The Philadelphia Phillies have been sitting on a line in between consistency and mediocrity for a majority of this early season. With the National League East sitting so tight, the Phillies could go on a run and work their way up to the Atlanta Braves who are only 7.0 games ahead of them. However, it’s almost June and the same issues have been plaguing the Phillies — inconsistency with the bats, the bullpen has been up and down and, of course, injuries. Rob Thomson can only do so much as manager to put his guys in positions to not only succeed, but also to help build their confidence.
There have been times in this early part of the season while watching this team where you think to yourself, “Wow, they might actually be able to put everything together now!” Next thing you know, this team is on a four-game losing streak losing games by more than five runs or having the inability to score runs and end up only putting one up on the board even after a strong outing from the starter.
With Bryce Harper returning to this lineup, the hitting and runs being scored should have gone up. Unfortunately, only a few guys are hitting extremely well this season, but even those guys have dropped under .300. Nick Castellanos has been amazing this season, batting .301 so far. His production has been huge for the Phillies thus far and it seems like he has returned to his former self in the year prior to joining the Phillies.
Concerns for the Philadelphia Phillies
Obviously, we aren’t even 50 games into the season, but there is some cause for concern for the hitting. Losing Rhys Hoskins obviously didn’t help this team. When Hoskins is hot, he is hot, but when he goes through his slumps, it gets rough. Losing 30 home runs and 79 RBI will definitely hurt you down the line, especially if no one is picking up that production in the lineup.
The biggest disappointment in this roster has been Trea Turner. At times, it seems like he has been uncomfortable in the lineup. While he has been getting hits, he has not been aggressive. His base running has not been as advertised. With the rule changes, Turner should be trying to steal once a game. His speed and awareness are what sets him apart from most players, but the lack of aggressiveness is cause for concern. While it is still early, I would like to see him start to become more aggressive and become a player who can start helping this team get some runs.
The day care has improved this season and this group has been big for the Phillies. Alec Bohm adding 15 pounds of muscle will help down the line, adding power to his repertoire. Bryson Stott continuing to prove he can be a great contact hitter and a player who has a high ceiling. Mike Schmidt during a broadcast versus the Cubs said, “I believe Stott has a similar future to that of Chase Utley.” John Kruk also agreed with Schmidt. Brandon Marsh has also been much improved with his bat. Trading for him, everyone knew he could be a potential Gold Glove winner in center field. If there was a guy to get most improved player on this roster, it will definitely be Marsh.
Even with some of the improvements to the bullpen, it took Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and even Taijuan Walker some time to get used to the pitch clock and speed of the game. Bailey Falter has had a really bad start to this season, going 0-7 with an ERA of 5.13. Matt Strahm was a nice surprise with both Andrew Painter and Ranger Suarez starting the seasons out on the IL. With Nola and Wheeler seeming to find their way back, this will help the bullpen.
The bullpen has definitely been improved this offseason. There will be ups and down in a season and the bullpen will have its rollercoaster ride. While a lot of the losses haven’t been on the bullpen this season, when called upon, their job is to keep the game close. The only problem is when the offense can’t score runs.
While this team on paper is much improved, it is on them to show they can play. Thomson and his staff can only do so much. A manager in baseball can only impact the game so much once that first pitch is thrown. It’s up to his players to perform and win games. Thomson has done everything from move pieces around the lineup, getting guys rest and even getting guys at-bats on their off day. Thomson has done all you can ask for and it’s clear that his message now needs to translate on the field.