Why the Phillies don’t consider Bryce Harper a solution to their center-field problem | Extra Innings
At age 28, after dealing with a back issue last year that caused him to change the way he throws, Harper would likely face a physical toll in playing center field, according to manager Joe Girardi.
It felt like 2020 all over again.
Six outs from squaring a three-game series with the San Francisco Kaplers — er, Giants — a Phillies reliever (Connor Brogdon, to be specific) allowed two three-run home runs in the eighth inning last night en route to a fall-from-ahead 10-7 loss at Citizens Bank Park.
Oof.
To be fair, Brogdon had gone 243 days since allowing a run. He finished last season with a scoreless streak of 8 2/3 innings, then opened this one on a 6 2/3-inning roll. He also answered for his implosion against the Giants, conceding that he lacked his usual changeup and had to rely solely on his fastball.
“I found myself pitching with only one pitch,” Brogdon said. “You can’t pitch like that.”
It’s been a pleasant return thus far for ex-Phillies manager Gabe Kapler. He picked up his 200th victory Monday night, and if the Giants are able to finish a sweep in a matinee game today, he will leave town as a winning manager with a 202-200 career record.
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— Scott Lauber (extrainnings@inquirer.com)
Why Phillies won’t move Bryce Harper to center field
Before Mickey Moniak singled in the second inning last night, Phillies center fielders had been hitless for ... for ... forever?
Close, but it only felt that way.
The Phillies have used three center fielders in 17 games, and among them, Adam Haseley, Roman Quinn, and Moniak hadn’t picked up a hit in 35 at-bats dating to April 9. You had to go back almost another week, to April 4, to find a hit from a starting Phillies center fielder.
“We’re not happy with what’s going on,” manager Joe Girardi said earlier this week after president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said his mind is “open to what other opportunities are outside the organization.”
One center-field solution the Phillies are not considering: Bryce Harper.
Harper has made 173 career starts in center field, including 59 three years ago for the Washington Nationals. But he doesn’t particularly like playing the position. He’s more comfortable in right field. Asked about his defense after signing with the Phillies in 2019, he said, “I feel like if I can stay out of center field, that’d be great.”
Girardi asked Harper to make three starts in center field last season when Haseley and Quinn were injured. With Brad Miller and Matt Joyce capable of playing right field, the idea of moving Harper to center isn’t unimaginable.
But there’s more to consider now than merely Harper’s aversion to the move. At age 28, after dealing with a back issue last season that caused him to change the way he throws in the offseason and then flared again last weekend, there’s a physical aspect, too.
“It’s not something that I’ve really toyed around with just because there’s a bigger toll on Bryce if he’s in center field,” Girardi said. “That would be somewhat of a concern to me. We really haven’t entertained that idea as of yet.”
Girardi has similar reservations about moving Andrew McCutchen to center field. McCutchen, who won a Gold Glove in center field in 2012, isn’t considered an option at the position after undergoing major knee surgery in 2019.
The rundown
Depending on the results of an MRI today, Jean Segura might wind up on the injured list with a strained right quadriceps.
Despite a slow start, McCutchen will remain in the leadoff spot for the Phillies. Girardi explains why.
When Giants manager Gabe Kapler heard over the winter that the Phillies were promoting Sam Fuld to the GM position, he wasn’t surprised. “I think he could do just about anything,” Kapler said of his friend and former coach.
Important dates
Today: Zach Eflin vs. Giants’ Anthony DeSclafani in series finale, 1:05 p.m.
Tomorrow: Phillies are off.
Friday: Vince Velasquez starts series opener in Colorado, 8:40 p.m.
Saturday: Aaron Nola faces the Rockies at Coors Field, 8:10 p.m.
Monday: Phillies continue their road trip in St. Louis, 7:45 p.m.
Stat of the day
What a crazy couple of days it has been for Nick Maton.
Maton was fielding grounders Monday before an alternate-site game in Lehigh Valley when he found out the Phillies were calling him up. And he wouldn’t merely be replacing utilityman Ronald Torreyes, who went on the COVID injured list. He would be filling in at shortstop while Didi Gregorius rested a sore right elbow.
At 24 years, 60 days old, Maton on Monday night became the youngest Phillies player to make his major-league debut at shortstop since Jimmy Rollins (21 years, 295 days) on Sept. 17, 2000, against the Florida Marlins.
Maton picked up his first hit in his first game, then collected his first RBI with a double Tuesday night and made two stellar diving plays up the middle. Asked what he will do with the ball from his first hit, Maton said he will “probably put it in a case and keep it around with me forever.”
From the mailbag
Send questions by email or on Twitter @ScottLauber.
Question: With Matt Moore out due to COVID protocols, is it time to bring up Spencer Howard? Thanks. — Frank M., via email
Answer: Hi, Frank. Thanks for the question. Apparently not. Vince Velasquez will start in Moore’s place Friday night in Colorado. The Phillies called up lefty Bailey Falter from the alternate site to take up the long-relief role that Velasquez had been filling.
Why not Howard? Given the limits on his workload after missing time in 2019 and 2020 because of shoulder issues, the Phillies view him more as a reliever this season. At least that’s the case for now.