Several Phillies are at risk of losing playing time if they cannot turn their seasons around
It’s far too early to panic about the 2022 Philadelphia Phillies, but it’s not too soon to make changes.
As of Monday night’s series opener loss in Colorado, the Phillies are 4-7 on the season and have lost six of their last seven games, which is as bad as it sounds, especially for a team with such an expensive and elite-on-paper (and should-be-in-real-life) lineup. The bats are either white-hot or ice cold, which is familiar for Phillies fans, but infuriating, given the significant upgrades – Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos – the front office made this spring.
The Phillies are dealing with a few significant injuries, some indefensible defense, and a lineup that seemingly couldn’t plate runs if their lives depended on it, all on the heels of a locked-out offseason and shortened spring training. But while it’s early in the season, the ripple effect of these poor performances could reverberate if not curtailed soon.
Here are three players on a short leash as the Phillies look to find a solution…
1. Matt Vierling OF
It’s been a tumultuous spring for Matt Vierling. First, he was going to platoon with Odúbel Herrera in centerfield, then Herrera got hurt. Then, the platoon spot was up for grabs between Adam Haseley and Mickey Moniak, and the latter made such a case for himself that the Phillies traded the former. Towards the end of spring training, Moniak won the starting centerfield job over Vierling, and then tragically fractured his wrist when a pitch hit him in the final preseason game, leaving centerfield wide open for Vierling.
With all the changes and the fact that he only had 34 games of big-league experience coming into this season, it’s understandable that Vierling looks a little lost. But he didn’t record his first hit of the season until last Friday, and he was only 3-for-21 coming into Monday night’s contest. Being the everyday centerfielder is a huge responsibility, and he looks out of his depth.
It’s been Vierling and prospect Simon Muzziotti, called up from Double-A, manning the middle of the outfield, but it won’t stay that way for long. Herrera is rehabbing, and hopefully, Moniak won’t be far behind. They also have former Roman Quinn in Triple-A, and he has 178 games’ worth of big-league experience.
Centerfield has been a hole for the Phillies over the last few seasons, but Vierling looks to be more of a bench guy than the everyday patrolman.
Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Simon Muzziotti (12) (Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports) /
2. Simon Muzziotti OF
Much like Matt Vierling, Simon Muzziotti is essentially subbing in. When Odúbel Herrera and Mickey Moniak return from their respective injuries, the young outfield prospect will be returned to the minors, which makes sense, as he leapfrogged over Triple-A to make his big-league debut.
However, unlike Vierling, who looks ill-equipped to start in center, Muzziotti is a promising look at the position’s future. In Friday’s loss to the Marlins, he made excellent defensive plays and recorded his first big-league hit, an opposite-field single. At the time, Vierling was 0-for-15 to start the season.
It’s also worth noting that Muzziotti got the call to fill in for Moniak over outfielders in the Phillies’ Triple-A club; he was slated to start the season with Double-A Reading before Moniak’s injury. It speaks to Muzziotti’s talent that he got the call over a familiar face; Lehigh Valley IronPigs roster currently includes Roman Quinn, who re-signed with the organization the first weekend of the MLB season. He’s 3-for-7 so far this season with a home run and RBI.
Apr 3, 2022; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Bryson Stott (73) throws to first for an out against the Detroit Tigers in the fourth inning during spring training at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /
3. Bryson Stott INF
The only reason I’m putting Bryson Stott on this list is that he’s the youngest infielder on an overcrowded diamond, and while he’s been better defensively than Alec Bohm, Bohm is hitting better, which I don’t think anyone expected.
Stott has proven he can play third base in addition to shortstop, which will be great in the future. But while Bohm’s defense is terrible, so is the lineup right now, and he’s one of the only hitters getting the job done. So for now, the Phillies don’t look like they’re in a position to prioritize their prized rookie over the former rookie of the year runner-up. If they send Stott back to Triple-A, they’ll still have Bohm and Johan Camargo, who’s proven dependable at the hot corner.
Of course, it’s fair to assume that Stott learning a new position while simultaneously not getting regular playing time isn’t helping him find his groove at all, which is exactly what I worried about when Joe Girardi made his flippant-sounding comments about using the rookie wherever they need. For the umpteenth time, the Phillies need to rip the bandaid off, choose either Bohm or Stott, and send the other down to get regular playing time at Triple-A. Otherwise, neither will do well in the short or long term. It’s selfish of them to keep attempting this balancing act.
Stott looked ready all spring, and then he arrived on a big-league roster that wasn’t ready for him. That’s the front office’s fault, not his, but it’s currently not doing him any favors, either.
