit of a miscommunication with his agent. He thought he was going to report today, we thought he was going to report yesterday. But he'll be here later this afternoon.


Q: So he'll play tomorrow?

RAJ: He should be in the lineup tomorrow, yeah.



Q: What was the miscommunication?

RAJ: We thought we had things set up for this morning. Evidently he didn't get the communication that it was set up this morning. He thought it was for tomorrow. we'll get it done tomorrow.


Q: Where is he coming from?

RAJ: He is driving across the state.



Q: From Port St Lucie or Miami?

RAJ: I just heard Plantation, that's what somebody said. I'm not sure. I just talked to him a half an hour ago. He's excited to get here.


Q: Does this affect your evaluation process, missing a day?

RAJ: No. we just have to evaluate him one less day.


Q: Surprised this guy isn't running here?

RAJ: "I was surprised this morning that he didn't show up, yeah. But it happens."


Q: How’d things go this morning?

RAJ: We had the doctor here and we were waiting for him to show up, and he didn’t show up. I think Scott Sheridan contacted Scott Proefrock, and they let me know. I was a little confused, and evidently he was confused, too.


Q: Incumbent upon him to come early since his situation ended badly in New York?

RAJ: I don’t know what happened with he and the Mets. That’s not my issue. What I’m concerned about and what I’m worried about is how he handles himself at our camp as a Phillie.


Q: You dad a doctor here?

RAJ: Yeah. So we’ll take care of it tomorrow. I hope we get it done early because we’re on a bus pretty early.


Q: You said yesterday he either makes the team next week or gets cut. Wouldn’t you think he’d want to get here early?

RAJ: I think you guys are making a little bit too much out of this.


Q: So this doesn't affect evaluation process?

RAJ: Well, it is one day shorter. So we’ll evaluate him one day shorter.

The Phillies took batting practice at Bright House Field before boarding a bus for the short trip to Dunedin for today's game.

Luis Castillo was not at batting practice. He was also not getting on the bus.

Charlie Manuel briefly spoke to reporters on the walk from the field to the clubhouse. In one breath, he didn't sound concerned; but in another, he sounded like he wasn't too thrilled with his new veteran infielder's first impression as a Phillie.

"I'm disappointed, no, not at all," Manuel said of Castillo's late arrival.

But if it was you, when would you have showed up?

"If it was me," Manuel said. "I'd be here two days ago."

Castillo has a locker and is expected to arrive at some point today. He has a little over a week to impress the Phillies and make the 25-man roster.

"I don't see where it's up to me to worry about something like that," Manuel said of Castillo's no-show this morning after he had been in the initial starting lineup. "I haven't talked to him, haven't seen him."

The Phillies lineup was posted Tuesday morning with Luis Castillo hitting second and playing second. He has a locker stall in between Raul Ibanez and Placido Polanco.

He had a nameplate above that locker that included his new number: #3.

But Luis Castillo is not in Clearwater yet.

About a half hour after the clubhouse opened Tuesday, bench coach Pete Mackanin got out his trusty whiteout and removed Castillo's name from the starting lineup card posted on the cork board.

About a half hour later, the lineup for Wednesday's game in Port Charlotte was also post. Again, no Castillo.

"Evidently there was a communication problem," manager Charlie Manuel said.

Manuel didn't seem too concerned. But the Phillies signed Castillo to a minor-league contract that is no more than a week-long trial period.

As GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said Monday, Castillo will either make the Opening Day roster or be released. He called the veteran Castillo another candidate for playing time at second base, categorizing him with the rest of the non-roster players (Josh Barfield, Pete Orr, Delwyn Young).

"He just has a bigger name," Amaro said.

So we're going to go ahead and say Castillo's late arrival in Clearwater doesn't really bump his name ahead of the rest of the crew on that backup second baseman depth chart.


UPDATE: Enrique Rojas of ESPNDEPORTES.com reported that "confusion with hotel reservation" affected Castillo's arrival. He said Castillo may play in a minor league game today after completing a physical.

But Manuel said Castillo wasn't in camp as of 9 a.m.

The Phillies have officially signed former All-Star second baseman Luis Castillo to a minor league contract, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. announced today.

Castillo has hit .290 in his career with 28 home runs, 59 triples, 443 RBI and 370 stolen bases for the Florida Marlins (1996-2005), Minnesota Twins (2006-07) and the Mets (2007-10).

He is expected to report to Clearwater today.

Castillo was released by the Mets Friday and cleared waivers Sunday afternoon. He is in the last year of a four-year, $25 million contract -- but the Mets are responsible for that salary. If he makes the Phillies major league roster, they are only responsible for paying him the major league minimum ($414,000).

