Daily News | What the Phillies’ change in plans at the trade deadline could mean this season and beyond
, two weeks ago in Cleveland, Bryce Harper tumbled over a railing and into the photographers’ well to catch a pop-up.And the front office began scouring opposing rosters for a right-handed hitter to play left field.
Why the change in plan? And what did it reveal about how club officials view an offense that was built to slug but has been league average — or even slightly below — in almost every statistical category? Whereas the Phillies initially focused on adding a bat, internal discussions caused them to rethink their deadline priorities and draw conclusions that might help explain their tepid interest in Duvall, Hernández, and others, including Tommy Pham, Mark Canha, and Randal Grichuk, who were dealt to Arizona, Milwaukee, and the Angels, respectively.
Pham and Canha, like most players in the Mets’ clubhouse, were eminently available amid owner Steve Cohen’s about-face sell-off. But they went 8-for-48 with two extra-base hits and 12-for-49 with three extra-base hits, respectively, from July 4 through the deadline. Pham also missed time with a groin injury.
Especially in 2023. The new rules favor speed and contact. Consider the American League-leading Orioles, who make more contact and take more extra bases on singles and doubles than league average. The same goes for the Diamondbacks and Reds, surprise contenders in the NL. It isn’t a coincidence that Cincinnati, Baltimore, and Arizona were eighth, ninth, and 10th in runs per game entering the weekend.Murphy: Michael Lorenzen could be more Roy Oswalt than Joe Blanton.
But it’s all predicated on the Phillies’ best players being their best players. Without that, any complementary addition wouldn’t have made much impact anyway.
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