Phillies: Clubhouse princes amid 2019’s whipping boys
Regarding hope, Phillies fans favor the homegrown product they’ve been anticipating for two or three seasons to deliver victories, but sometimes with disappointment they mistake growing pains for incompetence.
Tomorrow’s labels:
Based on recent Philadelphia Phillies campaigns, learning on the job is mostly acceptable if the future star’s miscues aren’t fundamental. Unfortunately, some positions require trial and error through repetition, although it can annoy even the most loyal supporter.
IN OTHER WORDS “The search for a scapegoat is the easiest of all hunting expeditions.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower
When the team suffers a defeat or is on a losing streak, some locals need a goat to shoulder the normality of rough patches during the 162. And a base-running blunder, a misjudged defensive play, a slump and/or an error at a critical moment are convenient reasons to doubt a regular’s ability. Ergo, strike one!
As for an unusual situation, Odubel Herrera was stepping back from the plate on the first pitch and/or the second regardless of location. So, a first impression might be a lack of caring because he has three guaranteed years, but another observation is management’s recording of number of pitches per at-bat.
While planning is important, some faithful supporters mock long-term thinking as an excuse for not winning now. They don’t buy the five-summer strategy and consider it defending general manager Matt Klentak, when he needs to be accountable for every misstep, real or perceived. No happy medium?
Regarding the scapegoat, he’s the player who isn’t performing up to the fans’ expectations, not the franchise’s. Yes, some believe he’s the reason the Phils struggled from August 6 through September’s end. They fell out of contention due to Klentak, Kapler, the regulars, some starters and many relievers.
On the other hand, the clubhouse prince mostly expresses the right words at the right time and otherwise keeps his mouth shut. So, he does his job and doesn’t ruffle any feathers because he understands the consequences from his bosses and the paying customers.
If he feels differently, he keeps those unsanitized words to himself, or he could risk being the fall guy. Of course, the favorite who makes expected mistakes doesn’t face the criticism for every single miscue. No, the faithful root for him to succeed as he develops in the major leagues.
First impressions:
Based on their initial sentiment, fans build a mental foundation for a player, manager and GM. But if it’s negative, chances are good time will not diminish that original assessment. However, a positive view can change due to a challenging personality.
To illustrate, Klentak traded Ken Giles for Vince Velasquez, and some locals planted the seed then to call for the exec’s firing. And in his first game Kapler’s removal of Aaron Nola permanently soured some paying customers on the skipper. Basically, those fans believe the club will only win in spite of management.
In his first MLB start, Nola had fired six prince-like innings of one-run ball against the 2015 Tampa Bay Rays on July 21, and scouting reports predicted a mid-rotation hurler. And since he’s calm and quiet, he doesn’t upset anyone with his demeanor. Now, he’s blossomed into a Phillies ace. Expect more of the same.
Before Rhys Hoskins‘ arrival, he had launched bombs at Double-A and Triple-A, and it continued with 18 homers and 48 RBIs in his first 50 contests. In fact, most fans stood by him during his first prolonged slump in May, and he’ll grow with the crowd’s support. The booing will be for a select few.
As for Scott Kingery, he introduced himself with three two-hit games, a home run and a grand slam in his first seven contests. But even after he finished with a .226 average, most fans still think highly of him. Yes, the next Chase Utley will still be a favorite and receive the benefit of every doubt.
Another example of a flying Phillies start was Seranthony Dominguez, who allowed his first run after 12 scoreless outings with two total hits permitted. And even though the flamethrower had a few hiccups through September’s end, a solid April should go a long way for him. Forecast: sunny!
Redeeming themselves:
While some stars enjoy the locals’ positive vibes, others are less fortunate. They’ve experienced the criticism for the faithful’s disappointment by not meeting their expectations. Sometimes, misplaced.
Among the redeeming regulars, Cesar Hernandez has finally heard the grumbling voices shift to other players and free agents. But he originally had no spot due to Utley, so fans labeled him as a utility infielder. However, he went from a reserve to trade bait, and now Kingery’s progress could be the deciding factor at second.
After locals had initially been behind Maikel Franco early in is career, the league adjusted to him and exploited the holes in his swing. And fading cheers got replaced by the doubts fans now will always have about him. Yes, they will reemerge when he slumps if he’s still with the ’19 Phillies.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT “Every group feels strong once it has found a scapegoat.” – Mignon McLaughlin
Regarding Hector Neris, the first impression he gave us was as an expendable middle reliever, and many didn’t expect him to be a valuable bullpen piece. Ergo, his first –and only– blowup in 2017 sealed his fate, and despite his resurgence last season the doubts will forever be around the corner.
If Hernandez is still with the red pinstripes, the faithful’s reaction to him will depend on Kingery’s progress. Sooner or later, Kingery will be ready and Hernandez will be expendable in the fans’ eyes. As for Neris, he’s one blowup away from being atop the goat list. Yeah, one poor outing.
Favorite scapegoats:
Despite a drop to .255, Herrera didn’t receive the maximum of the locals’ displeasure compared to his bat-flipping antics. But every mistake in the outfield or on the bases will still bother his detractors even if he excels at both. Like Franco, he got off to a flying start, but his personality is too much for some.
If you had expected Velasquez to be a top-of-the-staff arm, you soured on the Phillies fireballer because Giles was the cost. Yes, before 2016 ended, the more vocal fans debated whether he should go to the pen or elsewhere. And when he had one bad start from May 5 through Aug. 3, it reinforced their belief.
To the boobirds, Carlos Santana is el diablo (the devil), who only hit .149 in April after averaging 24 long balls per annum and receiving too much money. But he’ll probably never recover from his first April here, and every downturn will be met with “why is he still here?” remarks. No second chances?
Basically, game speed varies by the competition’s strength and by position: the majors and shortstop are the fastest. But every pitch involves the catcher: plenty of chances to make errors. So, Jorge Alfaro will make his first miscue, and some fans will blame Klentak for not signing a capable receiver.
When the organization began rebuilding, Cole Hamels was the biggest trade chip. And Alfaro was the main player the Phils demanded: a young catcher at the toughest position to fill. However, the problem is rookies don’t perform like four-year backstops, so who can you blame? Amaro!
Next. Phillies: Trade reasoning below the surface. dark
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