An offensive club with a team-wide approach at the plate will always have a competitive edge in a playoff series. Not only are the at-bats tougher to exploit weakness from, but they also lead to a team putting continuous pressure on the opposing pitching staff. That same suffocating feeling is what the Philadelphia Phillies got a taste of in the NLDS.
The Phillies team that at one point was on pace for 110+ wins, fell victim to the reality that they were just not good enough.
At the beginning of the year, the Phillies had the approaches to the plate that they always desired. The top of their lineup was looking as consistent as it ever has and included the emergence of a new All-Star in Alec Bohm.
Phillies' desire to change plate approach raises questions about players' buy-in
In the end-of-season press conference, it was a hot topic of discussion for manager Rob Thomson regarding the approaches, or lack thereof, that the players had at the plate at season's end.
“I think we really have to get them to buy into using the entire field," Thomson said. "Everybody talks about chase rate. I think just doing that will cut down on chase rate.”
So what was the deal with the players not using the field the way they were supposed to? What also came into question was how long this approach had been pushed to the hitters.
“That message was delivered almost on a daily basis," Thomson said. "I think you just have to get them to slow the game down at times and stay in that approach and be cognizant that pitchers are going to try and get you to chase because that’s what the numbers say.”
The outcome of the daily discussions didn't seem to do the Phillies justice according to their chase rates. According to Sports Info Solutions data, their first-half chase rate was 32.3 percent which was the 10th highest in the majors. That skyrocketed to the highest in the second half when their chase rate jumped to 35.3 percent.
Creature comforts of a major league player could come into the fray, but either way, the outcome wasn't that of success. The stars needed to make the adjustments to put their team in the best position to win.
Thomson was also adamant that the roster has the ability to use the whole field, from young players to the established stars.
“I think so, I really do," Thomson said when asked if they have the right personnel for the approach. "You take the young guys, Bohm, Stott, Marsh, they all have the ability to hit the ball the other way. Harper obviously does. Castellanos, when he’s at his best, he’s hitting the ball the other way.”
The players could just not be buying into what the staff is trying to implement. What can they do to get players to buy in to approach?
“That will be something that Kevin and the hitting coaches and I will talk about and see if there’s some drills or some cues, whatever, to get them to do that,” Thomson said.
If the best the club can manage is to go out like those four games against the New York Mets, it might be time to make some changes.
Using the whole field earlier in the season had this World Series hopeful club hungry for another Red October, but it ended in misery (subscription required) when that approach vanished. When they executed, there wasn't anyone better, until they fell off. If the players aren't receptive to changing for the better, maybe it's time to find a fit that will.