Tomorrow’s Rookies for the Phillies

Behind the plate, Andrew Knapp has earned the opportunity for the backup catching role. He is a .260 switch-hitter who can start at first base against the toughest right-handers and give Joseph a day off. And the front office also needs to open up the receiving slot with the IronPigs for Jorge Alfaro because a reserve spot with the Phillies will only hinder his growth.

Hitting:

• Alfaro: 97 Gms., 435 PA, a .285 Avg., 15 HR, 67 RBI, a .783 OPS and 4.0 WARP.
• Knapp: 107 Gms., 443 PA, a .266 Avg., 8 HR, 46 RBI, a .719 OPS and a 3.6 WARP.

Squatting behind home plate for Lehigh Valley, Alfaro will now be facing starters with good secondary pitches, and the receiver must earn another call-up with his overall performance. Yes, he struck out eight times in 17 plate appearances and saw manager Pete Mackanin cut his September playing time in half: The power hitter did not start a third of the games the skipper originally had in mind. In other words, he needs a big March to improve his status.

While the locals enjoyed a beautiful, comfortable day, the sounds of spring baseball reverberated from right field to the visitor’s dugout. A vendor hawked his adult beverages by chanting, “beer, ba, beer, beer, beer.” And after job-seeking competitors completed their batting rituals, Alfaro banged two doubles to Knapp’s one.

Yes, no sooner did Alfaro clout his rally-starting two-bagger to right field than Knapp drove his RBI double to left field: two opposite-field knocks. One inning and six runs later, Alfaro pulled a second two-bagger. Yet, while fans perceived a competition for an opening, Knapp hit left-handed and replaced Joseph at first base.