June 02, 2022
Another series recap, another series loss for the Phillies.
Old friend Gabe Kapler, the reigning National League Manager of the Year, came to South Philly with the Giants and took two of three from the Fightins. The Phillies are seven games under .500, fan apathy is through the roof following a splashy offseason and the pitchforks are coming out in the city for Joe Girardi. 12.5 games out of first place in the National League East, the Phillies are fading faster than the food comes out at Chickie's and Pete's.
As I do, I'll hit my lovely readers with a quick overview of the series and hand out five awards for these Phillies...
• On Monday afternoon, the Phils fell 5-4 in 10 innings, as a two-run home run from San Francisco's Curt Casali in the top of the 10th sealed things for the Giants.
• The game went to extras again on Tuesday, as a three-run top of the 11th for the Giants put the Phillies away in a 7-4 San Fran win.
• The Phils staved off the sweep on Wednesday with a Kyle Schwarber two-run blast in the sixth that gave the team a 6-5 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
A team's issues can't entirely fall on the shoulders of a coach or manager. It's time for the Phillies to part with Girardi given the flat-line state of this team, as any change that lights a spark for this squad would be welcomed, but the organization's issues go beyond Girardi.
Kapler was a divisive figure during the 2018 and 2019 seasons in Philadelphia. He brought a wholly new-school approach to the team, experimented with funky lineups and caused a stir because he liked to lick ice cream and then spit it out to get the taste without consuming all the calories.
After his firing, Kapler immediately caught on with the Giants and he has a .601 winning percentage in three seasons with the team. In a way, the Phillies' roster construction failed Kapler, as it's doing right now with Girardi. Kapler and Girardi aren't similar managers, of course. Kapler has the next-generation vibe. Girardi has been around for a while and has just one 90-win year (or at least a 90-win pace) in his last eight seasons as manager.
Firing Kapler hasn't fixed the franchise's woes. Perhaps it was time for him to go and he had worn himself out in the clubhouse, but he sure looks okay in the Bay. Girardi's inevitable canning won't change the trajectory of this franchise as long as a history of poor player development continues.
Look at this catch given the part of the outfield and the situation on the base paths:
Wow what a catch by Mike Yastrzemski 🤯 pic.twitter.com/53mC3mnMNY
— Brodes Media (@BrodesMedia) June 1, 2022
This sums it up well:
You see here the difference having good defense makes. If that had been Odubel Herrera, it would have bounced off his head, hit a seagull, ricocheted off Castellanos or Schwarber and landed in the bushes for a 5-run homer. https://t.co/e75XAHAop7
— John Stolnis (@JohnStolnis) June 1, 2022
Schwarbs went yard on Wednesday night, driving one to right-center to put the Phils ahead:
Schwarbs for the lead!!#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/WEbOgxKu4k
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 2, 2022
He's hitting just .192, which is somehow only the second-worst mark of his career. Look, if it was 2013 and I was in complete college sabermetrics nerd mode, I would've eschewed carrying about batting average with on-base percentage and other advanced statistics proving king. Schwarber has an above-average OPS+ of 112, but it's not good to hit .192! Can we admit that? Not all hits are equal and ignoring walks as positive offensive contributions is so antiquated, but players need to hit the ball. It's the essence of the sport.
It's like when Mark McGwire was on "The Simpsons" in the classic "Homer at the Bat" episode. "Do you want to know the terrifying truth... or do you want to see me sock a few dingers?" McGwire asks Bart. Do Phillies fans want to know the truth that this much-hyped offseason is all for naught or do they want to enjoy a cold one at CBP and see Schwarbs launch baseballs into orbit? That's not for me to decide.
This doesn't even feel real:
A somber moment on Memorial Day is interrupted by, who else, Nick Castellanos. pic.twitter.com/F3cJv6vDTB
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 30, 2022
Downingtown native and "Top Gun: Maverick" actor Miles Teller was at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday, promoting the new Tom Cruise-leading flick. He got his own bobblehead:
Ring it pic.twitter.com/0bnOXYmcOP
— Miles Teller (@Miles_Teller) June 2, 2022
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