Lively, Alfaro Lift Phils Over Mets; Mackanin Out as Manager

Bucking a trend for the 2017 season, the Phillies beat the Mets last night in a resounding way, posting 6 runs to the Mets' 2. With two games left in the season, both of them at home against the Mets, the Phils have gone a total of 6-11 against New York. Up until yesterday, only one of those wins had come at Citizens Bank Park, due to the Mets sweeping the Phillies in a CBP series in April, and taking 3 out of 4 in August. While in general, the Phillies have a better record at home than on the road, the Mets just seemed to have the Phillies number. 

Many Phillies contributed to last night's win. Ben Lively pitched six innings, giving up six hits, including two solo home runs which accounted for the only runs the Mets scored. Lively showed good control, walking no one.

Maikel Franco got the Phillies offense off to its start in the second inning, hitting a two-run blast that scored Odubel Herrera. Herrera joined the offensive punch, with a sacrifice fly in the third, scoring Freddy Galvis and advancing Nick Williams to third. Williams scored later when Mets pitcher Matt Harvey dropped the ball while attempting to pitch to Franco for a balk. Harvey had grazed his leg with the ball during his pitching motion, lodging it from his hand. The runs were capped off by solo home runs by Jorge Alfaro and Cesar Hernandez in the sixth. 

Alfaro had a good night, going 2 for 3, with a walk, a double and a home run. Alfaro's performance perhaps demonstrates the problems with Pete Mackanin's management style, which led to General Manager Matt Klentak's announcement yesterday that Mackanin will not return as the Phillies manager in 2018. When Andrew Knapp was injured, the Phillies brought Alfaro up on August 4th. Mackanin initially played Alfaro sparingly, favoring veteran catcher Cameron Rupp until about mid-August. Since becoming the regular catcher, Alfaro has hit .314 with 5 home runs and 14 RBIs. Meanwhile, Rupp is batting .219, slightly worse than his career average of .234.  In short, during this rebuilding stage, Mackanin has shown reluctance to trust the young prospects, favoring veterans. 

Another example of this was Mackanin's call for veteran outfielders in the off-season. Klentak responded by obtaining professional hitter Howie Kendrick and left handed hitter Michael Saunders. With Herrera slated to be the regular center fielder, this created a crowded outfield that would have blocked twenty-six year old Aaron Altherr from seeing much playing time. Injuries to the outfield, including Kendrick, forced Mackanin to play Altherr every day. Altherr responded by becoming the star of the Phillies offense in the first half of the season, with a campaign to send him to the All-Star Game. So far for the season, Altherr is hitting .273, with 19 home runs and 63.  This is with an injury that sidelined him in much of August. 

After the win, the Phillies have guaranteed that they will be over .500 for September, going 14-12 so far, with one game to go in the month. A sweep of the Mets will give the Phillies a 37-37 record in the second half of the season. 

The remarkable improvement in the second half gives Phillies fans hope, as many of those wins came on the backs of rookies and young players. This success of youth may have been the turning point in convincing Klentak that the team needed new direction from the manager.  The Phillies just may be ready to compete for a wild card spot next year, and will need a manager ready to trust youth, giving the prospects a full opportunity to show what they can do.

William J. Kovatch, Jr. 

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