The Phillies managed to put a rare five runs across the board in the first inning against Cy Young Award candidate Zack Greinke last Thursday, yet somehow found a way to lose the game 10-8. The team went 3-3 this past week, but there was room for plenty of optimism in the losses, such as lighting up Greinke. Since the break, the team’s been playing great on the field, but to analyze the calls from the dugout steps, let’s take some time to manage Mackanin.
Playing the Platoon: Since June 25, the Phillies have faced eight right-handed starting pitchers and just three left-handed starters. Domonic Brown, since the same date, has slashed .316/.333/.632 with 3 HR and 13 RBI raising his season batting average 23 points. Despite Brown playing perhaps the best he’s played all season, Mackanin has stuck to his platoon plan.
In the 36 games Brown has started this year, 31 have been against a right-handed starters.This past week, the Phillies have faced lefties Alex Wood and Brett Anderson and in both games righty Jeff Francoeur has gotten the nod in right field. Similarly in left field, Cody Asche started against each righty last week, but Darin Ruf was selected to start against the lefties. Both players have outstanding numbers since June 22. The plan has worked so far.
Prior to the trade deadline, the Phillies averaged 3.4 runs per game. From the deadline until the beginning of last week, that number had risen to 4.5 runs per game. In the six games the Phillies played last week, they were scoring a very impressive 6.7 runs per game. Whether or not Mackanin will buy into Brown’s recent hot streak or ditch any platoon method is still in question, but the offensive strategy is producing as is.
Four-Out Save: In Tuesday’s game against the Dodgers, the Phillies held a 5-1 lead entering the eighth inning. Jeanmar Gomez allowed three hits in the inning, including a two-out RBI double from Carl Crawford that cut the deficit to three. With 2 outs and runners on second and third, Mackanin went to the bullpen. A double switch brought Ken Giles into the game for a four-out save opportunity, something he had never done before. After an 8-pitch battle, Giles struck out Jimmy Rollins looking before a relatively simple ninth, securing the 5-3 victory and his first career four-out save.
