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Second baseman Chase Utley is a perennial All-Star and the best all-around player on the Phillies roster.  But recently, rumors have been flying about his physical condition.  Mentions of “soreness” in his knees and legs are raising eyebrows.  Utley missed both the exhibition game and the first official game this week after “intense workouts” during the first week of camp.  He may not play in the next game either.

Utley has been developing a pattern of injuries over the past several years which are becoming alarming.  Rumors of a hip injury followed him throughout the second half of 2008.  After winning the World Series, he did finally undergo surgery.

His health was questioned after that for much of the 2009 season, although he did not miss significant time.  In 2010, Utley sprained his thumb and was put on the DL in June.  The injury was more serious than initially disclosed, and Utley had to undergo surgery on the thumb.  He missed 47 games that year.

Not only have the injuries become a pattern, but so has disguising them.  A war of words ensued in 2008 when then GM Pat Gillick slipped and told a reporter that Utley was experiencing hip problems.  Utley vehemently denied the statement, yet in the offseason, it became apparent that Gillick was telling the truth as Utley had hip surgery.

The thumb injury was underplayed as well in 2010.  Now, when rumors of Utley’s health arise, most are inclined to think there is truth to the rumor.  Then when Utley drops coy comments to reporters like, “If there’s cause for concern you’ll be the first to know,” it leads people to wonder if they should be worried.

Utley is not a big guy.  His weight has been generously listed as 190 pounds on his MLB bio page.  His smaller than average baseball player frame has led to questions about his endurance for years.  When the previous injuries and previous denials about injuries are all mixed in, it is a recipe for trouble.

The current issue may just be a simple matter of Utley being over-zealous and working himself too hard in camp.  But until he gets into a regular spring routine, the questions will linger.

Chase Utley photo by Jenn Zambri

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Hope springs eternal for all 30 MLB teams this time of year. 

Spring is a time of rebirth, renewal and new beginnings.  At the first crack of the bat, anything is possible.

For the Phillies, 2011 could be all that and more.  The potential of this team is unlimited.  But potential does not guarantee success, as execution and a little bit of luck will play a major role in the outcome.

However, the Phillies do have plenty of reasons to be hopeful.  Here are five good omens for the Phillies as they begin spring training.

Photo: Jenn Zambri

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On Monday night, the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association held their 107th annual awards banquet in Cherry Hill, NJ.  The PSWA honors athletes in every sport around the Philadelphia area. 

This year, the PSWA honored Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay as the Outstanding Pro Athlete of 2010.  He was also presented with his 2010 Cy Young award.  Shane Victorino received the Humanitarian Award for his charitable efforts in the community.

A large portion of the Phillies family was in attendance as well, including President Dave Montgomory, the Phanatic, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. and manager Charlie Manuel.  As a guest speaker, Manuel had the crowd in stitches with his southern humor. 

Manuel spoke about his home state, saying, “You know they don’t have Christmas plays in West Virginia, you know that? They cut it out. They couldn’t find three wise men and a virgin.”

Also present was comedian Joe Conklin, who attends every year to entertain the guests.  He does amazing impersonations of a variety of Philly athletes, including Manuel, Cole Hamels and Eagles coach Andy Reid.  Conklin’s routine is the highlight of the banquet.

All of the Phillies’ speeches, plus Conklin’s appearance, are on video as well. Just follow the link.

The full Photo Album from the event includes members of the Phillies, Flyers, Sixers and Eagles, plus college and high school athletes.

Photos by Jenn Zambri Photography

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Anyone who says size does not matter has clearly missed out on some key moments in baseball history.

In the early 1900’s, President Roosevelt borrowed an old African proverb by stating, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” And while he may not necessarily have been referring to baseball, the saying seems to have made impact on the sport anyway.

The following is a list of the top 10 “big” moments, statistics and feats in baseball throughout the years.

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Charlie Manuel‘s contract as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies is set to expire at the end of the 2011 season. With Spring Training just weeks away, the Phillies have yet to finalize an extension for their skipper.

No manager likes to enter a season with their status up in the air. It can raise questions about why a manager is not yet re—signed and can sometimes even undermine a manager’s authority in the clubhouse.

In the case of Charlie Manuel, the Phillies surely must want him back. A winning percentage of .560 over six years with the team, four division titles, two National League Pennants and a World Series Championship should be reason enough for an extension.

The only feat Manuel has yet to accomplish is winning a second World Series title. If the Phillies are trying to squeeze more than that out of him, they may have to hook Manuel up to an IV to give blood.

Besides the winning record, Manuel has many intangible qualities that make him a perfect fit for this franchise. The players love him. They play hard not just for the love of the game, but for their love and respect of Manuel.

Because of his reputation as a player’s manager, other major leaguers want to come to Philadelphia.  Just ask Cliff Lee, who turned down more money and additional years to come back and play for Manuel in 2011.

The fans love him, too. They love him not only because he brought winning baseball back to Philadelphia, but also for his kind, approachable attitude. Fans can walk right up to him and engage in a conversation.

Manuel genuinely respects and appreciates the fans, treating them as equals.

The Phillies should take that to heart and give the same respect and appreciation back to Manuel. Whether it is two or three years, give the man what he wants.  He’s earned it.

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The 2011 season is nearly upon us and the anticipation in the air is palpable. There is still time for teams to make improvements and increase their chances at a successful season.