Castillo could emerge as the favorite to play in place of injured five-time All-Star Chase Utley.

Utley has been sidelined with right knee tendinits, chondromalacia and bone inflammation since exhibition games began last month. A possible timetable for his return remains unknown, although manager Charlie Manuel said Sunday that “it seems like it’s going to take a while.”

The Phillies have been looking for someone to emerge as an effective Utley understudy.

Returning reserve Wilson Valdez, Rule 5 pick Michael Martinez and non-roster infielders Josh Barfield and Pete Orr have all seen time at second base this spring. Although all four players have shown flashes of effectiveness, especially offensively, none separated themselves.

Following an 8-1 loss to the New York Yankees Sunday, Manuel worried aloud about his team’s offense, as the team will likely begin the season without Utley and was already attempting to find a suitable replacement for departed free agent Jayson Werth.

“We have to have somebody who can help us hold our own there,” Manuel said, speaking of the two lineup spots Utley and Werth held last season.

The Phillies have another possible Utley understudy en route to camp.

Luis Castillo has signed a minor-league deal with the Phillies, according to CSNPhilly.com. Reports that the deal was close-to-finished first surfaced at ESPN.com/NewYork early Sunday evening.

The 35-year-old Castillo, a three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, was released by the Mets on Friday.

Messages left with Phillies management went unreturned Sunday night.

Utley has been sidelined with right knee tendinits, chondromalacia and bone inflammation since exhibition games began last month. A possible timetable for his return remains unknown, although manager Charlie Manuel said Sunday that "it seems like it's going to take a while."

Whether Castillo emerges as the favorite remains unknown. There are just 10 exhibition games left in the Phillies preseason schedule.

Castillo, a career .290 hitter in 15 big league seasons for the Marlins, Twins and Mets, hit .235 in 86 games with New York last season. He is two years removed from hitting .302 in 142 games with the Mets in 2009.

Castillo was batting .286 (8-for-28) in 11 games this spring when the Mets began the process of releasing him Friday.

Castillo had 48 hours to clear waivers. He was free to sign with any team as of Sunday afternoon.

Castillo was entering the last season of a four-year, $25 million deal when the Mets cut ties with him. New York is still responsible for that salary; any team that signs him would only be responsible for the major-league minimum salary (under $450,000) to put him on their active roster.

"His game in the last couple years, it's dwindled some," Manuel said when asked about Castillo Friday. "I don't know how much is there, but he used to be a hell of a player. I know at one time he was real good. If possible, yeah, he might be someone we'd take a look at."

Brad Lidge simulated a game performance this morning at Bright House Field.

Lidge, who has been sidelined since Monday with right biceps tendinitis, threw 20 warm-up pitches, rested, and then threw 15 more pitches as if it were a save situation. Afterward, he announced his right arm was game-ready.

"I felt real good," Lidge said. "Definitely real encouared by this one. Hopefully now I'll be getting in games. I guess its penciled in for Tuesday now, getting into game, we'll see how they want to take it, but it felt really good today.

"Hopefully I'll get 4 or 5 outings in and that should be enough. I feel comfortable with everything right now, and fortunately we still have a couple of days."

Brad Lidge threw 35 pitches in a bullpen session today.

He'll throw another 'pen Sunday, with a little more intensity.

"If that goes good, we'll take another day and jump into games," Lidge said. "Probably Tuesday."

Lidge has been held out of games since Monday with right biceps tendinitis. He said he threw today's pen without pain.



- I also spoke to Placido Polanco briefly. He continues to take a cautious approach with left elbow.

Polly has taken infield practice and hopes to begin taking batting practice in the next couple days.

He is eyeing a return Monday.



- Chase Utley declined to speak to the media following his trip to see a specialist this week.

For the second time in six days, players were packing their bags in major league camp, bound for minor league camp.

The most notable of the second-round of cuts? Promising right-handed relief pitcher Michael Stutes.

Stutes was re-assigned to minor league camp, along with fellow pitchers Juan Perez, Dan Meyer, outfielder Brandon Moss and infielder Jeff Larish. Right-hander Vance Worley and shortstop Freddy Galvis were optioned to minor league camp.


Although a long shot, Stutes put his name into consideration for a bullpen spot this spring with sparkling stats and an aggressive, unflappable approach from the mound.

In five games, Stutes allowed one run on three hits; he struck out nine and walked one in nine innings.

Stutes has a fastball that tops off in the mid-to-upper 90s.

"I feel like I made the best of my opportunity and hopefully I made some impressions. Hopefully I'll get another chance as soon as possible," Stutes said. "I didn't have a whole lot of expectations coming in. I just had the attitude of coming over here and see what happens.

