While it is generally not my intention to report on the happenings of other teams, I felt this bit of information to be very prudent. David Murhpy of the Philadelphia Daily News brought us news of Utley and Polanco's injuries. Utley's update was of the most significance.
Sprains may range from first-degree to third, with higher-grade sprains featuring significant tearing, and third-degree being a complete tear of the ligament (in Utley's case, the ulnar collateral ligament).
Surgery to repair a thumb ligament generally sidelines a position player for 6 to 10 weeks. - David Murphy, Philadelphia Daily News
Murphy doesn't come right out and say it, but he seems to be alluding to the fact that there's a good chance Utley will have surgery and miss significant time. His reporting of Utley and Manuel's reactions to Utley's first MRI are very telling. Apparently, Utley left angry, before reporters could question him about it.
I find it very funny that several Phillies fans laughed at me when I told them Utley wouldn't hit .300, 30 home runs, OR drive in 100. That means none of the three. Even before the injury Utley wasn't on pace for any of those three. Guess those Phillie fan friends of mine aren't laughing anymore. As I write this post, Peter Gammons just tweeted that Utley will, in fact, require surgery. That answers that question.
What I will say is this: This is what happens when almost the entire core of your team is over 30 years old. No, I am not including Hamels in that core. He needs to be much more consistent to earn that moniker. Even still, Halladay is 33, Lidge is 33, Moyer's 47, Howard is 30, Rollins is 31, Victorino is 29, Ibanez is 38, Werth is 31, and Polanco is 34. I think you get the point. Basically, as the Mets learned the past four seasons, age is a killer.
