Injuries cause for concern for Phils

There is only one thing that can derail the Phillies from making another trip to the World Series.
Unfortunately, that one thing is unfolding right before our very eyes.

Injuries.

Already down three players, third baseman Placido Polanco left today's spring training game with a hyper-extended elbow.  Both the Phillies and Polanco said it was nothing major.  They said the same thing about Chase Utley's knee.  We all know how that has gone.

Clearly, Utley is the biggest concern.  There seems to be no definite answer on when Utley might return and if he will need surgery.  He is a cog in the middle of a Phillies lineup that struggled greatly at times last year.

Missing Utley for any extended period of time will make a huge difference.

Although his offensive skills are nowhere near that of Utley, Wilson Valdez is a formidable backup who plays good defense.  He did an admirable job filling in for Jimmy Rollins last year.

And although Valdez is versatle, what happens if both Utley and Polanco are out?  Valdez can't play two positions at once.

To top things off, Phillies closer Brad Lidge has had pain in his bicep.  The Phllies need Lidge to be good this year.  With the staff they have, they are going to be in a lot of close games.

Ryan Madson is a good pitcher, but he has struggled when given the opportunity to close games out.

Oh yeah, Dominic Brown, who was supposed to compete for the RF job, broke his hand and is out for 3-4 week.

Should any more injuries occur, the Phils could be in big trouble.

And with the injury bug going around, I wouldn't be surprised.

I've gone from having sky high hopes for the Phillies season to quite a bit of worry.

After signing Cliff Lee this offseason to form the best rotation in all of baseball, there was not a doubt in my mind that the Phillies would win the World Series this year.

Now, doubt is starting to creep in.