"I realize there was pretty much no chance of making the team. Just sitting around after the first cut, it was nice to get another week up here. I'm glad for the opportunity, I'll take it from there."


----------------------------------------------------

- Chase Utley (right knee) and Brian Schneider (personal reasons) were back in camp this morning. No word on how Utley's visit with a specialist went... of course, we'll update that later.

- Brad Lidge (right biceps) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session this morning.

- Placido Polanco (left elbow) isn't in the lineup today. Or tomorrow.



Here are your lineups for the next two days:

PHILLIES vs. Pirates today

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Ross Gload, RF
6. Pete Orr, 3B
7. Carlos Ruiz, C
8. Michael Martinez, 2B
9. Roy Oswalt, P



PHILLIES at Orioles on Saturday

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ross Gload, DH
5. Ben Francisco, CF
6. John Mayberry Jr., 1B
7. Pete Orr, 3B
8. Josh Barfield, 2B
9. Erik Kratz, C




- Jimmy Rollins is on twitter. I spoke to him yesterday about being 2 weeks away from Opening Day and feeling as healthy as ever.


- Charlie Manuel wants to be able to depend on Antonio Bastardo. Bastardo understands this and is out to prove he can be counted on.

The Phillies clubhouse closed early today for one of the many meetings players go through during spring training, this one for MLB Security.

We my have an update on the status of Brad Lidge prior to this afternoon's game; Lidge was tentatively scheduled to throw a bullpen session today. Lidge was scratched from his previously-scheduled game appearance Monday with right biceps tendinitis.


Here is the lineup for the Phils game this afternoon vs. the Blue Jays at Bright House Field. The thing you should be excited about: Cliff Lee with swing a bat today.

*******

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Shane Victorino, CF
3. Raul Ibanez, LF
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Ben Francisco, RF
6. Carlos Ruiz, C
7. Josh Barfield, 3B
8. Michael Martinez, 2B
9. Cliff Lee, P



If you're in Clearwater for the coming week, here are the pitchers you'll see.


FRIDAY MARCH 18 vs Pirates

Oswalt
Baez
Romero
Contreras
Madson



SATURDAY MARCH 19 at Orioles

Hamels
Herndon
Mathieson
Stutes



SUNDAY MARCH 20 vs. Yankees

Blanton
Contreras
Bastardo
Baez



MONDAY MARCH 21 vs. Red Sox

Halladay
Romero
Madson
Herndon
Mathieson



TUESDAY MARCH 22 at Blue Jays

Lee
Worley
Kendrick
Contreras
Baez
Bastardo
Stutes



WEDNESDAY MARCH 23 at Rays

Oswalt
Romero
Madson
Mathieson
Herndon



THURSDAY MARCH 24 vs. Twins

Hamels
Bastardo
Baez
Contreras



FRIDAY MARCH 25 vs. Braves

Blanton
Madson
Romero






******* Couldn't find a single photo of Cliff Lee hitting while in a Phillies uniform through Google images. But I did find a photo of him in an Arkansas Razorbacks uniform.

Placido Polanco injured his left elbow today. Yes, the same he had surgery on in November.

He hyperextended it on a swing in the first inning of today's game against the Jays.

Here's what Polly said afterward:

"It's right where I had the surgery, but is' nothing bad. I've had it before. Ive had it a million times. But the fact that I had surgery in that elbow, we're being safe, we're playing it very safe. We'll see how it feels tomorrow and the next day, take it a day at a time."

Do you think it aggravated where you had surgery, is one related to the other?


"Probably not. You can develop scar tissue there so you have to keep an eye on that situation. But, it's right on the same spot. But it didn't make it any worse. What I had there is gone. But you have to remember every time they open you and you have surgery, it's not the same. But hopefully with a couple of days off, anti-inflammatories and ice, I should be back."


When do you expect that to be?


"We haven't talked about that, but the good news is this is spring training and at the same time you want to be in shape for opening day. It's just a day to day thing I think. When I've had it before, I never stopped playing. But since I had surgery, they took me out."


This team is snake-bitten with injuries right now, huh?


"I'm not worried about mine, because I know how I feel. Like I said, I've had it before and just by talking to the trainers and the doctor, it seems like I'm going to be back soon. Chase (Utley) is the one that worries me, but he seems to be getting better slowly but surely."

: : : :


Polanco was embattled with a left elbow injury for the majority of last season.

He got hit with a Tim Hudson pitch late last April, aggravating a chronic left elbow injury that limited him to 132 games in 2010.

Polanco had scar tissue and bone spurs removed from his elbow when he underwent surgery in November.

In Dunedin this afternoon, the Phillies brought a lineup that could look a lot like the one they put on the field on Opening Day on April 1.

