Joe Girardi’s latest comments prove Phillies need to demote Bryson Stott
If Joe Girardi won’t give Bryson Stott consistent playing time, the Phillies should send him back to Triple-A
The Philadelphia Phillies are breaking Bryson Stott, and it’s unbearable to watch.
From the end of spring training, when they announced the roster, it’s been one wrong decision after another where the rookie is concerned. They’re making him play third base, split time with far too many infielders, and bat all over the lineup, when he’s even in it at all, which hasn’t been much lately. It’s all detrimental to his development. Less than a month into the season, and I’m convinced that he’d be better off in Triple-A.
Before you get the wrong idea, this isn’t a slight against Stott. I’ve been waiting for the Season of Stott, but not like this. Not with this manager, or this roster. It’s not fair to Stott, especially since it’s not working, anyway. The Phillies keep losing, his development is being messed with, and he’s not even in the games to help or hurt their chances.
But Stott’s struggles aren’t even the key reason he’d be better off in the minors; Joe Girardi’s latest comments about him not getting playing time are:
"“…these other guys [Alec Bohm and Johan Camargo] are playing well and we’re not changing anything.I think it’s too soon to decide anything. We still really believe in (Stott). We think he’s going to be a really good player for us. But right now we’re just kind of riding some hot hands.”"
Of course, since Girardi said all this on Saturday, the Phillies lost 5-3 and 1-0 in their final two games against the Milwaukee Brewers, with Bohm and Camargo going hitless in both. The Phillies are now 6-10 on the season and have not won a series since Opening Weekend.
But the larger problem for the Phillies (and Stott) is that Girardi has shown he cannot manage young players. It was evident last season when Alec Bohm struggled, and it’s now doubly proven, with Stott, who is now the Phillies’ number-one prospect.
In 2021, Girardi sat Bohm for days on end and was heavily criticized for it. Many even suggested that the reason the Phillies front office sent Ronald Torreyes into free agency was to force Girardi into working with young stars, rather than leaning on his favorite, old reliable utilityman. Of course, the Phillies then re-signed Torreyes earlier this spring, though he’s down in Triple-A at the moment.
While there’s certainly an argument to be made for keeping Stott in the big-league dugout to soak up knowledge like a little rookie sponge, there’s a better argument for sending him back to Triple-A where he can actually hone his craft and get away from the damage this kind of mismanagement is doing to him. If he’s not getting consistent playing time with the big-league club, then being up there could be doing more harm than good.
