Chase Utley Goes ‘Back To Square One’ At The Plate
CITIZENS BANK PARK — Charlie Manuel was sitting in the home dugout the other day, contemplating his team’s post-division clinching slump — which has now gone from bad to worse. The manager continued to stress that they’ll be ready for the playoffs. Then the grizzled baseball lifer was asked if he thought they were capable of “flipping the switch,” as they say. Turning it on, when the intensity ratchets up.
“Hitting the baseball is hard,” the manager said. “You don’t just turn it on and off.”
That could be a problem for the Phillies, who saw the recent skid hit a whopping six straight, thanks to Thursday’s 6-1 debacle at the hands of Washington. But Manuel intends to steer clear of the panic button.
“We’re not used to losing that many in a row, but we’re sitting in a real good position,” he said following the latest loss. “I know we’ll be ready.”
In case you’re wondering, the Phillies are the first team since the 1904 Giants to notch their 98th win, and then lose six in a row. They were the first 98-win team to lose five in a row since the ’69 Orioles.
By the way, the 1904 Giants won 106, but they didn’t play in the World Series because there wasn’t a World Series. It was before the Fall Classic caught on as an annual event.
The ’69 Orioles managed to make it to the World Series, but that didn’t go so well for them (can you say Miracle Mets?). I know what you’re thinking; that had better not happen to the 2011 Phillies.
If not, at some point the Phillies will need production out of Chase Utley, who seems to have lost all of his power. Utley has been a marvel in overcoming the knee issues that cost him the first two months of the season, but his power numbers have been abysmal. Entering Thursday’s game, the five-time All-Star’s slugging percentage was at .424. That’s 82 points below his career average. His on-base plus slugging was .766; his career average OPS is .882.
“Just trying to find some holes out there and get some hits,” Utley said before departing for the road trip.
Utley has hit .174 in the month of September. He has only one home run. It is his only RBI. His last double came on Aug. 26.
He is no longer a home run threat. He is no longer driving in runs. It makes one wonder if Utley can continue to bat in the third spot in the lineup.
“Last three years Chase has missed a lot of games,” Manuel said. “It’s hard for him to do a lot of conditioning on his legs. Legs are a big part of hitting.”
Getting beaned by the Braves’ Eric O’Flaherty Sept. 7 didn’t help matters. Utley missed the next seven games. He’s 6-for-31 since, including 0-for-3 Thursday night.
“I’ve had no effects from the concussion,” Utley said.
But it appears that something about his game is a tad askew.
“He’s trying to find his swing,” said Manuel. “He’s back to square one.”
Not a good place with the postseason just six games away.
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