The Phillies are near the bottom in batting average and lower third in runs scored. As a unit, their offensive approach is clearly not working.
Somehow the Phillies are still holding on to playoff hopes, but they must turn things around now, particularly offensively. However, the approach used throughout this season clearly isn’t working. How is it not working? While statistics sometimes lie, in this case, I don’t believe that to be the case.
Gabe Kapler has the “work the count” philosophy to wear down the pitchers. While taking pitches and working the count can be effective, with a team that is woefully inept at making contact, it doesn’t make much sense.
Yes, players must be able to draw walks, but when a team averages a strikeout every 3.7 at-bats and has the third-most strikeouts in the league, this approach doesn’t appear to be the best.
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One might argue that it doesn’t matter how many times a team strikes out if they are making the most out of their hits. Certainly, that is true, but the Phillies overall offensive numbers indicate this isn’t happening. While in the middle of the pack (15th) in home runs, they are 29th in batting average and 20th in runs scored. How is has their taking-pitches approach helped their on-base percentage? Only a little, but not significant at 18th in the league.
Since it appears the Phillies are what they are in terms of types of hitters, big swinging, big strikeout, power hitters (when they make contact), they shouldn’t be taking so many good pitches early in the count.
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Another issue I see with the offense in general falls back on Kapler. His “lineup of the day” approach often doesn’t make sense. Recently he had perhaps the slowest top of the lineup in history with Carlos Santana leading off, followed by Justin Bour, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Rhys Hoskins. At least Kapler got the number four hole correct. What’s your best power hitter doing hitting second most of the season? An entire article can be written just about that.
Perhaps in this new era of baseball, switching the lineups regularly is done to try to take advantage of matchups. Call me old school, but a player knowing where he will bat in the lineup daily makes for more comfort and more success.
Generally, certain parts require or required different attributes. The leadoff man was always the fastest, got on base the most and was a base stealing threat. The two-hole was the best contact hitter followed by the overall best hitter on the team and then top power hitter fourth. Fifth and sixth had some pop in the bat and then the worst hitters near the bottom.
Can an old-school approach work in today’s game? I have no definite answer, but it’s clear the approach the Phillies are taking isn’t working. It’s also very much evident that Kapler won’t change and this is what this team is, like it or not.