But as the available free agents dwindle, the 2011 picture is coming into clearer focus.

Which teams have the best shot at the postseason will depend on a number of factors.  Some say pitching rules the day, others hang their hats on offensive outbursts.

The following is a list of all 30 teams, from worst to first, which ranks their chances at making the playoffs in 2011.

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The Phillies locked up their final arbitration eligible player today by signing pitcher Kyle Kendrick to a one-year, $2.45 million dollar deal.  Ben Francisco signed this past Saturday as well.  His contract is also for one-year and totals $1.175 million.

To start the year, Kendrick will wind up in one of two places.  If Joe Blanton is traded, Kendrick will be the favorite to win the fifth starters spot.  If Blanton stays, Kendrick can take over the long-man job in the bullpen that was vacated by the still unsigned Chad Durbin.

The nice part about avoiding arbitration for the Phillies is having less drama going into Spring Training.  This is especially true for Kendrick, who seemed constantly conflicted about his role with the team in traveling back and forth to the minors

The only thing Kendrick has to worry about now is pitching.  This kind of focus, without the unnecessary distraction of a hearing, is exactly what Kendrick needs to be successful.

It has been a busy off-season for Kendrick.  He got married to Stephanie LaGrossa, bringing the second Survivor contestant into the Phillies family.  Heidi Hamels is the other former Survivor.   And now, Kendrick can add “millionaire” to his resume.

But the best part of his new-found stability is that Kendrick will probably not fall for any more “you have been traded to Japan” pranks. 

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There are a large number of baseball players who have spent years, or even an entire decade, in the major leagues without ever reaching the playoffs or being able to win a championship.

Some get lucky with a trade deadline move or waiver claim that places them directly in the path of a ring. Cody Ross was one of the lucky ones this past season, collecting his World Series ring with the Giants after playing in San Francisco for only a few short months.

Other players are not so lucky. Mike Sweeney spent 16 years in the majors, 13 of those on a very bad Royals team. He got a quick taste of the playoffs with the Phillies in 2010 but did not get past the NLCS. 

Currently a free agent, Sweeney will likely end his outstanding career without ever having played in a World Series.

Sweeney may be a cautionary tale for other veteran players who are stuck on bad teams. The following is a list of players who are likely to, or probably should, request a trade to a contender before time catches up with them.

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With the Fab Four of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels already locked up in their starting rotation, do the Phillies still need Joe Blanton? 

The righty has two years left on his contract, which will earn him a total of $17 million dollars.

In his two and a half years with the Phillies, Blanton has a combined record of 25-14 with an average 4.36 ERA in 72 starts. For a fifth starter in the rotation, these are pretty good numbers.

In comparison, Kyle Kendrick has a 25-20 record with a 4.55 ERA in 63 starts since the 2008 season. The statistics are similar, but it should also be noted that Kendrick spent a good amount of time bouncing back and forth from the majors to the minors in 2009. 

And last year, Blanton spent time on the disabled list.

Another alternative for the fifth starter position is rookie Vance Worley. In two starts with the Phillies in 2010, Worley pitched 13 innings and recorded a 1.38 ERA. Between AA and AAA last year, Worley recorded a combined 10-7 record with a 3.36 ERA over 27 starts. But Worley is still a big unknown; he is young and lacks experience.

With these options, it seems that either Blanton or Kendrick would be the best fit for the role. If the Phillies are concerned with payroll, trading Blanton may be a good idea as Kendrick is still under team control.

When asked if payroll would move him to trade Blanton, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told the media, “I really don’t have to do anything.”

A lower payroll would help if Amaro has other future moves in mind, however, it does not appear to be necessary right now.

If money is not a true motivator at this times, the Phillies may be better served to keep Blanton. Having both Blanton and Kendrick provides tremendous pitching depth. In the event that one of the Fab Four gets injured, the decision to then move Kendrick into the rotation to fill the hole should be a no-brainer.

Blanton also has experience in eight different playoff series, including two World Series. Kendrick pitched less than four innings in the 2007 NLDS and has not seen any playoff action since that time.

And if the Phillies start the year off with Halladay, Lee, Oswalt, Hamels and Blanton, then Kendrick can fill a hole in the bullpen as a long reliever. With Chad Durbin still unsigned, there may be a greater need for a long man.

It appears that keeping Blanton is probably a good idea. Of course, if another team makes a good offer, the Phillies still have other options for the fifth spot in the rotation. 

But until the season actually begins, anything can happen.

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The Hall of Fame selection process has, and likely always will be, the center of much controversy.  The debate rages on year after year about who should and who should not be a Hall of Famer and why.

Take Kirby Puckett as an example.  Puckett was a very productive player whose career was cut short after he lost vision in one eye due to glaucoma.   While his career batting average is an impressive .318, Puckett did not play long enough to accumulate what one might consider Hall of Fame numbers.

Beyond the numbers, Puckett’s personal issues were also a point of contention when his Hall of Fame selection was made.  In the early 2000s, tales of infidelity, domestic violence and a sexual assault charge tainted Puckett’s reputation.  His selection was then called into question not only due to his short 12 years in the majors, but for apparent character flaws, as well.

Similar questions have been raised about a multitude of other players over years.  What follows is by no means a complete list of every player who probably should not be in the Hall of Fame.  However, these 10 are some of the worst selections ever made.

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