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Phillies: Plan B’s everyday 8

By Tal Venada

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 04: Jean Segura #2 of the Seattle Mariners walks off the field after the top of the seventh inning, in which Baltimore Orioles scored four runs at Safeco Field on September 4, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 04: Jean Segura #2 of the Seattle Mariners walks off the field after the top of the seventh inning, in which Baltimore Orioles scored four runs at Safeco Field on September 4, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /
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Segura might not be the only .300 hitter the Phillies acquire. Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images. /

Positions two through six: 

By ending the logjam at the infield corners and opening up an outfield spot, the Phillies now have nine players for eight positions. Scott Kingery and/or Roman Quinn would handle right field.

This article covers each defensive slot from the two (receiver) through the nine (right field).

Even though he isn’t playoff ready, Jorge Alfaro, batting mostly eighth, will again don the tools of ignorance because the Phils traded for the youngster to be their catcher for years. Yes, he made errors in his rookie campaign, but he’ll make less as he improves glovewise. Repetition required, no?

Manning first base, Hoskins will be the cleanup hitter, unless Klentak signs one of the top-tier sluggers for over $350 million. Optimistically, he’ll hone his game by playing a familiar position, learning from 2018, and preparing for the long upcoming grind. But will he launch 40 bombs?

At the keystone, leadoff man Cesar Hernandez will hopefully bounce back to the .294 batsman of 2016 and 2017. But it might depend more on management’s philosophy of taking pitches and launch angle regardless of the regular’s skill set. By May 1, the approach will be visible.

Defending the hot corner and slotting fifth or sixth, Maikel Franco is the Phillies preference due to age, talent and last season’s numbers: .270, 22 home runs, and 68 RBIs due to frequently hitting eighth. Basically, Kapler forced him to be selective at the plate by batting him in a thankless slot. And he survived!

At short, Jean Segura will probably hit behind Hernandez unless a stronger bat signs here. He averaged .304 with 10 long balls and 63 RBIs in ’18. As for his last three summers, he had marks of .319, .300 and .304 with OBPs of .368, 349 and .341 respectively.

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