All of the regulars were on the trip to nearby Dunedin, and in the lineup. All except Chase Utley, who continues to rehab a right knee injury.

Now the Phillies are two infielders down.

Placido Polanco was taken out of Tuesday's game in Dunedin when the bottom half of the second inning began.

Polanco hyperextended his left elbow. A Phillies media relations representative said the injury is not related to the November surgery Polanco had on the same elbow, "it's the opposite side of the arm."

Polanco was replaced by Wilson Valdez.


Although the team said it wasn't related to Polanco's offseason surgery, it has to be at least a bit worrisome that the latest injury is in the same arm. Polanco got hit with a Tim Hudson pitch late last April, aggravating a chronic left elbow injury that limited him to 132 games in 2010.

Polanco had scar tissue and bone spurs removed from his elbow when he underwent surgery in November.

The Phillies brought a lineup that could look a lot like the one they put on the field on Opening Day on April 1.

All of the regulars were on the trip to nearby Dunedin, and in the lineup. All except Chase Utley, who continues to rehab a right knee injury.

Now the Phillies are two infielders down.

Brad Lidge was up to his usual mid-March activities Tuesday morning - running a high-organized NCAA bracket pool and briefing reporters on an injury.

Lidge, a Notre Dame alum who didn't react too kindly when bullpen mate Ryan Madson drew the Fighting Irish, was supposed to pitch Monday against his old friends in Kissimmee, the Astros. But he was held back because of right biceps soreness.


He will be held out from throwing off the mound for a few days. He was on tap to throw in a 'B' game Thursday, but has since been removed from that schedule.

“It’s really not a big thing as long as everything goes the way it’s supposed to,” Lidge said Tuesday morning. “If it doesn’t, there could be cause for concern, but right now, we’re good.”

Lidge said his plan for the next couple of days was to play catch.

Since Lidge has had a whole host of injuries since joining the Phillies - heck, he was on crutches when they traded for him in the fall of 2007 - it's worth watching how he progresses in the next two weeks.

Opening Day, after all, is just 17 days away.

The Phillies cleared up one thing at both the beginning and the end of the quasi-update on Chase Utley this morning: there will not be daily or regular updates on the status of the second baseman.

So, this may be the only thing you hear on the condition of the most important offensive player on the team for a while.

But, here goes, from GM Ruben Amaro Jr.:

"We've done some consultations with some doctors and right now, after consulting with Dr. Cicotti as well, we're comfortable with the progressions we're doing right now. He's actually been able to do some more exercises that he had not been doing before. He showed some progression in some of the exercises. I don't think he's taking ground balls quite yet. Some of the work he's been doing with Scott Sheridan on his rehab -- he's done some more things. I don't know if that's necessarily a huge progression, but he's started to take baby steps forward, we hope, and I think he's feeling a little bit better."

SUNDAY MARCH 13 @ Twins:

Danys Baez
Michael Stutes
Roy Oswalt (in minor league game at Carpenter Complex)



MONDAY MARCH 14 @ Astros

Cole Hamels
Brad Lidge
Antonio Bastardo
David Herndon
Scott Mathieson



TUESDAY MARCH 15 @ JAYS

Joe Blanton
Jose Contreras
Baez
JC Romero
Ryan Madson



WEDNESDAY MARCH 16

Roy Halladay in minor league game at Carpenter Complex



THURSDAY MARCH 17 vs JAYS

Cliff Lee
Vance Worley
Mathieson
Bastardo



FRIDAY MARCH 18 vs Pirates

Oswalt
Baez
Romero
Contreras
Madson



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ruben Amaro Jr. took over for soon-to-be Hall of Famer Pat Gillick as the Phillies general manager less than a month after the 2008 World Series.

Amaro hasn't skipped a beat, adding names like Roy Hallady, Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee (twice), Placido Polanco, Pedro Martinez and Raul Ibanez to a championship-caliber roster.

The Phillies recognized the aggressive general manager's moves by way of a lengthy contract extension. The team announced Saturday morning a four-year deal that will keep Amaro with the Phillies through the 2015 season.

"Since becoming our general manager in November of 2008, Ruben has done an outstanding job,” team president David Montgomery said in a statement. "He has been an excellent leader for our Baseball Operations personnel, surrounding himself with a very capable staff which he uses very well. Ruben has shown great judgment in his player moves and enjoys a strong relationship with Charlie, our coaches and the players.”

The 46-year-old Amaro has helped the Phillies post the best record in the National League (190-134) and second-best among all major league clubs, trailing only the New York Yankees (198-126) in his first two years on the job.

Just as with manager Charlie Manuel, Amaro was entering the final year of his contract before the extension.

