Phillies offensive philosophy in need of an overhaul

Mashers no more: Phillies’ offensive philosophy in need of an overhaul BY Patrick Gordon November 1, 2011 pgordon@philadelphiabaseballreview.com ______________________________________ He may not have launched a direct shot over the bow of anyone in particular, but Ruben Amaro Jr.'s message concerning the Phillies diminishing offense is clear: the days of relying on the three-run home run are over. "We don't have the same offensive team we had in 2008," Amaro said following the Phillies heartbreaking loss in Game 5 of the National League division series. "We need to rely on having better at-bats." The offensive inefficiencies that plagued the Phillies throughout the regular season reemerged in the NLDS. After scoring four runs in the first two innings of Game 2, the bats fell silent and were shutout over 31 of their final 34 innings. The fledgling offense sputtered to a .226 batting average and a .269 on-base percentage. Change happens fast in baseball. Two years ago, the Phillies led the National League in home runs, doubles, and runs scored behind arguably the best offense in franchise history. This year, the Phillies output in those same categories hovered around the National League average. Gone are the days when the Phillies could rely on hammering pitchers with the long ball. Age is beginning to become a factor with primary offensive threats Ryan Howard (31) and Chase Utley (32), and so is health. "We don't have nearly as much power," Amaro said. "We need to realize that and work with what we have and make what we have much better. We should have more .300 hitters, or close to it. We really should. I think we have to have a different mind-set or approach. We have to rely on having better at-bats." Given his expertise in hitting, Amaro is relying on manager Charlie Manuel to facilitate a major overhaul of the Phillies offensive philosophy. "I'm definitely on board with what Ruben says," Manuel said. "He would like to see us grind out more at-bats, learn how to work more counts, plate discipline. All those things he talks about, I've talked about, I teach that. It's a matter to keep reminding guys." The tough part for Manuel and hitting coach Greg Gross will be getting the oldest lineup in the majors to adapt to a new way of thinking. Plate discipline has been an increasing concern over the past two seasons, as has on-base percentage. The Phillies chased more pitches outside the strike zone in 2011 than in any other year in their five-year reign as division champions, according to FanGraphs. "You make adjustments, the pitchers make adjustments, and the hitters have to make adjustments," Manuel said. "If you don't like to or are afraid to go deep in the count or to hit with two strikes on you, you are going to get anxious, you'll be aggressive and chase bad balls." Consecutive exits early in the postseason often initiate change, but with Manuel and most of the everyday line-up returning, fostering a change in offensive philosophy is Amaro’s only option. "We have to go about things differently," Amaro said. "Obviously, what we've done is not working. It's not worked well enough to get to the World Series and win."

The ‘11 Phillies swung at nearly 31% of pitches outside the strike zone. In contrast, the ‘07 club chased less than 24%. Graph by P.G., stats from FanGraphs SWING O% = Pitches swung on outside strike zone