Utley's shortest road back could lead to left field?

I hadn't noticed this nugget from Jim Salisbury until this afternoon.

From Salisbury's Sunday's piece: "Returning as a second baseman is still (Chase) Utley’s plan. However, his recent workouts in left field have left some to wonder if playing there would reduce pressure on his knees. Darren Daulton moved from catcher to right field after his knees were shot. Would left field be a possibility for Utley down the road?"

Beerleaguer: Interesting possibility when you also consider how much the Phillies value Freddy Galvis' glove at second base; a few nights ago, broadcaster Tom McCarthy even raised the possibility that Galvis has already become the game's premier defensive second baseman, and there's a strong case to be made there. Secondly, left field is largely an open position for the Phils without a definitive long-term solution. The enigma known as Domonic Brown is being tested in center field. Utley, who is signed through 2013, may not have the knees for another full season to endure the rigors of second base. It's the stop-and-go ranging at the position that seems to be Utley's biggest hurdle.

Utley has reportedly increased his workouts at second base, taking between 25 and 30 ground balls daily, but is still not ready for a minor league assignment, Salisbury reports.

Comments

[Iceman]

From the last thread: why would Halladay be going to get a second opinion?

[Rich]

Am injured Utley is whom the DH was made for.

[GTown_Dave]

Stop worrying about the guys who are already effectively dead to the world, & start worrying about Chooch.

[Roddy]

I still don't understand why Cole plunked Bryce Harper.

[curt]

Great idea. Utley struggled to throw it 60 feet in the general direction of Ryan Howard.

[Joe D]

I'm with you. And also to see it in a rubber match against a team that is of AA quality that has owned this Phillies team of late is also aggravating.

[Joe D]

Great idea. Utley struggled to throw it 60 feet in the general direction of Ryan Howard.

Posted by: curt

Dude you are talking about a team that has Juan Pierre out there. Utley will be like Vlad Guerrero when compared to Pierre. That being said none of this matters because Utley's career is over.

[rty]

Put Utley at 1B for crying out loud. If/when Ryan comes back we can worry about where to play Chase then.

[Shane]

On Utley: He has essentially missed half a season. The longer this takes, the more I feel his fielding days are over. If he can come back, in some capacity, and prove he can still hit and run the bases I would be very tempted to trade him to an AL team for whatever you could get.

[Joe D]

Utley and Victorino to the Angels for Trout and Weaver. Another ace! We'll gamble on his health too! A leadoff hitter!

WHAT UP!

Ha.

[Heather]

Howard isn't going to be back in June? Coming from this front office, that probably means he's dead somewhere.

[GTown_Dave]

Let's be realistic: Utley's new position will be on a chair in a TV studio, attempting to not say "f*ck" live on air.

[Joe D]

I know this will never happen but imagine if one night soon they just unfurl Utley and Howard out of nowhere and they both go 4-4 and they cut to Amaro, Jr. in the box and he is laughing uncontrollably while grabbing his johnson.

[The hook]

Howard all star break. Chase should have told front office this winter about maybe playing left. Could have prob prepared better and not killed what little bit of knee he had left. The doc thing very interesting. Wonder what the other doc saw? This whole season has been one of the "goofy" seasons I ever seen. Our future left fielder hard hitting Carlos q has 2 homers

[Bert Wedemeyer]

Absolutely platoon him at 1B w/ Wiggy. Ease him back. No need for an arm at 1st. If and when Howard comes back they can throw him out to LF. Of course, by the time that happens somebody else will get injured the way this season's been.

[Joe D]

I just love the chance to be able to say hard hittin Carlos Quentiinnnn.

[rty]

And less wear on the knee playing 1B I'd think.

[Joe D]

Chase will make Howard look like Keith Hernandez once he tries to throw down to 2nd for the 3-6-3.

[EastFallowfield]

Yo, new thread

[Dickie Thong]

Wang vs Johnson matchup tonight at the newly erected Marlins Park. I have Stanton on my FLB team. Hopefully he takes Wang deep.

[Elephant in the room]

I like it.

[Elephant in the room]

Also,

Wang vs Johnson matchup tonight at the newly erected Marlins Park. I have Stanton on my FLB team. Hopefully he takes Wang deep.

Posted by: Dickie Thong | Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 04:59 PM

I catch 4 uses there- Wang, Johnson, erected, and of course "Dickie" Thong

[Adult High School Diploma]

Your generosity in sharing this information means so much. Thanks a million.

[Jerry Stahlecker]

Firdst base is the obvious choice for Utley when a RH is pitching. That leaves left field open for Pierre who has done an excellent job. Then go with the wigginton/Mayberry duo depending on who is hot.

[Monster LadyGaga]

Monster LadyGaga

[Monster LadyGaga]

Monster LadyGaga

[nickybaseball]

Left field is the place for him if they want to reduce wear and tear on the knees. Any infield position is not a great spot for that...though 2B is worse than 1B, of course. The key question is, can he HIT effectively with this injury, because last September's numbers certainly don't bode well. If he can't produce offensive numbers, putting him in LF ain't helping anything.