A failed approach
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A failed approach
Juan Pierre wore a T-shirt and shorts after the Phillies' latest loss, and his voice was all that could be heard in a silent clubhouse.
He was attempting to find some silver lining to another series loss, clinched by a 7-4 defeat to New York.
"Better than before when we weren't scoring any runs at all," Pierre said. "Pick your poison. Once you score, you want to keep scoring. But we're starting to move the ball better. A couple days got out of hand late and we couldn't bounce back. We're starting to move the ball throughout the lineup. That's a good sign."
True, but the Phillies once again scored early only to fold later. And there are concerning trends to an offense Charlie Manuel believes is pressing.
"I think we're tight," Manuel said. "I think we try too hard. That's why we chase bad balls out of the strike zone when we're ahead in the count. I think that's why we swing at first-pitch bad balls and so on. I think when we have to do something, that's how they feel - we have to do something, and we have to do it right now."
The numbers support that statement.
When ahead in the count, Phillies hitters have an .845 OPS. That is the worst in baseball; the league average is .960. Incredibly, in the 395 plate appearances in which a Phillies batter is ahead in the count, he has drawn a walk only 69 times. Those 395 plate appearances are more than 11 other teams. But their 69 walks are the second-fewest in baseball. Only the Pirates (66) have fewer.
With a three-ball count, the Phillies have an OPS of .780. That is the worst in baseball; the league average is .975.
With a full count, the Phillies have an OPS of .552. That is the worst in baseball; the league average is .815.
What we're talking about is a systematic failure to succeed even when the situation favors the hitter. The Phillies actually rank 18th in the majors with a .476 OPS when the pitcher is ahead in the count.
When last winter began, the Phillies talked about their hitters adopting a smarter approach at the plate: Play situational baseball; see more pitches; lay off the breaking balls when the count is in your favor.
To even tread water, they must improve their offensive thinking.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Who's responsible for that horrenous OPS? Here's a novel idea: last year the Phils fired the hitting coach Milt Thompson because he "wasn't doing his job". OK, then following that logic, obviously Greg Gross has failed in his job. Let's fire him for starters.— 1republican- The "s" is OPS is slugging... all (two) of our sluggers, outside of Pence, are on the DL (Rollins and Victorino may hit a 2B here and there). We have a weak hitting 3B in a power position, and no power hitters in LF. Our 3 hole hitter would be batting #1 or #2 on any other team in the league. Is that the hitting coach's fault, or the architect of this team? — dankil13
- Gross? He's inconsequential, its Cholly who has rode his resume the way to becoming the Indiands and now Phillies skipper on being a "Sage" of hitting instruction. So, where is his legendary influence? Where is the aura of his over hyped hitting instructional skills? This is on Cholly, he is accountable, he is the ONE who is paid to manage, motivate and conduct field tactics which he has consistently proven, he's incapable of doing. If Giles and Montgomery want to prove they are not in collusion to destroy the team, then FIRE Manuel, his coaching staff and then give Amaro his pink slip. He would be better off managing a Casino:-) — daystrum
- Can't blame the hitting guru just yet. He's still thinking about what's he's going to say. You know, because he admitted he hasn't said anything yet and doesn't know what to say. So, we need to be patient until his lightbulb goes off he thinks of something to say to get this thing turned around and get these guys coached up. It's not easy being a sage. Takes time and meditation and those words are gonna come if we keep pestering him about it. Light an incense stick because that will probably be as much help as anything at this point.
— Sam Crow - This is exactly what most fans feared. All talk and no action. Opposing pitcher walks a batter, next guy swings at the first pitch. Swinging at bad pitches is the norm with this team. And there is no help coming from the minors. Case in point: monday night phillies call up strikes out, mets call up hits 3 run homer. But the absolute worst is the impatience at the plate. One of the first things you're told in Little League: A WALK IS AS GOOD AS A HIT! Not for the phailin' phils.— dfc5632
- Wow, those numbers are staggering! Everyone knows the offense is struggling, but when you break it down that way it really shines a light on the problem. There aren't many options at this point other than to hope and pray that Utley and Howard come back soon and that they are at least somewhat like their old selves.— Penfold18
- The inability to work counts keeps the Phillies from getting into the soft underbelly of other teams' middle relievers, as their opponents are doing to them.
