I spoke with Chase Utley a week ago - when it was still kinda quiet in Clearwater - and he was hopeful to start swinging a bat.

In the week since, he's been busy taking his rehab work up a few notches. From dry swings to hitting off a tee, to softer grounders to hitting soft toss, Utley has progressed quite a bit in the last week.

He spoke with the media this morning and got the big question out of the way from the start.

Hey, Chase, what are the chances you're starting at second base on Opening Day?

"The chances right now? I don’t want to jinx myself, but fair to quite fair."


Has his optimism changed since he's increased his rehab workload?

"Yeah, the more I do and the better I feel, there's no doubt I'm going to feel more optimistic. I've been taking ground balls, it's good to be back on the field... (the hip) hasn't bothered me whatsoever."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More from Utley in tomorrow's Daily Times, plus I chatted up with one of last falls playoff heroes. In the news biz, we call this a tease... so you'll just have to pick up your paper/log onto to delcotimes.com tomorrow to check that out.

In today's paper, there's some more performance-enhancing drugs talk, mainly why Jimmy Rollins would never try them... there's also the latest in the chapter of Mets-Phils trash talk this spring (with appearances with both shortstops, Rollins and Jose Reyes... and, in the notes, who would win: the 2008 or 1980 Phillies?