Utley to be back soon...

well hopefully anyway. He has been cleared to start swinging and may return for the Mets series, August 27th. I would not want to have him rushed back though. The Phillies just need to win these next 3 series. The Mets are playing the Padres, who to root for? Try to win the division or aim for the wild card? And Fabio Castro was also recalled.

PHILADELPHIA -- Chase Utley's return to active duty took a huge step in the right direction on Monday, when he was cleared to start swinging a bat after a visit with hand specialist Dr. Randall Culp. Utley has been on the disabled list since July 27 with a broken fourth metacarpal bone in his right hand after he was hit by a pitch from Nationals rookie left-hander John Lannan a day earlier. How much swinging Utley does will depend upon the strength in his right hand and his comfort level when swinging, the team said. He can also begin throwing without a splint on his hand. He had been running and taking grounders for about a week, and shoveling the ball to a coach. The Phillies didn't put a timetable on Utley's return -- putting it off until later this week, when Utley begins his next stage of recovery. Utley has targeted Aug. 27, when the Phillies open a series against the Mets, if not sooner. If he's to make that date, he might need to spend a few days this weekend on a rehabilitation assignment, either with Class A Lakewood or Double-A Reading. As they have done all season, the Phillies have played well in the face of adversity, going 13-9 in 22 games without Utley, who is hitting .336 with 41 doubles, 17 home runs, and 82 RBIs. His RBI total is still tied for eighth in the National League.

Utley's return.

And Jeremiah Trotter has been released by the Eagles today. Press conference at 1:30. How upsetting. Today's all rainy and depressing. What about his car wash?