Most of the time, you shouldn't worry about what happens down in Spring Training. Players are going to struggle, some will stand out, and others will just go through the motions, getting into shape before the regular season starts. However, there are certain times when fans need to pay attention to the events in Florida or Arizona. The biggest time would be for injuries, like the one to Adam Wainwright that knocked him out for the entire 2011 season. While nothing that bad has happened to the Phillies, the injury bug has struck an already questionable lineup, leaving two potential holes to start the season.
First, and most important, is the issue with Chase Utley's knee. The last time Utley was even on a baseball field was during Game Six of the NLCS last year, and that's because he hasn't gotten an at-bat once during this Spring. The diagnosis is patellar tendinitis, and it looks like it's been more of a long term issue than Utley wants to admit. Even during the end of last season, he was having issues pushing off at the plate and was struggling at times to make throws to first base. Now, we might know the reason. Today, Utley received a cortisone injection into his right knee, CSN's Jim Salisbury reported. Hopefully, this can help him get back onto the field, as the issue with his knee seems to happen the harder Utley pushes himself. For years, Utley has played second base for the Phillies like a linebacker, and now, he might be starting to face the consequences of going 100 miles per hour for 162 games a year.
The other injury that happened today was to young right fielder Domonic Brown. Brown, who was 0-15 for the spring coming into today's game against the Pirates, managed to get a hit in his first at-bat, but it will be his last of Spring Training. During the plate appearance, Brown broke his hand and will be out three to six weeks, according to Jim Salisbury. Brown had been struggling really ever since he was called up last year to the Phillies, hitting only two home runs in his time with the team last year. He also scuffled through winter ball and had struck out nine times in 15 at-bats this spring. It hasn't been a good major league career so far for the young man, but he's got plenty of time to put things together and make it right. The biggest issue with Brown's injury is that he was being tabbed to replace Jayson Werth in right field. With Brown now out for at least the first week or two of the regular season, the starting job looks like it's going to land in the lap of Ben Francisco, but that might not be a bad thing.
The good thing about Francisco taking over the starting job in right field for the moment is that he has been killing the ball so far in Spring Training. In 19 at-bats, Francisco is hitting .421 with two home runs, six RBI and six runs scored. The home runs and RBI lead the team this spring, and are showing that Francisco came into the year ready and willing to become the starter in right field for the Phillies. Francisco is also a right handed bat, which is something that the Phillies need in the middle of their lineup. As good as Brown could become, he's another left handed bat out there, and right now, the Phils need as much balance in their lineup as possible. Francisco also already has starting experience in the big leagues, as he was starting for the Cleveland Indians before the Cliff Lee trade back in 2009.
Utley's knee issue is a little more troubling than Domonic Brown's broken hand, but at the same time, the Phils might have someone that can help out at second base as well. Wilson Valdez has taken the ball and ran with it during Spring Training, hitting .417 with three runs scored in seven games played so far. Delwyn Young, who signed a minor league contract in the offseason, has emerged as another option at second base if Utley can't go to start the season. However, what Utley has that those two don't is a leadership role with this team. When the other players see Chase out there giving everything he has on every play, then they know that they have to do more as well. Without his bat in the middle of the lineup and his influence out on the field, this team could very well suffer.
Can this offense still go without Chase Utley in it for a while? Of course it can. We saw that last year, when Utley played in less than 120 games for the first time since becoming a starter. However, the Phillies also scored their fewest runs since the 2002 season. That happens to be the last year that Utley wasn't with the Phillies to start the season. You can say anything you want to about Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Carlos Ruiz or Shane Victorino, but Chase Utley makes the Phillies go. Without him, this offense isn't going to be nearly as good as it should be, and for a team that struggled enough on offense last year, that's not good. Hopefully, Utley can get back sooner, rather than later, but only if he's at 100%. There's no point in having him risk another injury to the same knee this season.
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