CSN: Window closing on aging Phillies

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- It was Chase Utley's turn. He sat down at the table, a bank of cameras and microphones in front of him, and answered questions that sounded a lot like the ones he fielded a year ago -- and the year before that, too. It?s becoming something of a habit for him and his teammates.

Like Ryan Howard did the day before, Utley spent a lot of time talking about his health. There was no way around it. Utley?s knee injury limited him to playing just 103 games last season. When he was on the field, he didn?t look like the Utley the Phillies always rely on to produce offensively. In 2011, the second baseman hit .259 with 11 home runs and 44 RBIs.

It was his worst performance in each of those categories since his rookie season. ?

The year before that, 2010, Utley had hip issues that also kept him out of the lineup for a significant portion of the season. His numbers were only slightly better: a .275 average with 16 homers and 65 RBIs in 115 games. It?s probably no coincidence that the Phillies' offense, once dependable, started struggling around the same time Utley?s health became a concern.

Utley was asked if he had a number of games in mind that he might be able to play this season. Charlie Manuel said that even if Utley is healthy, no one should expect him to be in the lineup 150 times this season because the Phillies have to ?monitor him.? Still, there?s a big gap between 150 games and 103 games. There?s a happy medium in there somewhere. So, Chase, do you have any idea how often you want to be on the field this year?

?I don?t,? he said. ?And even if I did I probably wouldn?t tell you.?

He laughed and the media laughed and the Phillies PR people in the interview room at Bright House Field laughed, too. It was funny. But, then, it?s also spring training. It might not be so amusing if Utley is fielding more questions than ground balls later this year.

The Phillies won 102 games last season and they remain one of the favorites to win it all this year. But they are also getting older, and Utley -- who is 33 -- isn?t the only one who has a worrisome injury history.

Howard, who a couple weeks ago said he?s about ?40 percent,? will be mending his Achilles tendon until at least mid-May. He?s 32.

Placido Polanco dealt with nagging back and hernia issues that limited him to playing fewer than 135 games in each of the last two seasons. He?s 36.

That?s three out of four infielders who are in their early-to-mid 30s and have suffered significant injuries during the last year. And while Jimmy Rollins is healthy, it was only two years ago when various maladies -- including a hamstring strain, a calf strain and a bruised foot -- allowed him to play just 88 games. Rollins is 33.

The good news is that the remainder of the core crew appears to be fit. The less encouraging news is that many of them are also in their 30s. Newly-acquired closer Jonathan Papelbon is 31. So is Shane Victorino. Cliff Lee and Carlos Ruiz are 33. And Roy Halladay is 34. That doesn?t mean they should trade in their gloves for AARP cards and head off to grab the early-bird special at Denny's, but it does make you curious how much longer these Phillies can prop open the championship window before grumpy old Father Time comes along and slams it on them.? ?

?You don?t worry about things like that,? Utley said. ?We do a good job of focusing on that day. We realize that we need to improve. We realize that we aren?t getting any younger ? . Obviously it?s important to be healthy. We?ve had some guys who have had some aches and pains over the last few years. That happens in baseball. What we do have is experience. We are getting a little bit older, but at the same time we are gaining experience. I think that experience can get us over the hump if you will.?

Not long ago, Ruben Amaro said pretty much that same thing -- that the Phils are an experienced group and maybe the birth dates on their drivers? licenses aren?t such a big deal. Except, well, you see their ages and you see their injuries, and you do wonder if one isn?t directly tethered to the other.

?The age wouldn?t be a factor if our guys were healthy,? Amaro said in an interview with NBC 10. ?Really, 32, 33, 34 -- is that old, or are they still in their prime? That?s the question.?

That is, indeed, the question.

E-mail John Gonzalez at jgonzalez@comcastsportsnet.com
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Source: http://www.csnphilly.com/blog/phillies-talk/post/These-Phils-arent-quite-the-Wheeze-Kids-?blockID=663790&feedID=2262

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