"Amid the praise, the hype and the promise, there were always caveats -- those ever-present "ifs." If the Phillies stayed healthy, they should win another division title. If they avoided the injury bug, 100 victories were within reach. If the superstars were in the lineup and not the disabled list, the World Series would be an appropriate goal for 2011. With three weeks to go before Opening Day, those "ifs" loom large. Chase Utley has yet to play in a spring-training game. Domonic Brown's spring is likely over. It's a troublesome opening scene, but general manager Ruben Amaro said there's no reason to assume there won't be a happy ending. "I don't know if it's grim, but we're not particularly happy about it," Amaro said of the Phillies' early injury concerns. "But we can't do anything about it except try to get them well and get him back on the field." It's far too early to panic, Amaro said. He's not in the market for another bat for right field, and he's happy to play it safe and remain patient while evaluating Utley's knee. It's an approach the Phillies' players appear happy to emulate. Cliff Lee signed with them in December because he felt they were of championship caliber. That distinction, he said, includes a bench capable of filling a few holes. "You'd prefer not to have to deal with that, but you've got to have (depth) to have a good team," starter Lee said. "You've got to have depth and have guys sitting there waiting for when things like that happen." A year ago, the Phillies' depth was tested early and often. Joe Blanton and Brad Lidge were hurt in spring training. Jimmy Rollins went down a week into the season. Utley was sidelined for nearly six weeks in the middle of the year. Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino made late-season appearances on the disabled list. And yet, for all the setbacks, the Phillies still managed to win 97 games -- more than any team in baseball. It's not a path they're hoping to tread again this season, but it's a comfort to know they can." Read more: http://www.courierpostonline.com/ar...es-patience?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Phillies
