Rhys Hoskins is slumping, but he doesn’t want a day off | Extra Innings
"Absolutely not," Hoskins said when asked if he could use a day off to clear his head. He's batting .120 in August and made a crucial error Tuesday night.
The Phillies listened to boos for the second straight night, but they were unable to overcome them Tuesday. They started the seventh and eighth innings with leadoff doubles and failed to move the runners home. The wasted opportunities burned them in the ninth when a potential inning-ending double play skipped off Rhys Hoskins’ glove. He clanked it, Hoskins said. And the Phillies lost, 5-4, to the Pirates.
They are two games out of the wild card and they’ll need to win Wednesday to win a series against the woeful Pirates, who have a .279 winning percentage since the All-Star break.
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— Matt Breen (extrainnings@inquirer.com)
Hoskins says ‘no’ to day off, but he might need it
Gabe Kapler said he plans to talk to Hoskins about giving the first baseman a day off as Hoskins tries to weather a miserable month.
But Kapler should not even bother asking. Hoskins is struggling, but he said after Tuesday’s 5-4 loss to the Pirates that he has no plans of leaving the lineup.
“Absolutely not,” Hoskins said. “We are in a playoff push right now.”
Hoskins went 1-for-5 on Tuesday to bring his batting average this month to just .120 in 83 at-bats. And it was easy to believe that his rough stretch at the plate was weighing on him in the field when he botched a routine catch in the ninth inning to give the Pirates the lead.
Hoskins has a .544 OPS this month and has just two homers in his last 109 plate appearances. He has been the team’s most productive hitter ever since he reached the majors, and it’s hard to chart a course for the Phillies to make the playoffs if Hoskins is not producing.
“I mean, it’s no secret,” Hoskins said. “Just got to keep coming to the ballpark every day looking to help the team win. I don’t really have much else to say. It sucks, sure. But it doesn’t suck when we win, and it sucks even more when we lose.”
Yes, the Phillies are in a playoff push, as they will report Wednesday afternoon to Citizens Bank Park just two games out of the National League’s wild card. Hoskins has started 129 of the team’s 131 games and has been at first base for 96 percent of the innings this season.
Kapler has moved Hoskins this month in the lineup, batting him leadoff after batting him cleanup and then moving him to the two-hole after having him bat third. Kapler is trying to find something that can cause Hoskins to click. A day off could be the next option.
Former Phillies player and current broadcaster Kevin Frandsen tweeted after Tuesday’s game, “come to the yard at game time, don’t pick up a bat, watch the game, be the teammate he always is, and RELAX." The Phillies need Hoskins for five weeks, not one game against a hapless Pirates team. Perhaps some rest is in order for one of the team’s most important hitters.
“I think you keep reminding him how good he is,” Kapler said. “I think you fight like mad for him as his teammate. I think you make sure that he continues to get to work, which he does on his own. He’s as accountable as anybody. He won’t wait long to get back to work at his craft.”
The rundown
“So, do you believe in the Phillies, or don’t you?” That’s the question Scott Lauber posed after Tuesday night’s loss. The fans booed Sean Rodriguez but then cheered him when he doubled, as the city seems torn with this maddening team. And then they broke your heart in the ninth inning.
How about Spencer Howard? Bob Brookover writes that it’s time for the Phillies to call up the 23-year-old pitching prospect, who is currently at double A. He could replace Drew Smyly, who allowed four runs Tuesday night in 5 2/3 innings. “Bringing Howard up for the stretch run would create a buzz in the clubhouse and in the stands. Who doesn’t want to see a 23-year-old kid with the ability to throw in the high 90s?” Brookover writes.
Sean Rodriguez was soaked Monday night with water after hitting a walk-off homer. He was showered Tuesday with boos for calling fans who boo “entitled” after he hit his walk-off homer. Kapler said before the game that Phillies fans aren’t entitled and that booing comes with the territory in Philadelphia.
Important dates
Tonight: Vince Velasquez starts series finale against Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller, 6:05 p.m.
Tomorrow: The Phillies are off.
Friday: The Mets come to town for a three-game series, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday: The Phillies and Mets play on ESPN, 7:05 p.m.
Monday: Phillies celebrate Labor Day in Cincinnati, 2:10 p.m.
Stat of the day
Logan Morrison hit a pinch-hit homer in the sixth inning to tie Tuesday’s game at 4. It was Morrison’s first major-leaguer homer in more than a year (Aug. 4, 2018) and his first pinch-hit homer in more than two years (Aug. 19, 2017).
The Phillies have six pinch-hit homers this season, and all six have come from different players: J.T. Realmuto, Maikel Franco, Jay Bruce, Brad Miller, Sean Rodriguez, and Morrison.
Morrison joined the Phillies earlier this month and shared this about his past experiences with Phillies fans: “I’ll never forget this until the day I die. I heard the best one from a fan in left field. It was here in Philly. He was like ‘Morrison, you went to junior college. So you’re dumb and you suck.’ That was pretty good. They can bring it.”
From the mailbag
Send questions by email or on Twitter @matt_breen.
Question: I really like what I have seen so far of Corey Dickerson. Is there any chance that the Phillies sign him after this season? — James L. via email
Answer: Thanks, James. There’s been a lot to like about Corey Dickerson so far. Looking at next year, we can assume Andrew McCutchen will be in left field and Bryce Harper will be in right. The Phillies said Dickerson can play some center, but he seems limited to being a left fielder. And that’s were bringing him back could get tricky.
Jay Bruce is already under contract for 2020, which likely means he’ll be here next season. So that’s one bench spot. A second bench spot goes to the backup catcher. A third goes to someone who can play the infield. The final spot would be an extra outfielder, but if the Phillies already have Bruce (left-handed corner outfielder), Dickerson (also a left-handed corner outfielder) could be tough to fit in.
The importance of the bench has been obvious this season, and building a good unit will be one of the many priorities the front office will have this winter. You’d also have to see if Dickerson would want a part-time role. He’s certainly has the ability to be an every-day major leaguer. A return could be complicated. But there’s a lot of time before a decision has to be made.
Update: I was reminded by Adam S. that the rosters expand next season to 26 players, which would allow the Phillies an extra bench player. That could provide room for Dickerson, but he would have to be OK with a part-time role.