It doesn’t really matter how good your team is in any sport. If you start getting the whole team hurt, it will be difficult to succeed. And the Philadelphia Phillies just got dealt another blow today when it was learned that 2B Chase Utley have surgery on his thumb to repair the torn ligament.
Sources tell MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki that he’s headed to New York to have the surgery, and that right now there isn’t a timetable for his return. Peter Gammons guessed earlier today that it will be five to six weeks before he is back in the Phillies lineup.
Shouldn’t be a problem, right? Greg Dobbs will probably provide a smooth transition in the lineup. We won’t even know Utley is gone (now you watch. Because I said that, Dobbs will go on a tear). Wilson Valdez and Juan Castro will get increased playing time as well, which should really make this team a force at the plate.
So now, you have to think the Ruben Amaro is going to look for a 2B or a 3B. When Polanco comes back, he can play second base if they happen to find a third baseman not named Greg Dobbs.
UPDATE: It now looks like Utley will miss eight weeks or so.
As I predicted 3 weeks back…
Trade RF J Werth to the Red Sox for RHP Relief/Closer Daniel Bard, 3B Mike Lowell and a pitching prospect. Bring OF D Brown up and play him everyday in RF/LF, Play M Lowell at 3B giving him a spell for G Dobbs once in a while and use Valdez/Castro at 2B until Polanco comes back and then play Polanco at 2B.
Go out and sign P Pedro Martinez and release both P’s D Baez and K Kendrick…
Play to win it this year, and Werth will be a goner after the season anyways so get something for him now while they can and shore up Closer role (Bard) and 3B (Lowell) and still have Right-HAnd Power bat in Lowell batting behind Howard…