Inside the Phillies: Rollins is first up in Manuel's chats about hitting

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The first pitch of the offseason was thrown by Ruben Amaro Jr. while the sting of the Phillies' five-game division series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals was still fresh and tender.

Just four days after the 1-0 Game 5 loss to Chris Carpenter, the general manager issued a mandate for his aging lineup.

The abridged version: Amaro wanted the hitters to alter their approach at the plate because their way had not worked in the previous two postseasons. Manager Charlie Manuel and hitting instructor Greg Gross were charged with making it happen.

Here, in the embryonic stage of spring training, Manuel's plan for change is taking shape.

You could see it Wednesday when Jim Thome, Manuel's kindred spirit and first prized hitting student, spent a long time talking about hitting with Ryan Howard during and after a live batting-practice session at Bright House Field.

You could see it again Thursday when Thome sat at a table in the clubhouse and talked hitting with John Mayberry Jr. and Domonic Brown.

And on the eve of Friday's first full-squad workout, Manuel summoned shortstop Jimmy Rollins to his office for a lengthy conversation that eventually turned to - what else? - hitting.

"I just wanted to sit down and talk to him about some things, and I felt like this was a good time," Manuel said. "So did he. It was good. Everything about it was good. It was all positive."

The primary points being made by Manuel: Swing at strikes. Be selective. Get a good pitch to hit.

There was nothing new or shocking about Manuel's message, but it's certainly worth reinforcing.

According to fangraphs.com, Phillies hitters saw fewer pitches in the strike zone than any team in baseball last season. The Phillies swung at pitches outside the strike zone 30.8 percent of the time, which ranked 15th in baseball.

Despite seeing more balls and fewer strikes than any other team in baseball, they ranked just eighth in walks with 539. More walks would lead to more baserunners and most likely more runs for an offense that slipped considerably last season, finishing seventh in runs scored.

Before last season, the Phillies had finished first or second in runs scored for six consecutive years, so the makings of a good offense are still in place.

"We're actually probably better than I think we are, and . . . I think we're pretty good," Manuel said.

It's no surprise that Howard saw a fewer percentage of pitches in the strike zone than any other hitter in baseball except Prince Fielder. He also saw more breaking balls than any other hitter in baseball. Manuel would love for Howard to be more selective, and he sent a similar message to Rollins during their meeting Thursday.

"We talked about how we wanted to play, and we talked some about his hitting," Manuel said. "He's got more in him. If you notice, Jimmy can get in the count 2-1, 3-1 quite a bit. Then he'll chase a ball up out of the strike zone and hit a fly ball to center field. I talked to him about that - being a little more selective and getting a better ball to hit. Learn and practice that way."

It makes sense that Manuel talked first to his leadoff hitter.

"I think he definitely carries that kind of weight on our team," Manuel said. "When he's playing good and he's got it going . . . The guys who can move us are our energy guys. When Howard is hitting, of course, he can do it, but Rollins, [Chase] Utley, and [Shane] Victorino, those are our energy guys."

Earlier Thursday, second baseman Utley met with the media and was asked about the aging core that has accomplished so much over the last half-decade.

All of them, of course, want to accomplish more, but it's fair to wonder how many grains of sand are left in the hourglass.

"We realize we aren't getting any younger, but we have that experience that not a lot of teams have," Utley said. "You can't gain that experience unless you go through it, and I think an experienced player can overcome a great player because of that experience."

Perhaps, but the Phillies still are trying to teach their old players some new approaches. Utley, Victorino, and all the other veterans likely will be in Manuel's office at some point in spring training, too.

"I want to talk to all of our guys," the manager said. "I want to have more talk about hitting, talking about getting good balls to hit, not giving away at-bats, things like that."

Time will tell whether all these conversations are just talk or the foundation for successful change.