Philadelphia Phillies: To think outside the box, or not to?

Two More Outside the Box Moves

That would involve picking up the phone and offering 46-year-old Ichiro Suzuki a spot in the bullpen as a three-batter specialist. It’s just nutty enough to work, and it would certainly sell some tickets. According to reports, he’s already throwing BP for the Mariners this spring. And he actually has posted an MLB inning pitched – against the Phillies – displaying a number of pitches.

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You may consider this suggestion tongue-in-cheek if you wish. At a minimum, Girardi should consider the bullpen roster to be a serious merry-go-round beginning as early as May 15; keep ’em moving in and out, as well as up and down to Triple-A, as needed until people put together three to five effective appearances in a row.

Finally, here’s a sort of hard-hearted assessment of first baseman Rhys Hoskins, who is coming off a disappointing year after his red-hot career start late in 2017: The last thing Philadelphia Phillies fans – or any MLB fans – need is another .239 career hitter who’s an average fielder at first base and doesn’t drive in 100 runs a year.

The out of the box suggestion here is Hoskins may need to be platooned with one of the many veterans the team has signed to minor league contracts and, again, maybe as early as May 15. Everybody who owns a Phillies cap hopes Hoskins eventually heats up again, but failing that, until he is traded if he starts slowly, he appears to be a guy who tires out playing a full MLB season.

Hoskins was second in baseball in walks last year. He needs to be more aggressive and lead or challenge for the lead in home runs, RBI, slugging percentage, or OPS.

All that said, there are three Philadelphia Phillies who get passes from early outside the box thinking – Bryce Harper, Aaron Nola, and J.T. Realmuto. They are the cornerstones of the coming decade along with Girardi.