Mon, Jun 4th 2012, 06:08
Chase Utley is taking the next step.
The second baseman is headed to Clearwater, Fla., where he could play an extended spring training game as early as Monday. He hopes to rejoin the Phillies sooner rather than later, but only he knows for sure, and on Sunday, he offered no timetable for his return from a chronically injured left knee that has kept him sidelined since he flied out to deep center field in the ninth inning in Game 5 of the 2011 National League Division Series.
“I don’t have a timeframe,” he said during an unexpected announcement in front of his locker following a 5-1 loss to the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. “My whole goal is to feel comfortable and feel like I can contribute on a daily basis. I’m excited. I’m not happy I’m in this position, but I’m excited that I’m feeling better and I have an opportunity to go down and keep working and kind of advance how things are going here.”