The Philadelphia Phillies are an imperfect existence. Yes, almost their entire existence is like that.But every baseball fan/watcher knows that the latest Fightins are A top-heavy outfit that often feels like it’s about to sneeze on defense, the bullpen can get a little comical. Still, it’s shocking after last fall’s feat. That’s why postseason baseball can’t be trusted.
The Phillies were shut out by Kodai Senga last night in Queens, which put them four games below .500 for fourth place in the NL East. They rank 23rd, 19th Ranked 19th among wRC+ teams in on-base percentage. For a team that’s spending $115 million just on the top five, this isn’t the way they’re enacted.
Most fingers point to this winter’s shiny new toys, Trey Turner.Turner should offer something different at the top of the lineup that has more contact than the rest of the lineup who is prone to K, a base weapon that can be driven in by swole behemoths behind him, because as well as adding A little speed and can create his own runs at times.
None of this happened. Fangraphs breaks it down pretty badly,basically, Turner was swinging everything while reducing contact, which led to a spike in his strikeouts. He also hits the ball more in the air, which can be a good thing, but not when you’re throwing a lot of fastballs into the infield. Turner would hardly be the first to struggle with his first big contract and the expectations that come with it, but the metrics don’t look very promising.
not just newcomers
But Turner isn’t the only reason Philadelphia’s offense is struggling. JT Realmuto is also definitely average. He’s another one who’s seen him walk down and his contacts suddenly go a little soft. Realmuto has been buried with fastballs and can’t turn them around as hard as before. (his Average exit velocity dropped by three points this season, and Slugging dropped 166 points on the fastball.) There are signs he started cheating for heat as his smell rate The increase was impressive (12 percentage points) on low-speed courts.
And, of course, Kyle Schwarber. But that’s his thing, he’s muddled through the first two months of the season, Then in June, he turned into Hulk’s big brother (smacked .760 in June ’21, .680 in June ’22). Philadelphia may be counting on that.
On the positive side, Bryce Harper only played for a month and came back taking a hit. They obviously miss Rhys Hoskins, because Alec Bohm and Edmundo Sosa in the corner have been… well, Alec Bohm and Edmundo Sosa in the corner.
It’s hard to believe Turner will continue to be this bad, and with Schwarber’s binge coming up, it should calm things down. Realmuto is a bit of a concern because he’s a catcher in his early 30s, and sometimes they just turn weird colors in the sun after crouching 8,000 innings, as Realmuto spent.
Phillies’ rotation has been shaky after Zack Wheeler
Perhaps equally worrisome, the rotation has been shaky after Zack Wheeler. Taijuan Walker has been hitting the gas (5.57 ERA). Aaron Nola watched his Ks drop as his fastball lost some energy and he started using the chip more often. But the latter didn’t do him any favors, as hitters were hitting the ball, hitting . 588 slugging. Ranger Suarez has made just four starts and has been quick For the most part, they’re making up for that.Because it’s Philly tradition, the bullpen can’t find the strike zone ridiculously thrown out with a pack of hounds Craig Kimbrel In front of their usual tacit understanding Fan group on reg.
But that’s what they do. They could surge over the summer and make a trade to get a starter to balance the rotation. It was the third-placed team last year, and while the hot weeks in October masked that fact a bit, it’s still the third-placed team. Potentially annoying, if the Marlins’ pitch can keep them afloat long enough to keep the Phillies at No. 4, or if the Diamondbacks West thing is real, it will cost them top The last wildcard they got by chance this season.
Turn back when the swampy Philadelphia summer air turns Citizens Bank Park into a fireworks factory. That’s what the Phillies are counting on.
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