That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

What do the Phillies need to do in 2018 to get a wild card?

By Kerry Kauffman

SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 14: Rhys Hoskins #17 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on August 14, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 14: Rhys Hoskins #17 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on August 14, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Phillies
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 29: Jorge Alfaro #38 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with Odubel Herrera #37 after hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on September 29, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Mets 6-2. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Improved overall team hitting

The Phillies had a new hitting coach last season in Matt Stairs, who was lured away from the broadcast booth for his first major-league coaching position. The Phillies scored just 690 runs, (27th in the league) and also ranked near the bottom in OPS.

Stairs has moved on and a new hitting coach is in place. Will this affect the team in a positive manner? Manager Gabe Kapler’s approach to hitting is working the count, which should translate to higher batting average, on-base percentage and more. The key is to whether the young players on this team respond.  In any event, the Phillies must score significantly more runs to have a chance to contend.

Home/Phillies News