Phillies use of Scott Kingery continues to be baffling
Incompetence continues to riddle the Phillies lineup under Gabe Kapler
No, the Phillies shouldn’t fire Gabe Kapler, and yes he should get every opportunity to prove he can be a major league manager. At the same time, someone needs to hide his pile of lineup cards written a week in advance and put an actual team together.
Hours before Kapler is booed on Opening Day the team released another lineup that makes absolutely no sense. It’s the sixth lineup in as many games with no reasonable explanations as to why a player is hitting in that slot or playing that position.
Today, the questions are even bigger and the answers may be more confusing. Let’s look at what was put out by Kapler that was supposedly written a week ago without knowing who would be hitting well early in the year.
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- Cesar Hernandez, 2B
- Carlos Santana, 1B
- Scott Kingery, RF
- Rhys Hoskins, LF
- Odubel Herrera, CF
- Maikel Franco, 3B
- Jorge Alfaro, C
- Nick Pivetta, SP
- J.P. Crawford, SS
Why in the name of Harry Kalas is the top second base prospect in baseball playing right field? The player who reminds the organization of Chase Utley, a player Kapler wants all his players to be like, is playing out of position.
Not only is Kingery playing out of position today, he HASN’T PLAYED HIS NATURAL POSITION ALL YEAR. Let me say that again, the top second base prospect in baseball hasn’t played second base all year. He’s played short, third, left, and now right field in 29 innings, but not his natural position where he’s expected to be the future star.
Instead, Kapler is playing Cesar Hernandez, who entered the year with experience at second, third, short, and center field. Kingery was dubbed the “super utility” player after he signed a long-term contract, but in reality, Hernandez is already that guy.
If you want to up Hernandez’ trade value, why not prove he can adequately play seven positions across the diamond? Why play a kid who has played second base nearly his entire life in the outfield when you have players who have already covered the position on the roster?
Ultimately, the organization has already ruined the early stages of Kingery’s career by giving him that contract. He should have started the year in Lehigh Valley, which was expected, and let him get playing time and learn the different positions if that’s how they were going to use him.
Next: 5 Players to Watch in Phillies-Mets Series
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