That much is doubtful, even if Utley doesn't possess the MVP plaques that his teammates, Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard, have. But Utley has long been the wheelman of the Phillies' lineup, the player you don't want to face if Rollins is on base, the one you want to avoid extending rallies because Howard is hitting behind him.

The Mets certainly have grown weary watching him swing a bat the past few years. And last night the Rays weren't so delighted to see what Utley brought to the ballpark, either.

Mostly, what Utley brought was a definitive sense that the biggest concern enveloping these Phillies heading in -- the same rust that slowed down the Rockies in 2007 and the Tigers in '06 -- would be a non-factor.

As Manuel said, "Nothing's better at quieting those cowbells than a home run."

And as Scott Eyre, a Phillies reliever, had said a day earlier: "I'm not sure what the right answer to that question is. I don't think we should have kept the Dodgers series alive a few extra days. I think we did the right thing finishing off that series when we did. Don't you?"

Let the record show, unequivocally: they did the right thing. Especially since they have Chase Utley on their side.

Colorado Rockies News News » What rust? Phillies, Chase jump on top 2008-10-23
What rust? Phillies, Chase jump on top 2008-10-23
ST. PETERSBURG - Charlie Manuel had heard all about what a dangerous path his baseball team had taken to the World Series. He'd listened to Clint Hurdle last October, and Jim Leyland the year before that, heard both managers talk about how the Rockies and the Tigers, respectively, had been hurt by long lay-offs after wrapping up pennants so quickly. 2008 MLB playoffs Isiah incident surprises Knicks Prima donna WRs plague teams Ewing Jr. rocks the Garden More from The New York Post