He was the 15th pick overall in the 2000 amateur draft. He spent last year at third base because it was hoped that he could take Scott Rolen's place. With the signing of David Bell, the Phillies sent him back to second base. There's some speculation that if the Phils think he's ready they'll let Placido Polanco go and have Utley take over next season.

Well, Polanco is on the 15-day disabled list and Utley was called up from the minors for the second time this year (he had one at-bat as a pinch-hitter in the home opener) and got his first major league start. And his first major league hit...a grand slam homer! Woo-hoo!

Ok Joe calm down and take a deep breath. I like Chase too but lets not get carried away just yet. I don't think he will replace Polanco this year unless Polanco has a bad year or Chase's lightning in a bottle can last more than a day.

Polanco is just a placeholder. He's a utility infielder miscast as a starting second baseman. If Chase Utley is ready ... and we'll know for sure over the next 15 days ... he's the second baseman.

Baseball, thankfully, has never recognized the stupid law about not losing your job to an injury.

CITT, I can agree that when Utley is ready he should come up and start at second base. I don't agree with the statement that Polanco is merely a utility infielder miscast as a starting second baseman.

If this was the case then you could make the arguement that half of the starting second basemen should be utility infielders based on their career stats.

Players such Vina, Castillo and Grudzielanek are no different from Polanco and they have been starters.

I disagree. Fernando Vina is much better defensively. Castillo is a much better hitter. You are right about Polanco being the equivalent of Grudzielanek, who also is a utility infielder. The cutest utility infielder there is, but a utility infielder nonetheless.

You can do worse than either Polanco or Grudzielanek (Texas and the Red Sox, to name two, have), but neither is to be confused with Jose Vidro, or even Junior Spivey, let alone Robbie Alomar.

Polanco's actually been out a few days and the DL placement was retroactive. He can be activated as early as Wednesday. It'll be a nice taste for Utley (if he even starts every game) but that's all.

And as if to prove my point--Utley didn't start tonight--probably because I was at the game. He pinch-hit and struck out, just like at the home opener, which I was at as well. Hmmmm. :confused: eek! wink It didn't matter since the Phils won 10-2. Finally saw a Thome homer in person too!