Light-hitting Phillies outfielders delivering on defense

The Phillies entered Wednesday with an outfield that ranked 27th among 30 major-league teams in OPS (.554) and 29th in batting average (.175), but the team's decision makers were content with the current group that has started six of the season's first nine games.

"Let's put it this way," manager Pete Mackanin said. "If there's no offense, you better have defense."

It is difficult to quantify how much of a difference an improved outfield defense has made in a little more than a week's worth of games. Advanced defensive metrics are unreliable, especially in small sample sizes. So do not draw conclusions about an outfield defense that was tied with Texas' for best in the majors with four defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs.

But know that it is something to which the front office has paid close attention. The pitching has improved. The outfield defense has improved. Is one because of the other?

"On a daily basis it's hard to know exactly what the cause is," first-year general manager Matt Klentak said. "Is it because the pitcher's making pitches? Is it because the fielders are making plays? At the end of the day, if the run prevention has improved, that has been the goal. I'm not one to draw meaningless conclusions off of a week's worth of games. But, having said that, it's hard not to be pleased with what we've seen so far in the run-prevention area."

Beyond the numbers, it is easy to see a difference. Neither Peter Bourjos nor Cedric Hunter has hit. They have covered significant ground in the outfield corners. Odubel Herrera looks more comfortable in center.

"Bourjos made a catch in the gap the other day that kind of doesn't get a lot of attention because it wasn't a fully stretched dive," Klentak said. "But I think the way we measure it, that's a play that the average rightfielder doesn't make. And that doesn't show up in the box score; it unfortunately doesn't hit his triple slash line, but there's obviously value in that."

The current configuration will not change, at least for now. Cody Asche, who has a strained rib cage muscle, visited Phillies doctors Tuesday. The team is encouraged by his progress, but Asche will not begin swinging until sometime in May. He could be more than a month from a return.

"The hitting," Mackanin said, "needs to come around."

Darin Ruf, who has a bruised left shoulder, received a cortisone injection Tuesday. He was still sore Wednesday, but the Phillies do not expect him to miss much time. The Padres will start a lefty, Drew Pomeranz, in the series finale Thursday afternoon. . . . You can officially call Jeanmar Gomez the Phillies' closer, although Mackanin prefers a more informal bullpen setup. "I just kind of want to leave him alone," the manager said. Gomez converted his first three save chances.