Energetic Utley ready to start playing

02/28/2006
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Seeing Chase Utley bounding through the Phillies' clubhouse early on any given morning comes as a surprise to no one in the organization.
Whether it's 8 a.m. ET on a Sunday or 3:30 p.m. on a Friday, the youthful ball of energy often has on batting gloves and a bat in hand. He's generally heading to the batting cage or from it for a brief, but necessary respite.
He doesn't know any other way.
"In this game, it's about getting better," Utley said. "You have to keep improving. It's always like, 'What have you done for me lately?' If you don't produce, someone is always there to knock you down."
Utley did a lot of knocking down last season, when he emerged as one of the league's top run-producing second basemen. His 28 home runs trailed only the Dodgers' Jeff Kent and his 105 RBIs tied Kent. Utley also batted .291 with 39 doubles and stole 16 bases in 19 attempts. He ranked ninth in the National League in RBIs, and sixth in RBI ratio, driving in a run per every 5.2 at-bats.
The best part for the Phillies is that Utley has just begun his ascent. He wasn't in the Opening Day lineup last season and hit seventh in his first start the following day. He made about 75 percent of the starts until Placido Polanco was traded in June for Ugueth Urbina, and then Utley started every game for the rest of the season.
By the end, Utley was batting third against right-handers and fifth against lefties, and he became a big fan favorite.
Count Charlie Manuel among Utley's fans, as the Phils skipper sees many .300 seasons ahead for the second baseman.
"I think he'll be a career .300 hitter, and probably hit more home runs than I thought," Manuel said.
With a 28-homer season already accounted for, how about 40 homers?
"If he stays in the same way of thinking, yeah, I think he can," Manuel said. "At the same time, I want him to be Chase Utley. ... With 600-700 at-bats, to me, that's 40 big fly balls come down behind the fence. Without a doubt, he can do that."
Another season of at least 600-700 at-bats is also a given for Utley, who will bat third versus righties and fourth against southpaws. The 27-year-old batted .309 with runners in scoring position, proving that he has a knack for recording hits in key spots.
Not resting on his success, Utley took a month break after the season, then began an intense training program at Athletes Performance, near his Southern California home. His routine was light on baseball activities, but heavy on endurance. Utley ran a lot and worked with a personal trainer.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder arrived in Clearwater, Fla., a week earlier than required, and he showed the effects of that training program. The kid with rugged good looks, who especially appeals to younger female fans, went right to work.
The player affectionately known as "Dirtball" wanted to get as much work in as possible by Thursday, when he'll join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. He could be gone for up to three weeks, playing alongside Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Michael Young.
"It's an honor," Utley said.
After that, he'll return to the single-minded goal of getting the Phillies to the postseason for the first time since 1993. He and infield mates Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins are viewed as long-term fixtures in Philadelphia.
"We know what the deal is," Utley said. "We know what we can accomplish. It's exciting to think about it. But you try not to let [the praise] affect you. You can't let it. You have to keep improving."

Source: http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/