Phillies Notes: Phillies' Chase Utley to sit again vs. Yankees on Saturday

Raul Ibanez takes some swings during the Phillies' abbreviated batting practice at Bright House Field.
Raul Ibanez takes some swings during the Phillies' abbreviated batting practice at Bright House Field.
By Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: February 26, 2011

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Chase Utley will miss his second consecutive preseason game Saturday. The second baseman is going through general body soreness, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.

That, Manuel inferred, is from Utley's usual routine of intense strain in his early workouts. Most of the pain is in Utley's knees, and Manuel said the 32-year-old infielder is not injured.

"He's just been working out real hard," Manuel said Thursday. "He's been over there running bases hard, taking ground balls, weight training. He has sore legs, sore knees. . . . That's all kind of common."

In 2010, Utley spent 49 days on the disabled list because of a torn ligament in his right thumb. When approached by reporters Friday, he declined to comment and left the clubhouse.

The body soreness is not believed to be serious, and Manuel said it was his decision to hold out Utley early. The manager annually talks of limiting Utley's workload where he can, and this could be a possible solution in Manuel's eyes.

Utley will not be the only regular who stays behind as the rest of the team travels to Tampa, Fla., for the Grapefruit League opener against the New York Yankees. Also not playing will be Carlos Ruiz, Shane Victorino, and Placido Polanco.

Cole Hamels will start the game for the Phillies and will be opposed by Bartolo Colon.

Jimmy Rollins, who was excused from camp for the last two days to attend an event honoring Motown at the White House, will start at shortstop in his first game action.

Extra bases

The Phillies had their lightest workout of the spring Friday morning, taking a brief session of batting practice. Then it was off to the annual Bill Giles golf tournament or an afternoon of rest. . . . Pitching after Hamels on Saturday will be Vance Worley, Ryan Feierabend, Brian Schlitter, and Mike Zagurski. . . . At Bright House Field, the Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays will play a minor-league B game in the morning. Brian Bass will start, with Dan Meyer, Danys Baez, Jose Contreras, and David Herndon pitching in relief.

Contact staff writer Matt Gelb at mgelb@phillynews.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/magelb

 

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