Five takeaways from Phillies’ first homestand | Extra Innings

After winning yet again Wednesday, the Phillies left the field to their usual Phanavision victory serenade from the late Harry Kalas.

And, really, that’s what the Phillies left behind after completing their first homestand of 2021 with an 8-2 thumping of the New York Mets, their fifth win in six games. For the sixth time in the franchise’s 139-year history, they have started 5-1. Three of those seasons (1993, 2010, 2011) ended with division titles; the other two (1964, 2019) with disappointments.

It’s early, of course. It’s also promising.

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— Scott Lauber (extrainnings@inquirer.com)

A day off Thursday was the perfect time to pause and get some perspective on the first half-dozen games -- 3.7% of the schedule. Here, then, are five takeaways, one for each victory:

1. After a walkoff loss in Atlanta last Aug. 22, Bryce Harper earnestly said that all the struggling Phillies needed to turn around the season was “to go on a streak and win nine out of 10.” They rather amazingly won 10 of the next 11 games, outscoring opponents by a 65-40 margin.

The surge wound up as a footnote because the season crash-landed. But it also backed manager Joe Girardi’s year-end contention that the 2020 Phillies, with a better bullpen and their core intact (i.e., re-signing J.T. Realmuto and Didi Gregorius), constituted a playoff team.

So, if you’re looking for a reason to believe in what you have seen so far, think back to that 10-out-of-11 streak and realize you have actually seen it before. A competent, perhaps even excellent, bullpen should make the successful runs more sustainable.

2. Speaking of the bullpen ...

The season-opening three-game sweep of the Braves was pitch(er)-perfect. Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, and Zach Eflin each pitched into the seventh inning. The Phillies didn’t trail in any of the games. And with the customary day off after opening day, Girardi was able to use only four relievers (Héctor Neris, José Alvarado, Archie Bradley, and Connor Brogdon) to safeguard those leads.

Girardi’s reputation as a savvy bullpen strategist was tested against the Mets. He was aggressive in the two wins, pulling starter Matt Moore with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth inning Monday night and using Brogdon for five outs and Bradley for four after Nola lasted four innings Wednesday. But he stuck with Vince Velasquez for a few too many batters in the fateful seventh inning of Tuesday night’s loss to avoid overusing other relievers.

It was a tradeoff. But the Phillies also figure they have the bullpen depth this year for Girardi to mostly stick to his plans and watch it yield success.

3. Chase Anderson has pitched into the sixth inning in only half of his 168 career major-league starts. That’s not a criticism. It’s acceptable, actually, for a No. 5 starter to be a five-inning pitcher, and Anderson delivered five solid innings in his Phillies debut.

But limiting Anderson to five innings would also provide a chance for Velasquez to come in behind him and keep his arm stretched out for the inevitable time when the Phillies will need him in the rotation. What if Velasquez is unable to achieve consistency in that hybrid role?

If the Phillies had more confidence in Ramón Rosso or Adonis Medina as starter insurance, or if Ranger Suarez hadn’t missed so much time with injuries and COVID-19, maybe Velasquez would be a $4 million swingman in another organization. In time, that might still be the best solution for everyone.

4. In 2019, Phillies relievers combined to throw 222 pitches that were at least 97 mph. Last season, without injured Seranthony Dominguez, the total dropped to 11. Only the Cleveland Indians generated less heat from their bullpen over the last two years.

This year, Phillies relievers have already thrown 57 pitches at 97 mph or faster.

Call it the Alvarado/Coonrod effect. Forty-one of Alvarado’s 55 pitches have registered at least 97 mph; 15 of Coonrod’s 38 have reached that level.

“Every time you see that velo, it’s great,” Neris said of Alvarado, in particular. “It’s crazy to see the reaction on the hitter. I love it. I love it. He’s got a very explosive arm. He uses it, and I think it’s good for the bullpen when we have him there.”

5. Rhys Hoskins’ start -- 10-for-24 (.417) with six doubles, one home run, and at least one hit in all six games -- would be noteworthy in any season. But considering he’s six months removed from having elbow surgery, it’s all the more striking.

When Hoskins is going well, he’s using the whole field instead of trying to pull everything to the left side. Four of his 10 hits, including Wednesday’s home run, have gone the other way, to right field. He also has uncharacteristically not drawn a walk, a sign that he’s not missing hittable pitches early in the count.

“He’s doing damage on them and getting base hits,” Girardi said. “Instead of the count extending and maybe him working a walk, he’s been able to get some big base hits for us. It’s really encouraging that he’s found his swing so early in the season.”

The Mets could have signed Realmuto in the offseason but took a pass. Think their new owner Steve Cohen felt a pang of regret in the fifth inning when Realmuto smashed a three-run homer?

Bob Brookover was so impressed by the relievers — in particular, Neris, Alvarado, Bradley, Brogdon, Kintzler, and Coonrod — that he has nicknamed them the “Super Six.”

Zack Wheeler will face the Braves on Friday night, six days after he shut them out for seven innings at home. Let’s just say he’s not a fan of the schedule-maker.

Relive the victory over the Mets through Charles Fox’s photos.

Today: Phillies are off.

Tomorrow: Wheeler vs. Charlie Morton in Atlanta, 7:20 p.m.

Saturday: Zach Eflin vs. Braves’ Ian Anderson, 7:20 p.m.

Sunday: Phillies-Braves finale on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, 7:08 p.m.

Monday: Phillies open four-game series vs. the Mets at Citi Field, 7:10 p.m.

No, your eyes were not deceiving you. That really was Bryce Harper bunting for a hit with a runner on second base and nobody out in the fifth inning.

With the Mets’ infield playing back, Harper decided on his own to square around and bunt the ball toward first base, according to Girardi, who said he didn’t mind at all.

“That’s playing the game to me,” Girardi said. “He took advantage of a situation, and it led to a big inning. You don’t always have to hit doubles and home runs to be productive. To me, it was really smart and he executed extremely well.”

Harper has 17 bunt hits in his career, including seven with the Phillies. He bunted for hits four times in 682 plate appearances in 2019 and twice in 244 plate appearances last season.

Send questions by email or on Twitter @ScottLauber.

Question: My Phillies mailbag question is, which veteran do you see playing center field for Phillies in July? I can’t see [Roman] Quinn or [Adam] Haseley on a pennant-contending team.

— Bob H., via Twitter

Answer: Hi, Bob. Thanks for DMing your question to Matt Breen. Never too soon for trade talk!

Sorry for lacking a more creative answer, but if Haseley doesn’t produce, I predict that Odúbel Herrera will be the centerfielder in July. (Quinn, to me, profiles as a 26th man, not an everyday guy.) It’s not that the Phillies won’t look to trade for a centerfielder. I just think their greater need at the deadline will be another starting pitcher.

But since you did ask about center field, here’s a name to watch: Michael A. Taylor. He’s off to a good start in Kansas City, and assuming the Royals aren’t a surprise contender, they could cash him in for a midlevel prospect.