Peter Gammons Thinks Utley Can Play Third, Do You?
By Spike Eskin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Chase Utley took ground balls at third base before last night's game against the Mets. He told reporters he approached Ruben Amaro Jr. about the possibility of playing third, and giving the team more flexibility this offseason.
"I could see [Utley] going over there, because that bat is still going to play. I don't see him playing the outfield. I think he can play third base," Peter Gammons of MLB Network told 94WIP's Morning Show. "After training this winter, if he feels his knees are not going to allow him to play 2nd base, with either the range or ability, because let's face it, 2nd base--the agility is so important because you've got base runners trying to break you in two so often," he said.
Utley attempted to play third much earlier in his career, without much success.
"I know he struggled there earlier in his career, but ok. He's a very different guy now. He can do it, if they felt better with Galvis playing second," Gammons said. "Third base, for some reason, is a very difficult position to fill today. There aren't many good third basemen around, particularly young third basemen so maybe it's a way out, if that's what Ruben and Charlie want."
Do you think Utley can play third? Let us know why or why not in the comments.
