The Phillies’ edge for 2018
While the Phillies are strategically employing a new wrinkle for run production, other franchises are also taking different steps in another aspect of the game.
Experimental baseball:
Of the many reasons to bemoan the game, change causes the most friction. For instance, the Philadelphia Phillies are ready to use their hit-or-sit technique for an offensive advantage.
With any departure from the norm, many reluctantly accept something new, but for most that will eventually diminish to nothing over time.
IN OTHER WORDS: “How do you let go of attachment to things? Don’t even try. It’s impossible. Attachment to things drops away by itself when you no longer seek to find yourself in them.” – Eckhart Tolle
Before the first season of the American League in 1901, the refining of baseball had already occurred. The mound replaced the pitcher’s box, but the “ball hit through the box” expression is still around. Additionally, the infield fly rule was also not new at the time, and hand signals had previously increased because of a deaf player.
In 1961, the Chicago Cubs had a manager rotation consisting of eight coaches. It bombed! On the other hand, former skipper Gene Mauch of the Phillies made the double switch popular in the mid-1960s.
With the first NLCS and ALCS in 1969, the introduction of the playoffs began before growing from a five-game series to eventually include divisional contests and the wild cards. But some purists still hold onto the original tradition of the World Series, which at that time also included 16 teams and 154 games.
Beginning innocently enough, instant replay was originally for viewing home runs for accuracy on those hard-to-determine shots. And before you know it, eight 162s have come and gone, but the pros and cons are still here due to more reviewable plays.
After a collision at home had taken out a star catcher–bam!–a path to the plate and instant replay became a two-headed monster. And it didn’t take long for the second base rule to follow. Basically, baseball is only an injury away from another change. Money!
While many fans crunch the numbers with sabermetrics, scoring runs have always been the main factor in making adjustments to the sport. In other words, the sweet spot is 4.5 runs per game: Lower favors the hurler and higher benefits the batter. That balance is paramount.
If you really think about it, change in baseball is not only new but also not unusual. And gaining an edge despite efforts for fairness is difficult, but trying for the upper hand is ever-present.
Pitching tandems:
In 2012, the Colorado Rockies introduced the “piggyback” rotation, which was due to the thin air in Colorado. Translation: four starters with a 75-pitch limit and four relievers with 50 bullets were taking the mound every four days. Twice it failed!
Four summers ago, the Houston Astros tried their arm-protecting version for their youngsters. But one big difference was using it in Double-A and Triple-A to prepare their moundsmen for the majors. Gone like Charlie Finley’s orange baseballs.
Employing a six-man rotation has appeared here and there, and the Phils auditioned another starter that way in September. Shortly, one club with injury-prone pitchers will have an additional hurler every sixth day for an entire campaign.
As for ’18, the current thinking is the third time through the batting order is problematic for starters with average stuff. It’s hitting time! Yes, when the sixth inning rolls around, the opposition is ready to strike.
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS: “I want everybody to feel he has a chance to get into a game when he comes to the ballpark. I play guys when I want to so they’ll be ready when I have to. I don’t consider myself a motivator of players. I think it’s an insult to a ballplayer to have to be motivated.” – Gene “Skip” Mauch
Due to all the graphs, heat zones, spray charts and analytics, other front offices figure a fresh hurler will stop their competitor in those third at-bats. And even though the Phillies have many control pitchers, they show no signs of heading in that direction. But a couple of teams might!
Phillies experiment:
On Phillies sites in September, many locals had a double-play combo of Scott Kingery and J.P. Crawford. Doesn’t Cesar Hernandez with his consecutive .294 marks count for more than a placeholder or an upgrade to trade chip?
As for Freddy Galvis, many of the faithful were in disbelief because he didn’t receive a gold glove. However, others were ready to hand the job to Crawford before his .214 September average.
Among their outfield solutions, moving Odubel Herrera was in some local’s plans even during his hot streaks. Yeah, he hit considerably more than .300 for roughly three months. But a 0-for-4 night with a couple of bat flips during those weeks produced an earful from the boobirds. They needed a whipping boy.
THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE: “Losing streaks are funny. If you lose at the beginning, you got off to a bad start. If you lose in the middle of the season, you’re in a slump. If you lose at the end, you’re choking.” – Gene “Skip” Mauch
Last year, Maikel Franco, Hernandez, Galvis and Crawford had exactly 1,950 plate appearances. Basically, 1,600 PAs in 2018 will be for those four infielders and 350 for Kingery from June 1 to season’s end.
Plate appearances:
- INF: 2 hitters with 500 and two sitters with 300.
- Kingery with 350.
- OF and 1B: 2 hitters with 500 and two sitters with 325.
- Hoskins with 500 or more and the reserve OF with 200 or less.
At first base and in the outfield, the combination of Rhys Hoskins, Tommy Joseph, Nick Williams, Aaron Altherr, and Herrera totaled 1,851 PAs. Also, adding 516 plate appearances for four other players brings the tally to 2,367 PAs to split six ways including a reserve outfielder next year: Pedro Florimon or eventually Roman Quinn or Dylan Cozens.
Next: Phillies: Eyeing divisional rivals
To sum up, technology has accelerated the rate of change and replaced some traditions with new ideas. Ergo, the hit-or-sit method produces friendly competition and motivates the regulars to reach new heights. All-season benefit: fresh players!