24

24 hours and the NL East race has changed. From looking like a sprint to the finish to a late season grind, each of the three teams still in the race has serious injury problems to worry about. Today, Chase Utley went down with a broken hand, leaving the Phillies without their best hitter. Likewise, the Braves are without their best hitter, Chipper Jones who yesterday tweaked his groin. While both are freak accidents, Chipper's injury seems the less severe. "It's not serious," he said before the game. "I just don't want it to get any worse." Utley on the other hand has an injury that threatens to keep him out a month if not longer. "As breaks go, it's not that bad of a break," Utley said. When asked when he would return he replied "I think it will be sooner than [a month]." But, as injuries go this is not a good one for a power hitter to have. Even if he heals at the pace he expects, there will be deterioration.

Unfortunately for the Braves, the major injury to the Mets was long term and looks to be about over. Pedro Martinez, the Mets' hands down ace, recently began his 30 day trip back to recovery when he began his minor league rehab assignment. That means, that all three teams will be looking to The last month or so of the season to make their big push. That is unless someone pulls of a deadline deal.