Thursday night and the following morning’s news regarding the Phillies top left-handed sluggers was a call for panic from a fan perspective, but on the field and in the dugout Thursday and Friday night, it was business as usual.
Philadelphia had to put both Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber on the injured list Friday morning. With J.T. Realumuto already there after meniscus surgery, the Phillies lineup is missing 45% of their home runs and 32% of their RBIs on the year. The message from Bryce Harper prior to Friday’s contest was simple: “Pony up, cowboy up, play the game.”
Phillies Overcome Injury
This is not the first bit of adversity the Philly squad has faced this year, already having had to battle through an extended absence from Trea Turner and it was utility man Edmundo Sosa who stepped up in his stead. The question now, with so many key players out – how do the Phillies get by? And more importantly, how do you stay confident with this much production missing from your lineup?
“I’m very confident,” manager Rob Thomson said prior to Friday night’s victory over the Marlins. “This is a resilient group. You got two really good players coming back up. We got the bulk of our club still here. It just seems that when guys go down, this club – people step up. People contribute.“
The two players he referenced are guys fans and the team themselves are very familiar with in Kody Clemens and Johan Rojas. Clemens was out with an injury and was rehabbing at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, while Rojas was sent down to work on some things. Per the Phillies skipper, Rojas has done everything they could’ve asked in his short trip to the minors:
“(He did) Everything we wanted him to do. See pitches, grind out at-bats, use the field, use the speed game with bunting. He cut down his swing. He did all that so he’s proved to us that he’s got the aptitude to do that and the physical capabilities to do that and hopefully that continues here.
Rob Thomson pregame June 28, 2024
The Return of Rojas
It didn’t take Rojas long to show his manager that speed can kill. He essentially manufactured the second run of Friday’s game by himself, and Thomson was pleased with what he saw from his young center fielder. He was asked pregame Saturday about the differences between what he saw from Rojas prior to being sent down vs. what he provided yesterday:
“The swing was a little shorter, a little more under control… I know he struck out twice, but you see in his last AB how he can take over an inning with his speed. Hustle double then gets a dirt ball read and scores on a sac fly. Hes pretty electric when hes on base.”
Rob Thomson pregame, June 29, 2024
As far as the approach to the lineup overall and the defensive alignment, Thomson said the team will need to take it “day by day.” Against right-handed starters, you’re likely to see Kody Clemens handle first base, but the Phillies manager did say you can expect to see Alec Bohm slide over and cover for Harper at the other hot corner.
Thomson also said he will rotate who he uses in the DH spot as a way to give guys a half-day and get some players off their feet. You can already see that in the two lineups we have seen since the injury news. Yesterday, Nick Castellanos was able to stay in the lineup while someone else manned right field for the Phillies for the first time in 2024.
Versatility Prevails
Today, it will be Alec Bohm getting a half-day while Sosa takes the field at third. Center will be primarily be Rojas’ spot. Thomson said Friday, “as I’ve always stated, if (Rojas is) here, he’s going to play most of the time“
As far as the lineup itself, there are even more questions. For the lead-off spot, however, it was a quick answer for Philadelphia’s manager. “Right now it’s (Bryson) Stott. He’s always been sort of a prototypical lead-off guy for us, but Schwarber’s been there. I think he’ll fill in real well.” The three-hole has been Bohm both days, and instead of moving Castellanos to No. 4 in the lineup, Brandon Marsh has actually been penciled in there both days. This allows Philadelphia to avoid having too many right-handed hitters in a row.
The confidence this team has in each other is obvious, and in an exclusive with Philly Sports Network – Marsh spoke about how it may not be great to lose your leaders, but he’s not worried: “We got some dudes that are gonna need to step up for Kyle and Harp, and I feel like we have the guys to fit that bill.”
When asked about the familiarity that the team has with Clemens and Rojas, he did not let me forget the impact both players have already had on the team and why that contributes to the club’s lack of panic:
“Both those guys have won games for us this year single-handedly. Whether it was that Rojas game in Anaheim, or Kody’s five walk-offs I feel like he’s had this year – those guys can do it and perform at this level and they’re here for a reason…Those are 2 big league guys and they’re coming in to fill some pretty big shoes, and they’re capable.“
Brandon Marsh with Philly Sports Network, pregame June 28, 2024
Losing the amount of offensive production the Phillies have is not an easy path to navigate. But their manager, coaches, and players are approaching things the way they have all season long – together. Whether it be outfielders helping with infield practice, guys playing different positions, or hitting in new spots in the lineup – Philadelphia is ready for the challenges that will come over the next two weeks.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson
