Philadelphia Phillies: The 2019 final players report card

Incompletes

Several key injuries and another factor actually did, in all probability, keep the Philadelphia Phillies from actually posting a winning season and, possibly, saving Kapler’s job. And many of the Fightin’ fans would say, “Thank goodness on that second point.” So, all of the following are, in fact, incompletes (I), but grades are given for the partial season efforts, with some further thinking applied as necessary.

Left Fielder Andrew McCutchen: A-. The former MVP slides into top-grade category basically because of his leadership, clubhouse presence, and clutch play. I believe he belted the third pitch of the Philadelphia Phillies offensive season out of the park. He still has a quick bat moving into his age-33 season (after a knee repair), a quick wit, and knows how to play the game. He hit 10 homers and drove in 29 in only 59 games before his ACL repair, and made only two errors in 110 chances.

Center Fielder Odubel Herrera: D. Despite his athleticism, It. Is. Time. For. Him. To. Go. If your contract calls for you to make over $5 million, you don’t get yourself suspended for most of the season because you can’t keep your hands off your girlfriend when you’re mad.

Relief Pitcher David Robertson: C. This is a default grade in reality since Robertson only booked 6.2 innings before being shut down and undergoing Tommy John surgery. His numbers weren’t particularly good over that “span,” but his lifetime 2.90 ERA argues he’d likely have straightened out. In reality, though, Robertson wouldn’t receive a grade if his contract for ’19 hadn’t been for $10 million.

Relief Pitcher Adam Morgan: B+. A flexor strain sidelined the lefty after 39 games, but when he was available, he pitched well (3.94 ERA, 1.011 WHIP); indeed, had he not given up three earned runs in the last game before he was shut down, he would have posted a 3.07 ERA (assuming a shutdown at least one day earlier).