The Phillies have a press conference at 10 a.m., so more later...

Plyers were packing their bags this morning at Bright House Field in Clearwater.

Some were headed to Sarasota for today's game against the Orioles. Others were headed to minor league camp.

On the day of first cuts at Camp Clearwater 16 players were shipped to the other side of the Carpenter Complex:


RHP Brian Bass
RHP Eddie Bonine
RHP Andrew Carpenter
LHP Ryan Feierabend
RHP Michael Schwimer
C Joel Naughton
1B Tagg Bozied
INF Robb Quinlan
OF Matt Miller
RHP Justin De Fratus
RHP Drew Naylor
RHP J.C. Ramirez
INF Harold Garcia
INF Cesar Hernandez
INF Carlos Rivero
1B Matt Rizzotti


The agent for Quinlan, a veteran of eight big league seasons, asked the Phillies for his release. The Phillies granted it, meaning minor league camp got 15 new faces today.

So the Phillies didn't just extend Charlie Manuel's contract by two years. They also ripped up his 2011 contract and gave him a new one.

So it's basically a three-year deal.

Here is what Manuel had to say during this morning's press conference. There's some pretty classic stuff: Charlie brought up Paterno, the Yakult Swallows, winning and what kind of blood he bleeds. (Hint: it's not tiger blood).

The final answer also cracked up the entire room.




CHARLIE MANUEL

Opening statetment: "I'd like to thank David Montgomery and Ruben, and I'd like to thank the Phillies organization for having a lot of faith in me and giving me the opportunity to manage their team. In the last six years I've totally enjoyed everything about it. When I first took over the job it was a little hectic at first. We had to prove the fact that we could win and everything. Between our players and everything in the organization, the things that developed here, I think we have a good thing going. This is definitely the place I wanted to stay. The contract I got, I'm very happy with it and very satisfied. I look forward to getting on down the road and seeing if we can't even get better."



Q: When you got hired, envision this organization would get to this point?

Charlie: If you go back and remember when I got hired I came in with the idea, I knew it was going to be tough as far as we were at. At the same time I also figured with where the organization wanted to go and the players that we had, it was a good chance to win. I basically took this job because I figured we could win. I knew if we won that the fans would be fine and all of you guys would come across too. (laughs). So far things have worked out pretty good. There is still more to this journey than the last six years.


Q: How important is getting along with players, creating that environment – managing human beings?

Charlie: I think over my baseball career those are things I learned. Being consistent as Ruben says, I'm me. It's who I am and I'm very comfortable with who I am. At the same time, I pull for everybody. Just like when I talk to you guys, I pull for you. And I mean that. That's who I am. Communication. Delegating guys to their jobs in their position. I think all of that sometimes, leadership goes unnoticed because someone lets guys do their thing. You like to see how it works out. I think that’s a quality I bring. I bring a lot of passion and love for the game. And I think the Phillies have definitely been a great fit for me. It's been super.




Q: This took some time to get done. Was it on your mind?

Charlie: Kind of here lately I’ve been thinking about it more, but I think the time part of it was just the fact it was something you work on and it’s negotiation. There’s periods where both sides they kind of go in different directions or have other things to do and things like that and it took some time. There’s managers sometime that go into the season or go all the way through before they even talk about their deal. I’ve been comfortable with the thing ever since it started. It’s nothing that I wasn’t comfortable with, but at the same time it’s something I wanted. I’m very happy with it.



Q: How important to have a better deal this year as a part of the final equation?

Charlie: I don’t know if it was a big important thing or not. From my experience in managing and I look at coaches and managers and things like that, time is definitely the hammer for the manager. I definitely was in that category of thinking. But at the same time I think our team can go on and I didn’t want it to be a distraction for our players and stuff, but I’m very happy that it gone done. I think it’s good. Now I can concentrate solely on baseball for the next two or three years.



Q: Good to finally have job security?

Charlie: It feels very good, but it also feels good for the fact that somebody believes me and has faith in me and kind of gives me that opportunity. Believe me, if I did a good job before and worked hard before I’ll even work harder. I look at this … we’ve still got a lot of great baseball to play and we’ve got a lot of winning to do. That’s kind of what I bring.



Q: Think you'll manage into 70s?

Charlie: When Ruben and I talked, I made it pretty clear to Ruben that after this deal is up, it’s time for him and I to sit down and for me to take a good look at myself and also the organization, set down and have a good talk and see where we’re at. I want to stay with Philadelphia as long as I’m in baseball, and I’m a Phillie. I look at myself as a Phillie. Yeah, I was with the Indians, and I was with Kinetsu Buffaloes, and I was with the Yakult Swallows, and I was with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But I’m a Phillie. And if I cut my arm, it’s going to be red blood and not blue.