This, of course, should surprise exactly no one. Looking at pitches per plate appearance (2011 numbers except for Galvis):
RF: Werth (4.37, #1 in NL) to Pence (3.86)
1B: Howard (4.14) to Wigginton (3.66)/Nix (3.43)
2B: Utley (3.89) to Galvis (3.53)
LF: Ibanez (3.70) to Pierre (3.45)
Amaro talked about having to "have a different approach" at the plate. Well, here it is. More aggressive, trying to stay out of two-strike counts, emphasizing "situational hitting." Swing early, swing often. Amaro has gone out and acquired guys who fit that mold (Pierre, Pence, Nix, Wigginton). They're putting a lineup of hackers on the field. Nobody should be surprised when they hack.— ColonelTom - Wow. How many excuses can Manuel and Co. come up with? Too tight? Trying too hard? C'mon, that is hogwash. Does Jimmy Rollins look tight to you? Hardly. Rather he looks like he believes he is the coolest thing in MLB. No, I really do not believe the team's collective offensive failures are the result of "trying too hard." I think the failures come from lack of ability, advanced age, and injury. Also, expecting certain players to magically become decent hitters is ludicrous, but that has been Amaro's plan for a few seasons now. For example, did anyone really expect Rollins to suddenly put up numbers from 3-4 years ago? Well, aside from Manuel and Amaro? Now he is stuck with this aging, under-performing player for three seasons. Very few Phillies are even close to performing to expectations.
This lineup is just bad and there does not appear to be any way to fix it now. Honestly, who among us did not see these offensive struggles coming? The season is pretty much playing out the way most of us thought. The Nationals lost some significant offensive pieces as well, but yet they are in 1st place. What's the Phillies' excuse again? The Phillies have flailed at bad pitches for as long as I can remember. Nothing new there. I do not see the numbers, but they have to lead the league in weakly-hit balls as well. Poor planning by Amaro is totally at fault here. He could see the diminishing abilities of key players, he knew injury concerns, and he did not have to spend lavishly on a closer. But he decided to put all the pressure on a few pitchers. Smart.
And yes, I agree that Gross should definitely go. He should already be gone, going by the Milt Thompson logic.— MrPhillie - right on McPhillie! As I have railed like an old, scratchy vinyl record, until Cholly, Ruben and the entire coaching staff are fired, Giles and Montgomery are running an counter intuitive game here and it perfectly fits the strategy of corrupt owners who want to sink a team into the realm of Pinhead! If they keep management as it is....then I rest my case. — daystrum
- CM IS A JOKE--HE TALKS TOO MUCH--HE HAS TO GRAB HIS PLAYERS ESP JAY ROLL AORUND THE NECK AND MAKE THEM CHANGE THIER APPROACH- NO EXCUSES-THEY TALKED ABOUT IT LAST YEAR AND GUESS WHAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED--CM IS A WALKING TALKING FRAUD---YOUR THE BOSS CM TOO BAD IF THE PLAYERS DO NOT LIKE YOU CM--YOUR JOB IS TO CHANGE THIER APPROACH ... YOUR JOB--NOT THE HITTING COACH---WORST IN THE LEAGUE--MEANS CM NEEDS TO GO AND NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— carmen2
- That hitting approach ultimatum from Amaro to Charlie and his coaches was his excuse to fire him in my opinion. No way the time was going to change the hitting style all of a sudden. It didn't happen when they signed Polly and it won't happen now. That's Charlie style of baseball. Swing for the fences.— EL Zorro
- Are you tired of the phillies swinging at the first pitch when they have players in scoring position. The rest of the league has the book on them now. They will stay in last place until major player changes are made and they bring in players who know the art of hitting, not the free swingers that they are.— joeynick
- Greg Gross could not hit as a Phillie, how is he supposed to teach. the plate discipline is the worst i have seen in many years. Charlie seems to have lost the attention of this bunch, and instead of blasting these guys and getting them off their rears he says I need to talk to them but he doesn't know what to say. Over my time that is a strong example of a skipper losing control. Fundamentals are what win ballgames and if your watching the same games as me you see the Phils are lost on the basepaths and at the plate. Amaro....DO SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— Trot
- Last night was pathetic....Orr will be on the bench for a week at least. A good throw and that runner is out at third. But the bullpen blew it anyway. Not fun to watch— phillyceltic
- Ryan Sandberg has his bag packed and ready to go. Not Cholly's fault about the injuries or bad signings. He does the best he can with what he has.— drhoffman
