Utley UPDATE

•March 26, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Just got word from my former employer that they are sitting on the story as well. Which is interesting to me, so I’m not entirely sure what to make of it at this point. In further discussions, it seems like my number of 105 games played for Utley is something on the low end and that he is more likely to play 110-115 games this season, with, still a lot more rest than you would expect out of Utley.

I’m not entirely sure when my former site will break this information, but certainly by the end of the weekend I would imagine.

Chase Utley injury lingering?

•March 26, 2009 • Leave a Comment

All seems to be well with Chase Utley, but that isn’t necessarily the case, at least regarding how the Phillies want to use him.

We don’t often break a ton of the injury news here, but when you talk to executives and managers, sometimes it is hard to avoid picking up an exclusive and that was the case here. Our previous scoop was Brandon Morrow possibly heading to the bullpen in Seattle upon his return before most other outlets.

Well, we spoke with a contact inside of the Phillies organization who was a bit more unenthusiastic about Utley’s return than most. He first spoke of some tightness that Utley still has, but is playing through.

“Most important to us is that Chase is able to go in the playoffs.”

Fine, nothing really wrong there…yet.

“Our goal is to put ourselves in position to make a postseason run, so, for the first half of the season, if we have to sit Chase a couple times per week to make sure that he is ready for September, we will do it.”

Ok, now I’m starting to get a bit more concerned. Missing a couple games per week?

“It’s not really anything out of the ordinary in the game. Just, a bit different with position players involved. Catchers take day games after night games off as well, same with Barry Bonds when he was dealing with injuries. If we have a three game series, Utley may play in the first two, then rest for the third so he is ready for the next series. If we can get him to play every 2 out of 3 games through the tightness and at full strength, we will be happy.”

That last part is obviously the most concerning. When I hung up the phone I immediately called someone else within the organization who was less forthcoming on the injury front and would not confirm or deny the previous report.

It now appears as if Chase Utley may take a mandatory rest once every three games.

That would reduce his games played to around the 105 games mark. Right now, it would not make much sense to target Chase in fantasy leagues. 105 games of really good Chase Utley will put up adequate numbers, but the games that he will miss will be too much for anyone to make up. If you draft today, I would advise moving him down to around pick 60-70. That is the range that Chipper Jones goes and we now know Utley will miss more time than Jones.

Good news on Duchscherer

•March 25, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Billy Beane says Justin Duchscherer will start the season if he can throw 4 innings in a game. This is good news, because at the very least, Duchscherer will not be out for an extended period of time.

Finally a day on A-Rod

•March 25, 2009 • Leave a Comment

A-Rod will be back on May 15th, according to Joe Girardi.

“That’s what we have been told [by the doctors], I am not judging it by the rehab,” Girardi said.

I don’t think the doctors will lie to Coach, so it is safe to say Mid-March is a likely time for A-Rod to return. I still don’t like A-Rod a ton for this season, as on top of missing a month, he is an injury concern. But, if you do have him, you’ll be relieved to know of the date for his return.

Ervin Santana to miss all of April?

•March 25, 2009 • Leave a Comment

What began as something the Angels weren’t too worried about seems to have turned into Ervin Santana missing the start of the season and now, all of April.

The Los Angeles Times is now reporting that Santana’s injury will cost him all of April. We said when the injury first happened that Santana’s tightness was more concerning than what the Angels were predicting, and it certainly now seems like that could be the case.

Joe Mauer injury

•March 20, 2009 • Leave a Comment

The Joe Mauer injury isn’t something we have touched on much here, but I just want to hit on it very quick.

Weird injury.  Here is what Mauer had to say today…

“Yeah, I just have to get healthy. I don’t think I’m ready to get out there and play any games. I know it’s getting closer. I really don’t know if I’m going to be there or not.”

So, he is getting healthier, but the amount of time he misses goes up more and more…OK. Joe, I’m still taking you high in all my leagues, but this injury is starting to get someone concerning.

Brandon Morrow to the bullpen?

•March 19, 2009 • 1 Comment

We don’t break too many stories here, but here is one that I think we might be on top of before anyone else.

Brandon Morrow might head to the bullpen on return from his injury.

Obviously, this is not good news for Mariners fans who want to see Morrow and his electric stuff back in the rotation. In speaking with manager Don Wakamatsu, he was reluctant to confirm that Morrow was heading to the bullpen, but it does seem as if that is the direction they are headed in.

“Obviously we want Brandon in the starting rotation, but if he has to go to the bullpen to get his strength up, we won’t be entirely discouraged by that move.”

Rodriquez to begin rehab right away

•March 10, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Alex Rodriguez’s hip surgery went so well that Rodriguez will begin to rehab right away. This is good news for his owners that want to see him back on the field as soon as possible.

Rodriguez surgery

•March 8, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Well, it was rumored on ESPN last week and now official, but Alex Rodriguez will undergo surgery on his hip. It is a temporary surgery and he will need a full procedure later. The idea is for Rodriguez to make a return at some point in the early half of the season.

“The goal here is to allow Alex to rehab rapidly in a safe manner,” said Dr. Marc Philippon at the Steadman-Hawkins clinic for sports medicine and orthopedic surgery. “The approach we’re using is much safer than letting Alex play the way he is now.”

Ervin Santana injured?

•March 6, 2009 • 1 Comment

Ervin Santana has missed some of spring training due to some elbow soreness. Now, the Angels think that this is just some minor tightness and don’t believe that the injury is serious, but we shouldn’t be too sure.

“It’s just a little tender,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “We’re going to evaluate it moving forward, see how he feels in the next couple days. But right now we don’t see it as anything but a spring-training thing.”

The Angels are playing this one as if it is nothing serious, but our prediction is that Ervin Santana will likely miss the start of the season.