Q: Gratifying that you’ve been embraced in Philly?

Charlie: I think what happens is it’s a team, an organization process. Ever since that I’ve been here, our organization and our players, we’ve talked about team. We’ve always talked about winning and being a team. I think I’m one piece of the team, and I want to be that. I want to always be able to do my job and do it good, and we do that by how our players respond and our success, to me, I definitely think it’s put in winning. That’s a manager’s role. You better stress winning the game. And I think we’re going to win a lot more.



Q: Is all this money overwhelming?

Charlie: The most money I ever made playing in the major leagues was 19 grand. I’m not going to tell you what I made in Japan because I did make some money.



Q: Think you'll stay around as figurehead in a few years, after managing career?

Charlie: More than likely I’ll probably stay around as long as they’ll have me. I don’t think I’m going to catch Paterno. I’d like to, but he’s got a head start on me. But at the same time, I think I made it pretty clear to Ruben, I’m not planning on getting out in the near future.




Q: Feel good health-wise, like you're good to go for next 3 years. Lots of stress in this job, you know.

Charlie: I feel a hell of a lot better today. I could probably throw batting practice, maybe run some.

Charlie Manuel will be sticking around for a few more years.

Manuel has signed a two-year extension with the Phillies, Senior Vice President & General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced Thursday. Manuel's contract was set to expire after the upcoming season.

“We are pleased to have come to terms with Charlie,” said Amaro. “He has been an integral part of the success we’ve had over the past several years. There was little doubt that he was going to continue to be our skipper past his current contract and we look forward to the next three years with the hopes of continued success.”

Since taking over for Larry Bowa in 2005, Manuel has won 88 or more games in five of his six seasons and has never guided the Phillies to a losing record. With 544 wins with the Phillies, he ranks fourth in franchise history.

Manuel has led the Phils to four straight division titles, two NL pennants and is one of two managers in franchise history, along with Dallas Green, to guide the team to a World Series title.

Details of the deal weren't released, but the two-year extension is reportedly worth between $7 and $8 million.

“I set the time on the deal because I’ll be 69 years old when the deal runs out and I’ll sit down and I’ll evaluate where I’m at and talk to them and see where they’re at,” Manuel said after Wednesday's game in Lakeland. “I think as long as I stay healthy and things like that, I’m probably going to want to stay in the game. I want to manage as long as I can, and if I’m going to retire, I want to retire myself.”

The sky is not falling in Clearwater, no matter what you're hearing back in Philadelphia.

Chase Utley is walking upright. He may even play baseball this year. Maybe even next month.

Next month?

I just got off the phone with a doctor who specializes in treating athletes. He doesn't believe surgery is in the cards for Utley.


Dr. Jonathan L. Glashow is an orthopedic surgeon and co-chief of sports medicine at New York’s Mount Sinai Medical Center. He regularly treats professional athletes and specializes exclusively in shoulder and knee injuries.

Dr. Glashow said Wednesday that surgery was not the answer for the chondromalacia, the softening of the cartilage under the patella (kneecap), which was found in Utley's latest MRI.

"In terms of softening cartilage, you don't operate on that," Dr. Glashow said by phone. "If there's no structural problem, you should see him get better in three to six weeks."

Although Dr. Glashow has not treated Utley and isn't privy to all of the medical records, he followed the news earlier in the day and read the press release issued by Phillies team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti.

He agreed with the Phils that the best prescription for Utley is rest.

"They're going to rest him for three weeks. If you completely rest it, it will get better much more quickly," Dr. Glashow said. "When's Opening Day, April 1? If he's not playing then, then I'd get a little nervous. But you just have to wait it out."

Charlie Manuel could sign a contract extension by the end of the week.

Following the Phillies 5-3 win over the Detroit Tigers, Manuel confirmed a CSNPhilly.com report that he was closing in on a new deal. His old contract expires after the 2011 season.

“I think there’s a good chance - we’re close," Manuel said. "In some ways, I'm kind of glad to have it over with. I want to stay focused on what we're doing. I've never thought about doing anything else."

Chase Utley just got through speaking to the media about his ailing right knee. Here is that conversation in its entirety.

Q: How does your knee feel in relation to last week, two weeks ago, etc?

Utley: We all know I had a cortisone shot a week ago or so, I got a little bit of relief from it, but not as much as I anticipated. So on that front nothing has changed a whole lot. I'm still taking batting practice, I'm still playing catch. I'm just trying to take it easy on my legs right now.



Q: How much do you know about this ailment?

