Yeah, I know its not the most pressing of concerns, but it was a genuine problem that pestered the Phillies over the duration of last years season– and in 2020, where were faced with a 60-game sprint, within which every result matters, situational striking becomes considerably more crucial.
Ah, Opening Day. Better late than never ever, I suppose!
Thus, I was feeling extra chipper today, and chose to torture myself a bit by looking back on the battles of ye olde 2019 Phillies.
Weve got our finalized lineup, theres a real live game on tv tonight … for the first time in permanently, things feel … semi-normal?
Of all the Phillies blunders last year, there was one non-surface-level element that stuck out to me more than any other. No, it wasnt the health of their bullpen, nor was it the lack of depth within their lineup– it was their failure to pinch hit. When it came to pinch hitting, the 2019 Phillies were definitely helpless.
Throughout 474 plate looks, the Phillies as a team in substitution-based situations slashed:
Next up, theres the local man, Phil Gosselin, whos lastly getting his shot on an Opening Day Roster (after some “legal things” are figured out pre-Friday.).
Two experienced infielders with dazzling pinch hitting numbers as recent as last year.
A backup catcher who was better in pinch struck circumstances than he was when provided regular at-bats.
A big bat who destroyed Triple-A last year, and handled to punch.500+ at the Major League level.
The rest of our MLB hitters.
Hes got a heavy, right-handed swing, and thats something every bench requires.
Heres how their bench is shaping up in 2020:.
That said, it seems that, quietly, the Phillies have put together a team that should fix this issue in rather the drastic manner.
This disparaging result was birthed by the Phillies horrible bench contingent, whose names you most likely have not heard in a while:.
He slashed.324/.425/.588 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI in 40 plate appearances as a replacement– which is a substantial upgrade for the Phillies, and would have, quite quickly, led the teams bench in 2019. Plus, he strikes from both sides of the plate, making him a flexible, and unsafe, bat from the wings.
.192/.263/.315,.578 OPS, 11 HR, 37 BB, 147 K.
If any person made their area with this club, its Philly Phil.
Plus, he hit someplace around.900 (yes,.900) in Summer Camp this year– whichs not even an exaggeration. Over the last 6 days, Gosselin has THIRTEEN hits …
So, lets recap– we have:.
Knapp, another switch-hitting bat, was not as bad off of the bench as one may assume based upon his regular season stats.
With names like those, its no surprise the outcomes were so dull.
These folks talents promote themselves, yet, they would likely be the go-to bats to change into the game as soon as a beginning pitcher exits/for situational matchups.
Next comes everybodys favorite (ha) backup catcher, the one, the just, mister Andrew Knapp.
Kyle Garlick is next on the bench list– and kid does he provide the power thats missing from these 3 previous players.
He set up a. 342/.390/.368 slash with 3 RBI over 41 sub-appearances in 2019, (10-for-32 in pinch struck scenarios) and was, bar none, the Phils most reliable pinch hitter over all of in 2015. Sure, hes not the slugger you desire to bash the winning crowning achievement, however, with the “runner on second” guideline making its way into todays video game, a single is all a group needs to stroll it off.
Yeah, I d say thats an upgrade over Rob Brantley and Sean Rodriguez …
Leading the pack, infielder Neil Walker, who had a pretty excellent 2019 off of the bench.
People like Sean Rodriguez, Jose Pirela, Logan Morrison, Mitch Walding, Aaron Altherr, Dylan Cozens, Rob Brantley, and others …
In 48 alternative appearances, Knapp slashed a fair.256/.333/.302 with 4 RBI. He wasnt “excellent” per se, however, with the encouraging indications weve seen from him in Summer Camp, Im positive hell have a lot more effective year at the plate in 2020 … a minimum of, compared to his beyond bad 2019.
He had an eye-popping 2019 in Triple-A, putting up a. 314/.382/.675 slash along with a 1.057 OPS and 23 crowning achievement– and he handled to carry that into a minimal Major League stint, too, slugging at a. 521 clip at publishing an.842 OPS throughout 53 plate looks with the Dodgers.
What you can anticipate from Garlick; most likely a lot of strikeouts, yes– however, when he makes contact, itll be significant.
Rounding it out, there are your every-day gamers thatll be getting a rest every now and again. People like Jay Bruce, Roman Quinn, and Adam Haseley.
For those keeping track in the house, that is a definitely horrific line.
