Just because the Philadelphia Phillies are leading the division does not mean that changes will not be made.
On the day the Philadelphia Phillies sailed into a firm lead in the NL East with a 3-2 afternoon win over the New York Mets, some things about how the team would manage that lead emerged. Their Apr. 17 win over the Metropolitans came amid a number of changes to a team that had been fairly static in terms of playing time since the season opened.
This stasis – a little-changed lineup – had been the situation because of offensive displays that gladdened the hearts of Phillies fans and despite a pitching staff threatening to produce ulcers.
First and foremost among the changes was one in the starting rotation, after only 16 contests. Nick Pivetta, considered the number three starter after semi-flashy training games in Florida, was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. This occurred before the Wednesday win over the Mets. Pivetta was upset, but GM Matt Klentak made the definitive pronouncement, “Every game matters right now.”
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Pivetta was 2-1 at the time of his demotion, but sported an 8.35 ERA and a dreadful 2.127 WHIP. What this observer saw was a young man with no location control, and while the roster move was early, it may set a tone. The Phillies intend to win. Now.
Pivetta’s two wins were an illusion. In them he had given up six earned runs in ten innings. Earlier in the week, a local sports talk radio host declared the pitcher had pitched more than five innings in only ten of his last 30 starts. None had come in this season’s four appearances.
Pivetta will be replaced by Jerad Eickhoff, who had pitched well in…well, one game – in relief. For four innings. But Phillies fans likely won’t be taking to the streets in Pivetta’s defense. Aside from Jake Arrieta, the winning pitcher Apr. 17, and (it is hoped) Aaron Nola sometime soon, the Phillies starters are a work in progress.
First Injuries
Next, with Pivetta’s excision came the addition, for at least a few days, of journeyman Phil Gosselin from the Triple-A squad to replace star shortstop Jean Segura on the roster, if not as a starter. Segura, who was hitting .328 when he tweaked a hamstring Apr. 16, was expected to return to action within a week.
Gosselin will likely see only one or two at bats in the coming week because of the sudden blossoming of “super-utilityman” Scott Kingery. Kingery began pick up a little playing time a few days ago, and suddenly is sporting a .480 BA with an obscene 1.416 OPS figure after play Apr. 17.
Kingery’s first complete game came on Apr. 8, when he went 3 for 4, and his second came six days later when he went 3 for 6 in 14 innings. The Phillies won both of those games. Then on Apr. 16, in the 14-3 blowout win over the Mets, Kingery went 3 for 4 with a double, home run and 5 RBI while playing third and shortstop. In the win on the 17th he played the full game at short and went 1 for 4 with another homer.
This was a good thing because Kingery can also play center field if needed, and on Apr. 17 Odubel Herrera also tweaked a hamstring, apparently, and left the game.
Of course, there are always injuries, and both Segura’s and Herrera’s could be more serious than they looked, but thus far, the Phillies have made the adjustments they’ve seemingly needed to.
Some of these adjustments apparently came over the off season when Scott Kingery packed on a bit more muscle and shortened his swing.