Utley: It's something I've tried to educate myself more and more on. I'm trying to get as many opinions possible on how to treat it. There's no black and white here. It's something that you have to deal with. Obviously it's a little frustrating right now, but you have to look at the big picture. We're trying to get his resolved quickly, but also being in good spirits for the long run.



Q: Is surgery a last resort, or something you have to realize is on the table?

Utley: I think that’s the last resort at this point. We're going to try to exhaust every avenue prior to that. Continue to see how it goes and monitor it on a day to day basis. It's frustrating, but at this point I have to stay positive and stay on top of things.


Q: Are you scheduled to fly out or see a specialist?

Utley: As of now, no. We're trying to put as much information together as possible, try to pick as many brains as possible to figure out the best way to go about this.



Q: Do you anticipate playing this season, could it end your season?

Utley: As I said, my goal is to alleviate this as quickly as possible, but still keeping in mind that I have a career ahead of me.


Q: Do you have sense for what non-surgical options are?

Utley: Those are things we're discussing right now. those are things we're trying to figure out. We're trying to pick as many brains as possible to treat this appropriately. I imagine if you talk to 20 different doctors you might hear 20 different opinions. We're trying to get the best doctors in this field and go from there.



Q: You mentioned last week you have had cortisone shots to treat it before?

Utley: I've had a few cortisone shots over the course of my career, cortisone is there to relieve symptoms if you've had them. things like that have worked in the past. Right now, it's not working as much as it has in the past. We'll continue to keep plugging away



Q: Were those shots for the knee?

Utley: Like I said, I've had a few shots in the past. Here and there.


Q: An uneducated person might say, just have surgery, be out 4-6 weeks and come back. Wouldn't it make sense to get it done and not miss bulk of season?

Utley: What you said made sense. But it's not that cut and dry.



Q: Are your people working with Phils people to resolve this?

Utley: We're trying to stick together with this, we're trying to exhaust all the avenues. The Phillies medical staff has done an outstanding job trying to contact the most people they can to get the most information they can that will move us in the right direction



Q: You've had numerous injuries in last 4 years. Can you change playing style?

Utley: I broke my hand a few years ago, which is, in my opinion, a freak thing. I tore a ligament in my thumb, which again is fairly freakish type of injury. I had a hip issue a few years ago that we treated and it’s responded extremely well. In that aspect, it’s tough. I’ve played this game for a little while, and I feel like I play it the right way. I don’t know any other way to play it.


Q: But is it in your DNA to be able to change way you play?

Utley: That’s a good question. I guess time will tell.



Q: If the season started now, could you play through pain?

Utley: I think at this point, we’re not trying to find the easy way out. I’m trying to look at this in the big picture, and that’s the frustrating part because everyone that knows me best knows the only place I’d rather be in on the field. It is disappointing but right now it’s probably not in my best interest to get out there.


Q: How hard is it watching these games from dugout?

Utley: It’s not a whole lot of fun to be honest. You’ve been around me enough to know that I enjoy playing. That’s where I feel most comfortable. Being in the dugout is not the most comfortable feeling.


Q: When do you feel the pain?

Utley: Batting doesn’t bother me whatsoever. Playing catch doesn’t bother me. The pounding on it – the jumping and the running – there’s definitely pain there. Those are things that I’ve had in the past that have gone away with treatment but right now it’s not going away. We’re just trying to do the best things we can to alleviate this.



Q: Are you able to do cardio?

Utley: We’re doing everything I possibly can to stay in shape without putting stress on my lower body.



Q: Tough to stay positive?

Utley: It can be difficult when things aren’t going your way. That shows somebody’s true character. It can be difficult at times, but at this point I can’t change anything I did in the past. I can only move forward with a positive attitude.


Q: Do you have expectations for when you can play or is it a big mystery like it is to everyone else?

Utley: It really is unknown. I’m doing everything I can to try to get back on the field, but there is no timetable. We’re not going to look for the short-term solution. I want to be smart about this and realize I have three years left on this contract to fulfill.



Q: Tougher because of expectations for this team this year?

Utley: I think the good way to look at it is we have a very strong pitching staff and an established veteran team that knows how to win. It’s disappointing to not feel like you’re a part of that right now, but I have a lot of confidence in my teammates.



Click here for video of some of Utley's Q&A.




From the earlier blog post:

The latest prescription for Chase Utley's ailing right knee? Rest.

The current objective for the Phils medical staff and management? Explore all non-surgical options in an attempt to fix the knee.


As the Phillies pass the midway point of spring training the move closer to Opening Day, Friday April 1, their second baseman isn't any closer to returning to the field. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. summoned the media for an update on Utley's knee and the main message: the Phils are moving along cautiously, hoping to avoid surgery and really aren't concerned if Utley isn't in the lineup for Opening Day.

