For Tommy Joseph, April was the cruelest month
The Phillies first baseman batted .179 in the month. If you want to play, you have to hit, manager Pete Mackanin says.
CHICAGO - Monday night's game against the Cubs marked the start to the season's second month. And Tommy Joseph is hoping to leave his struggles in April.
"Looking forward to May," Joseph said before the Phillies won 10-2 at Wrigley Field.
"It's definitely not from a lack of trying or anything like that," Joseph said. "Me and [hitting coach Matt Stairs] break it down every day. A lot of credit to him for continuing to work with me. We're in constant communication, during the game, before, or after. We're always in the cage talking. It's definitely headed in the right direction."
Manager Pete Mackanin said over the weekend that he planned to keep giving Joseph opportunities. He likes to see a player get 100 at-bats before gauging his season. Joseph could reach that mark in two weeks. The manager batted Joseph sixth on Monday.
It only makes sense for the Phillies to give the 25-year-old Joseph a chance to find his success from last season. Of course, they know that Rhys Hoskins has six homers at triple A and is pushing toward the majors. But for now, it is worth giving Joseph more than just one month before drawing conclusions.
"If you want to play, you have to hit," Mackanin said. "At some point, I think he's going to start hitting. I'm giving him every opportunity to do that because I have a lot of confidence in him. But at some point, I have to do what's best for the team. If we come to that point and maybe I have to sit him for a few days or do whatever, then he has to understand that, too."
Joseph is striking out this season at a higher rate and walking at a lower rate than he did as a rookie. His ground-ball rate has almost doubled as his line-drive rate has been cut in half, according to data compiled by FanGraphs. He is swinging at more pitches - both in and out of the strike zone - and making far less contact. It was a month that replicated little from last season, when he hit 21 homers and had an 813 OPS.
"When you're not hitting, it bothers you. But at the same time, you have to figure out any way you can to bust out of it," Mackanin said. "You don't want prolonged slumps. You want them to be as short as possible. Everyone goes through streaks. He came in and made a splash last season and that's why we expect more from him. This early in the season, he hasn't been doing that. I'm pulling for him. I want him to do well because he's a good guy. I like him. If there comes a point where I have to make a decision and play someone else, I'll do it."
Joseph's second-to-last at-bat of April seemed to be the one that would snap his funk. He mashed a line drive to third base but Justin Turner made a diving stop, spun on the ground, hopped up, and threw Joseph out at first. It was that type of month.
"You just have to keep going," Joseph said. "Keep trying to hit the ball as hard as you can like you do every time. It's frustrating. But you just tip your cap."
@matt_breen