Utley

Should Chase Utley sit out tonight’s game vs. the Nationals to avoid any kind of retribution for last night’s home plate collision that may have injured Nats’ catcher Jose Flores for the rest of the season?

 

On the record, the Nats players are saying that Utley’s hit was a clean play. But even still, surely he will get thrown at tonight. Should Manuel keep him out of the lineup to completely avoid that possibility?

 

Earlier this year, Utley was the catalyst for escalating bean balls between the Nats and Phillies which went so far that Manuel had to dial back the retaliation and point out that the Phillies were playing for bigger things and should break off the retribution lest one of the Phils get hurt.

 

Indeed, at Monday’s game which I attended Nationals pitcher Tim Redding managed to hit two Phillies in the first five innings while no hitting the Phillies. Kendrick responded in kind, prompting a warning from the umpire to both benches.

 

Given all of this, I would expect the Nats to drill Utley at some point during tonight’s game, probably precipitating a bench clearing brawl.

 

Just like what Manuel said earlier this year, the Phillies have bigger fish to fry at this point in the season, you know, like catching the Mets, and not getting back at the last place team in the division.

 

Play Bruntlett.