Behind the mask:
With questions in hand, Double D, a poster from another Phillies site, asked about expectations for Alfaro. Well, he’ll be the regular in April, but the skipper and his coaches will give him an earful about doing more than hitting singles.
In 2016 after striking out eight times over 17 plate appearances, last summer Alfaro heard the coach’s advice to go with the pitch. The result was 23 singles, six doubles, five bombs and a .318 average.
Alfaro’s stats:
- August: 12 Gms., 45 AB, 16 H, .356, 2 Dbls.,1 HR, 5 RBI, 13 K and 3 BB.
- September: 17 Gms., 62 AB, 18 H, .290, 4 Dbls., 4 HR, 9 RBI, 19 K and 1 BB.
With his effort to provide for more power in September, Alfaro’s average fell, but he batted .290 with four long balls per month: 24 annually. As for a prediction, the hometown nine will be happy with a .260 mark and 15 homers. But the key will be improving his defense.
Trading Hernandez for pitching was another question from Double D. Well, Klentak is fielding calls but not offers of interest, and the Phillies won’t accept more control-dependent hurlers or Single-A prospects.
Translation: They want a three-slot starter or a young flamethrower in the upper minors, but other organizations can keep those pitchers due to other available second sackers. And even a package deal for a veteran arm with Hernandez, a catcher and two finesse hurlers will still require a team needing both a second baseman and a catcher.
In other words, the Phils would either move Cameron Rupp or Andrew Knapp. And two of these four would be in the exchange: Jake Thompson, Zach Eflin, Ben Lively and/or Thomas Eshelman.
With Hernandez, their leadoff man, on the disabled list, the red pinstripes went 9-22 from June 10 through July 16. What were they from July 17 to season’s end, Double D? A record of 36-36!