Phillies have a plan for Utley: Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said at Monday's Philadelphia Sports Writers' Association banquet that the team will monitor Chase Utley's workload this spring. Utley has dealt with knee issues in the past. "He's doing good. He's feeling well," Amaro said. "We have to keep an eye on his health, and monitor him and make sure we're cautious with how we handle him in spring training. Charlie (Manuel) and I have talked about that a little bit to make sure he stays fresh for the season." (Updated 01/31/2012)
Injury Report
No information available at this time (Updated 2/12/12).
Fantasy Analysis
Utley missed about six weeks to start the 2011 season dealing with patellar tendinitis in his right knee. While Utley had some hot streaks during the season, he definitely didn't hit like the All-Star second baseman we have come to know. He finished with a .259 average, 11 homers and 44 RBI in 103 games. Perhaps it will be a different story in 2012 if he can make it through spring training and stay off the DL this year. Utley might not be the must-have Fantasy option he once was, but he still passes as a Fantasy starter, worth an early-to-mid-round Fantasy pick. (Updated 01/31/2012).
02/10/2012 13:27 2012 Draft Prep: 12-team, mixed H2H draft
Which picks stood out in our initial 12-team Head-to-Head mock draft for 2012? Check out the results and read what Scott White has to say about some of the more interesting selections.
02/07/2012 09:19 2012 Draft Prep: Head-to-Head strategies
Understanding the subtle differences between Head-to-Head and Rotisserie formats leading up to Draft Day can make all the difference. Our Scott White shares some of his battle-tested draft strategies.
02/02/2012 12:21 2012 Draft Prep: Our 12-team, mixed Rotisserie draft
It's time for owners to start looking ahead to Draft Day. We get you off and running with our 12-team Rotisserie mock draft. Check out the results!
The second baseman formerly known as Chase Utley continued to descend into mediocrity last year. Too harsh? Fine, but look at the numbers. His batting average and OPS both declined for the fifth consecutive season, giving him career lows in both (aside from a brief rookie showing in 2003). By those measurements, he was closer to Kelly Johnson than Dustin Pedroia last year. True, he wasn't completely healthy all season, missing the first seven weeks with patellar tendinitis, chondromalacia and bone inflammation in his right knee, but it doesn't explain why he had a great June and July before hitting .227 over the final two months. Besides, the presence of injuries is a problem in and of itself. Utley has missed an average of 53 games over the last two seasons and at age 33, he's at a point in his career when a 145-game season might be an impossible standard. Given his track record, his percentages will likely bounce back to some degree, and the second base position is still thin enough that Utley remains a worthy starter in Fantasy. But he's more like the player bridging the gap to the second tier than the top dog himself. A 20-homer season is about the most you can ask of him. (Updated 2/9/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
