Another day, another Philadelphia Phillies defensive disaster
Leave it to the Philadelphia Phillies to find another way to keep expanding the list of head-shaking defensive plays made by the team in 2022.
The Philadelphia Phillies added to their list of defensive blunders this season with a moment against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday
In the second inning of Wednesday’s matinee game at the Texas Rangers, with two outs and runners at first and third, Brad Miller of the Rangers hit a single just to the right of second base that trickled into the outfield. Despite the ball not being very deep in the outfield, Josh H. Smith was able to score all the way from first base as Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos didn’t get to the ball quickly enough and the relay throw to the infield and then to home plate wasn’t in time to catch Smith, who was off first with the crack of the bat.
Watch the play develop in the video below and notice how the announcer is somewhat stunned that Smith actually scored on the play.
Brad Miller knocks in the first two runs of the game!@Rangers | #StraightUpTX | 📺 BSSW pic.twitter.com/aq94au6tof
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) June 22, 2022
Smith, the seventh-highest overall prospect in the Rangers system, has a speed of 55 on his prospect profile and has stolen eight bases for Triple-A Round Rock this season. However, it was his hustle that was the topper on this play as the Phillies didn’t seem to anticipate he would be motoring from first all the way home, seemingly not going 100 percent to get the ball back in before they realized Smith was actually turning toward home.
According to The Fielding Bible, Philadelphia is last in all of baseball with minus-27 Defensive Runs Saved this season. Compare that to the Cleveland Guardians who lead the league with 44 DRS and you’ll see just how wide the chasm is between the top defensive team in MLB … and the Phillies.
Next. Why Philadelphia should give Lorenzo Cain a call. dark
Earlier in the season, Dave Dombrowski, Philadelphia’s president of baseball operations, shrugged off the defensive metrics that the Phillies might put up in 2022. On Wednesday, it was another example of why defense could be one of the reasons why the Phillies miss the postseason.