After an 0-for-23 skid that sank Chase Utley's average to .291 -- it had been .325 on June 3 -- Phillies manager Charlie Manuel opted to rest his star second baseman to clear his head.
On Saturday against the Angels, Utley didn't start for the first time since Sept. 2, 2007, against the Marlins, a string of 101 consecutive games.
The conversation between the two was short, with Utley giving his manager a look.
"He gave me a no-like look," Manuel said. "Chase doesn't ever want to come out of the lineup. I decided to rest him tonight."
Though his average is solid and he's second in the Major Leagues with 22 home runs, Utley has batted .227 during 18 June games. Many of his outs have been on the ground, though he showed signs of progress be rifling line drives for outs on Friday.
Utley is hitting .158 in his past 15 games, with one homer, 10 RBIs, five walks, 10 strikeouts and three extra-base hits.
Manuel said Utley will play on Sunday, then the Phils have an off-day on Monday as the team flies to Oakland to begin a three-city road trip.
Manuel thought about resting Utley on Tuesday against Boston's Jon Lester, but he allowed Utley to talk his way into the lineup. This time, there was no getting around it.
"I think Chase is fine," Manuel said. "Mentally, he gets tired, wore down, and that's to be expected. I think [Shane] Victorino gets that way. That's why I rest him sometimes. Players get that way, especially the ones that put a lot of preparation into it. They practice hard and are high-energy players. Mentally, they get wore down."
Manuel said he wouldn't hesitate to use Utley as a pinch-hitter in a key situation Saturday, but he would rather give his second baseman the full game off. Eric Bruntlett made his first start of the season at second base and first start since May 8. The last time Chase Utley didn't start a game was Sept. 2, 2007, against the Marlins.
Utley chose not to speak about his benching, relating through a team spokesman that he was taking a day off from everything.
Original Story:
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/new....
On Saturday against the Angels, Utley didn't start for the first time since Sept. 2, 2007, against the Marlins, a string of 101 consecutive games.
The conversation between the two was short, with Utley giving his manager a look.
"He gave me a no-like look," Manuel said. "Chase doesn't ever want to come out of the lineup. I decided to rest him tonight."
Though his average is solid and he's second in the Major Leagues with 22 home runs, Utley has batted .227 during 18 June games. Many of his outs have been on the ground, though he showed signs of progress be rifling line drives for outs on Friday.
Utley is hitting .158 in his past 15 games, with one homer, 10 RBIs, five walks, 10 strikeouts and three extra-base hits.
Manuel said Utley will play on Sunday, then the Phils have an off-day on Monday as the team flies to Oakland to begin a three-city road trip.
Manuel thought about resting Utley on Tuesday against Boston's Jon Lester, but he allowed Utley to talk his way into the lineup. This time, there was no getting around it.
"I think Chase is fine," Manuel said. "Mentally, he gets tired, wore down, and that's to be expected. I think [Shane] Victorino gets that way. That's why I rest him sometimes. Players get that way, especially the ones that put a lot of preparation into it. They practice hard and are high-energy players. Mentally, they get wore down."
Manuel said he wouldn't hesitate to use Utley as a pinch-hitter in a key situation Saturday, but he would rather give his second baseman the full game off. Eric Bruntlett made his first start of the season at second base and first start since May 8. The last time Chase Utley didn't start a game was Sept. 2, 2007, against the Marlins.
Utley chose not to speak about his benching, relating through a team spokesman that he was taking a day off from everything.
Original Story:
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/new....
