Enough Utley Conspiracy Theories

Quit it with all the Chase Utley conspiracy theories. 

Just because Utley is going to miss half of Spring Training does not mean there is this huge cover up.  It is certainly possible, because Ruben Amaro would lie to his grandmother if she asked him about the health of one of his players.  But calm the heck down already!

What has changed since last October that has everyone in a frenzy?  I'll tell you what.  Nothing.

There have been no indications from watching Utley to suggest he's any worse than before.  It is a little weird that without any hesitation, Charlie Manuel said Utley wouldn't play spring ball for at least ten days.  It's not often that superstars with no official injury sit out Grapefruit League games, but would you handle it any differently?

Utley has a chronic knee condition which doesn't exactly get better by playing baseball games.  The Phillies are already missing Ryan Howard.  They can't afford to lose Utley, too.  Before you go all JFK on me, can you give one good reason why the Phillies should play Utley?  To sell tickets in Clearwater?  To sell more Utley jerseys?  To give him more practice?

Forget about what the Phillies say, just use your own eyes and logic.  Utley has the same patellar tendinitis and chondromalacia that we knew about already.  Especially for a hard-nosed player like Utley, the best medicine is rest, and that is exactly what the Phillies are giving him.