Is This The Best Lineup for the Phillies? Bob Doesn’t Think So

The Phillies won a game on Monday night in which their starting pitcher went seven innings, threw 100 pitches, and allowed just two earned runs. The offense scored in 5 of the 8 innings, belted 16 hits, and took advantage of three errors by the San Francisco Giants during a 10-4 drubbing that upped their Wild Card lead over the Giants to three games. All good. I am not going to rain on the parade here. But there were some things that had me wondering about this team as the game went on. 

I have become more and more convinced during the season that Bryson Stott is the Phillies best overall hitter. Not the most powerful, but just the all-around best hitter right now. I think when he's fully back from his elbow injury, Bryce Harper could/will regain that title. But for now, I'll go with Stott. He works pitchers better than anyone on the team, may have the best eye of all the current players, and is, obviously, the best two-strike hitter this team has. He has set a mark for himself with already having stolen 23 bases. He's second on the team with 135 hits and leads them with a .295 average. Put those numbers out there from any player on any team and it absolutely wreaks of a leadoff hitter.

Not here though, as Stott was in the seven-hole on Monday while Kyle Schwarber assumed his normal leadoff position. And while we're on the subject of Schwarber, who belted his 33rd home run of the season, is the fact that he is still in the leadoff position something that your still ok with? I know when I saw him hit that home run Monday it brought me some happiness because of the fact that there was a runner on base, something that has happened too infrequently this season.

Yes, Schwarber leads the Phillies in walks with 94 and you could make the case that he works pitchers. But nobody does that better than Stott. Cool to have your leadoff hitter being the team's best home run hitter and RBI guy? I guess. But is it productive for this team there? 

I just came away from last night's game wondering how much better this lineup could have been this whole season had players been batting in the order where their numbers hint they should be. We probably won't get an answer to that question tonight. But my hope is that it will be next year. It just seems too obvious how it should play out. Doesn't it? 

When the Philadelphia Phillies embarked on a 17-day challenge of 17 critical games, they were on the outside looking in to the National League Wild Card picture. Today, they have accomplished at least one goal, and that is playing with the lead. The NL East race is a different story.

With 43 games left in the regular season, the Phillies have the ability to secure the top spot and home-field advantage in the best-of-three Wild Card series that begins on Tuesday, October 3rd. Last year was an amazing journey. Having the first three possible games at home would kick off the energy of Red October.

We can celebrate that small bit of control of their playoff lives. However, it’s hard not to reflect on the fact that once again, the Phillies find themselves 11 games out in the NL East race. It's another summer when they were never in the hunt. Before you tell me that “the Braves are loaded,” we all understand that.

While the Phillies starting pitching has been healthy, the Braves staff hasn't been at full strength. They've lost 3/5 of their starting rotation to the IL this season. We are spinning excuses if we just brush off not being competitive.

Here are a few reasons that we once again don’t have a pennant race to concern ourselves with:

The Phillies never seem to be able to handle the Marlins, but at least they aren’t trailing the season series. The Marlins' young pitching is impressive, but not every team struggles against them. The Braves have played the Marlins 10 times also, but they are 9-1 against them.

That’s 4 games you gave up in the NL East standings!

The Phillies once again find a way to struggle vs the Mets. It’s inconceivable. They are one of the worst teams in the NL yet the losses pile up. While the Phillies are 2-4 vs the Mets, the Braves are 8-2.

That’s currently 4 games you gave up in your own division. 

The Braves are 4-2 against the Nationals, and the Phillies are currently 6-4 in the season series. Another mediocre showing in the division against a Quad-A Nationals squad. Losing that home series to the Nats heading into the MLB All-Star Break adds to your plight.

Trips to San Francisco have been historically an issue for the Phillies. A listless three-game sweep by the Giants makes their upcoming series at Citizens Bank Park more critical. The Wild Card series can’t involve another trip West.

If you played as well as the Braves against just the Mets and Marlins, you would wake up this morning just three games out of first place. Even a little worse showing could have you five games out.

The Phillies and the Braves meet seven more times this season, and the Phillies could have made those games meaningful. We all know that none of that matters come October as the Phillies proved last season, but a pennant race is something a payroll and star-studded lineup like this should be able to deliver.

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