The Phillies' offense has to fix its RISP problem
Let's start with the offense. But where to begin?
After scoring the third-most runs in MLB through July 11, with 461 (4.95 runs/game), the Phillies' bats have been inconsistent, dropping to 17th with 111 (4.44 runs/game) since then.
Yes, their overall batting average has dropped from .260 to .237, but it's their inability to hit with runners in scoring position that is really hurting them.
Before the slump, Phillies hitters hit .270 with runners on second and/or third base. Since July 12, that average has plummeted to .239. Are they squeezing the bat a little tighter, trying to do more as things fall apart? Is it a bad approach? Bad luck? It's probably a little bit of everything.
In high-leverage situations, they were hitting .244 pre-slump. That's down to .192 (25th overall) over the last month.
Yikes.
The problems with runners in scoring position were more apparent than ever in the three losses to the Diamondbacks over the weekend. They went 0-for-12 combined on Friday and Saturday, and a slightly better 3-for-7 in Sunday's demoralizing defeat. Even in their 6-4 win on Thursday, they went 4-for-15.
“It all gets back to fundamentals,” manager Rob Thomson said on Saturday about hitting with runners in scoring position, per Brown. “You have to be able to use the field, and you have to make contact and we’re not doing that right now. We’re chasing a little bit.”