"For us this is a long-term thing," Amaro said. "Frankly I do not care if he's making opening day or not making Opening Day. for us this is for him to be able to play long-term. Long-term meaning through this year, through the next year, through the following. This is something we want to make sure that he's 100 percent when he gets on the field so we don't have any missteps beyond that. That’s really the goal here. And that’s why we've been holding him back so much."

Two weeks into the exhibition schedule in Florida, Utley has not participated in any games. He had a cortisone shot on his knee Friday, but it didn't not alleviate the pain.

When asked it Utley could play through the pain if needed, Amaro's answer was a definitive "no."

"Not right now, no - he doesn't feel comfortable enough to play," Amaro said. "And if he would, knowing Chase, he would be playing. But right now there's too much discomfort for him to be playing. And frankly, rest might be the best option here. And that’s why we're contiuiing to do what we're doing right now, which is some of the rehab stuff he's done with (team physician) Dr. (Michael) Ciccotti and (head athletic trainer) Scott (Sheridan). Rest and some of the other things. Rest might be the best option."


The Phils medical staff and management are scouring the medical field for options and answers as to best treat what Dr. Ciccotti diagnosed as "mild patellar tendinitis and chondromalacia."

"It’s the undersurface of the patella, roughly, that’s the best term to give it," Sheridan said explaining chondromalacia. "Most all of us have it. If we've done anything actve in our life, we have some of that in our knee cap it's pretty standard."

If surgery is necessary anyway, the Phils could not put a definitive time table, other than to confidently say that Utley would be able play in 2011. They can't determine a time table because they won't know more about the goings-on inside Utley's knee until they actually go inside his knee surgically.

But they're hoping to avoid that.

"We're still doing and researching who exactly we want to get opinions from," Amaro said. "We're just trying to find the best people to treat this.

"We're trying to do this non-operatively. That’s one of the reasons why - we'd rather not go in there and operate. We're trying to treat this non-operatively, and if there's a way to do this, we're going to exhaust all of those options, all of those possibilites. Now it may turn out that we have to do something as far as operations are concerned, but the goal is to try to get him well without doing that."

The latest prescription for Chase Utley's ailing right knee? Rest.

The current objective for the Phils medical staff and management? Explore all non-surgical options in an attempt to fix the knee.


As the Phillies pass the midway point of spring training the move closer to Opening Day, Friday April 1, their second baseman isn't any closer to returning to the field. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. summoned the media for an update on Utley's knee and the main message: the Phils are moving along cautiously, hoping to avoid surgery and really aren't concerned if Utley isn't in the lineup for Opening Day.

"For us this is a long-term thing," Amaro said. "Frankly I do not care if he's making opening day or not making Opening Day. for us this is for him to be able to play long-term. Long-term meaning through this year, through the next year, through the following. This is something we want to make sure that he's 100 percent when he gets on the field so we don't have any missteps beyond that. That’s really the goal here. And that’s why we've been holding him back so much."

Two weeks into the exhibition schedule in Florida, Utley has not participated in any games. He had a cortisone shot on his knee Friday, but it didn't not alleviate the pain.

When asked it Utley could play through the pain if needed, Amaro's answer was a definitive "no."

"Not right now, no - he doesn't feel comfortable enough to play," Amaro said. "And if he would, knowing Chase, he would be playing. But right now there's too much discomfort for him to be playing. And frankly, rest might be the best option here. And that’s why we're contiuiing to do what we're doing right now, which is some of the rehab stuff he's done with (team physician) Dr. (Michael) Ciccotti and (head athletic trainer) Scott (Sheridan). Rest and some of the other things. Rest might be the best option."

The Phils medical staff and management are scouring the medical field for options and answers as to best treat what Dr. Ciccotti diagnosed as "mild patellar tendinitis and chondromalacia."

"It’s the undersurface of the patella, roughly, that’s the best term to give it," Sheridan said explaining chondromalacia. "Most all of us have it. If we've done anything actve in our life, we have some of that in our knee cap it's pretty standard."

If surgery is necessary anyway, the Phils could not put a definitive time table, other than to confidently say that Utley would be able play in 2011. They can't determine a time table because they won't know more about the goings-on inside Utley's knee until they actually go inside his knee surgically.

But they're hoping to avoid that.

"We're still doing and researching who exactly we want to get opinions from," Amaro said. "We're just trying to find the best people to treat this.

"We're trying to do this non-operatively. That’s one of the reasons why - we'd rather not go in there and operate. We're trying to treat this non-operatively, and if there's a way to do this, we're going to exhaust all of those options, all of those possibilites. Now it may turn out that we have to do something as far as operations are concerned, but the goal is to try to get him well without doing that."