More from Moyer and Utley
Chase Utley held a news conference today at Citizens Bank Park to talk about his progress after surgery on his right hip. Jamie Moyer talked to reporters in a teleconference a couple hours later about the two-year contract extension he just signed with the Phillies.
Here are some highlights:
"Now I kind of have a nice little pretty hip," said Utley, who said he expects to be in the lineup come Opening Day. "It's pretty. You should see the x-rays. It's pretty."
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Utley famously dropped the f-bomb during the Phillies' World Series championship celebration at Citizens Bank Park in October.
"World f------ champions!" he said on live TV.
"That was definitely an emotional day that we all had," Utley said. "That drive down Broad Street to the park was one of the best days of my life. I imagine for a lot of Phillies fans it was the same. I could have used different words to express myself. At the time I didn't. I tell all kids not to use that word. If they're 29 and they win the World Series, I think they can say that. But I definitely would say to all the kids out there, kids, it's a bad word. Don't say. And I'm dead serious."
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Utley is close friends with Pat Burrell, whose tenure with the Phillies ended when the Phillies came to a contract agreement with Raul Ibanez.
"It is going to be a little bit different around the clubhouse," Utley said. "You cannot replace the personality that he brings to the field every day. He really is a special individual. It's going to be a little tough at first. He kind of took me under his wing when I got to the big leagues. He showed me the ropes. I definitely appreciate that. You have to understand this is a business. The whole plan is to continue to win."
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Moyer said he didn't think negotiatons with the Phillies dragged on longer than expected.
"Negotiations are negotiations," he said. "Both sides take their side for what they feel is right. I think things moved along smoothly. It's all about timing. I think the timing was right. Everything was resolved. I'm happy to be back to Philadelphia to defend our World Series championship. I'm excited about our club. I'm looking forward to a great year from everybody."
"Based off of last season, I feel that I threw the ball pretty consistently," said Moyer, asked about the importance of having two guaranteed years. "I felt no reason why I couldn't pitch next year and having the security of the second year it pushes me and it drives me. We'll see where it goes. I'm excited for this upcoming season. That's what I'm going to put my focus and attention to now. We'll deal with that following year when it comes."
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Moyer's contract is worth at least $13 million. He receives $6.5 million in both seasons and can make an additional $1.25 million in performance bonuses each year: $250,000 each for 150, 160, 170, 180 and 190 innings pitched. His 2010 base can escalate up to $4.5 million: $250,000 each for 150 innings and 23 starts, and $500,000 each for 160, 170, 180 and 190 innings, and 25, 27, 29 and 31 starts. He also has a limited no-trade provision that allows him to block trades to six teams, no more than four in a league.