Phillies Mailbag: Biggest Concern, Stott’s Struggles, Walker

We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies Mailbag.  Each week we take your questions and answer them on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill.  Tune in each Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. to hear your questions answered on the air.

I know it's been a lot of things going wrong lately, but what's been the most concerning to you as far as most likely to bite them in October?
~T

This is a really good question.  I think there is one obvious "problem" with the Phillies at the moment.  But as a whole, I think there have been just a few things happening at the same time.  So let's break it down.

First, I would say Bryce Harper's struggles are a key part of this.  As Harper goes, so go the Phillies. Harper has hit .230 in his last 15 games.  That is not usual Harper.  For me, when Harper started playing with his bat and batting gloves, it was a sign that Harper got into his own head.  That's something which I think will be easily remedied.

There is cause to believe that Harper is coming out of it.   That .230 in his last 15 games includes Harper batting .321 in his last seven games.  Hopefully as the Phillies come home and start playing some key games against the National League East, those struggles will be a memory.

But in terms of what will "bite" them in October?  There's nothing that seems like it's a problem that will reoccur.

When the Phillies were winning, they had their starters going deep into ballgames night after night.  That meant that the pressure was off of the bullpen, who were not overworked. To me the key moment that showed the trickle-down effects was All-Star Jeff Hoffman surrender a four-run lead in the sixth inning in Seattle.

Why was that a key moment?  Since when did the Phillies have to worry about coming into a game in the sixth inning?  Well, this was a bullpen game, with Orion Kerkering pitching the first inning.  The Phillies got four from Kolby Allard, who had a 5.60 ERA at Triple-A.

The Phillies were down a bullpen arm (Kerkering) before the bullpen came in during the sixth.  Knowing that the Phillies had to get four innings more from the bullpen, Hoffman could not get a quick exit when they were in trouble.  Instead, they had to try to get through the jam with Hoffman, who did not have it.

In the playoffs, they'll have their best starters going.  The games are spaced out and the relievers will be rested.  They do not have to try to push someone.

So for me, the Phillies need to work through the offensive struggles.  Harper will go back to being Harper, I'm confident.  Other bats struggling right now will have less pressure.  I think that is the big issue here.

With all of Bryson Stott’s struggles this year (still believe in him), is there a chance skipper hits the emergency alarm and calls up Scott Kingery?
~Dave
Did Scott Kingery deserve a call up?
~Eric

For some reason, Scott Kingery is once again a big topic of discussion.  I think we got the answer to this just this past week. Austin Hays hit the injured list, and the Phillies were down a right-handed outfield bat.  Instead, of Kingery, they gave Cal Stevenson a shot in the big leagues.

Stevenson has out performed Kingery at Triple-A.  It seemed apparent the Phillies wanted a defensive outfielder, and that came in the form of Stevenson, who can play center field.  The Phillies started Stevenson there on Sunday.

But if the Phillies were going to take playing time away from Bryson Stott, I think it would come at the hands of Edumundo Sosa.  The Phillies have been playing Sosa against some left-handed pitching of late.  They may continue to do so if Stott struggles.

I think that the Phillies are not likely to demote Stott to Triple-A.  If nothing else, he gives the Phillies reliable defense.  Kevin Long and the hitting coaches at the major league level will give him more than a minor league demotion would solve.

If the Phillies do need another infielder, Kody Clemens is still on the 40-man roster, as is Rodolfo Castro, who is now healthy and active in Triple-A.  Buddy Kennedy is on the 40-man roster as well.   I think any of those three would come to Philadelphia ahead of Kingery.

For Kingery's sake, I would hope the Phillies release him and let him see if he can return to the major leagues with another team.  I never understood why they did not release him after last season, even though they controlled his rights.  He could still be a non-roster trade candidate this season, if someone else needs an infielder.

Why did Taijuan Walker take over for Kolby Allard?  He was pitching well.
~Daniel

The Phillies got decent results out of Kolby Allard, who came to the Phillies after Ranger Suárez hit the injured list once again.  Calling upon Allard was not perhaps their desired route, but the Phillies had their backs against the wall, already down Taijuan Walker and Spencer Turnbull.

The reason Walker is headed right back to the pitching rotation is that he is going to give the Phillies reliable innings.  Allard gave the Phillies three starts, and I think we saw what the Phillies were missing.

The first start, Allard stayed in too long. In the fourth inning, he surrendered two singles and a three-run home run to start the inning.  He got the last three outs, but the Phillies turned to the bullpen for the fifth.

In the second, Allard was not the starter, but the "length" reliever.  He relieved Orion Kerkering in the second inning and gave them through the fifth inning.

In the third, Allard gave them five innings of one-run ball, his best start of the three.

But the Phillies simply need more innings out of their starting pitchers.  As I mentioned earlier, once the bullpen is expected to pitch more, they start wearing down.  Relievers remain in too long and give up runs they might not otherwise, since the manager cannot go to the next reliever too soon.

The good news: Walker relied heavily on his splitter for success.  A minor injury to his finger kept him from throwing it.  After two rehab starts, it appears he is able to throw it again.  Combine that with the ability to give five or six innings, the Phillies will be better off.