Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Mackanin hopes he’s looking at outfield of the future
PHILADELPHIA » For weeks, Pete Mackanin was waiting for the chance to present the starting outfield that he would Tuesday night. He hopes he won’t need to wait that long again.
In what could be the regular, long-term alignment, the Phils had Aaron Altherr in left, Odubel Herrera in center and Nick Williams in right for a game with the Miami Marlins.
There was no experimenting with Rhys Hoskins in left. No waiting for Altherr to recover fully from a hamstring strain. No reason to sit Herrera, if only to send a message. No reason not to play Hoskins at his more comfortable position, first base.
No, it was Altherr, 26, Herrera, 25, and Williams, 24 … with no immediate plan for it all to be disrupted.
“That’s what I’m going to do,” Mackanin said before the Phillies’ 9-8 win over the Marlins in 15 innings Tuesday. “I want to get Altherr back into the fold.”
At some point in the season, each of the Phils’ preferred outfielders has flashed excellence. Mackanin wants them all to try it together. Herrera and Williams have played plenty in the second half of the season. But Altherr was slowed by the hamstring, which kept him out of action from Aug. 4 through Sept. 9. He started Sunday in center, with Hoskins in left.
“Well, I want to get a good look
at Hoskins at first,” the manager said. “So he’ll probably play first base a lot more than he has up until this point. Because with Altherr back in the mix, it makes it more difficult for me to play him in the outfield. And I’ve spoken to Tommy Joseph about it and he understands.”
*** The Phillies are taking a chance on right-handed starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez, who was an All-Star for the 2014 Marlins. Alvarez, who pitched a no-hitter against Detroit in 2013, has had two shoulder surgeries since 2015.
“It’s been tough, but I’ve been able to keep my head up,” Alvarez said. “But I understand it is a part of baseball. I’ve been working hard and it has finally paid off.”
To return to the major leagues, Alvarez needed to pass an audition for some independent-league scouts, do a summer stint with the Long Island Ducks, then squeeze through Allentown before a promotion to the Phillies.
“What really happened was there was a showcase in Miami,” Alvarez recalled. “There were 15 teams that were watching that showcase, and my agent was told that the best thing to do was have me play in the independent league to show what I was capable of. The independent league was like a Triple-A-type of level. There were some former majorleague players there and some former Triple-A guys.
“The point was to go there, get ready, get stronger and show what I was capable of and get an opportunity. I’m very thankful to the Ducks for opening the door for me and letting me having that chance.”
Alvarez was a combined 4-1 with Long Island and Lehigh Valley.
“I never put my head down,” he said. “I think it helped me a lot that I pitched in the independent league, and then the Phillies gave me a chance to pitch in Triple-A. I wanted to show everyone that my shoulder was OK and that all my body was in good condition.
“So to be back here is unbelievable.”
By Sunday, during a Citizens Bank Park series with the Oakland A’s, Alvarez is likely to join what Mackanin has said will be a six-man rotation for the rest of the season.
*** The 2018 schedule was released Tuesday, and the Phillies will open March 29 in Atlanta. They will not play at home until an April 5 visit from Miami.
The Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles and Red Sox will visit for interleague games.
*** Mackanin is intrigued by reliever Zac Curtis, who was claimed off waivers from Seattle Monday. Once sixth-round draft choice of Arizona, the left-hander has had 229 strikeouts in 162.1 minor-league innings.
“I am anxious to see what he can do,” the manager said.
*** NOTES » Zach Eflin was moved to the 60-day disabled list Tuesday with his right shoulder strain. … The Phils have selected the contract of right-hander Victor Arano, who made a seventh-inning appearance Tuesday. The 22-year-old reliever was 1-2 with a 4.19 ERA this season in Reading. He recorded two outs in the seventh inning, giving up a hit and now runs Tuesday night. … Andrew Knapp (hand) was cleared from the 10-day disabled list, but is not likely to start for a while. Mackanin: “I want to see (Jorge) Alfaro as much as I can. He’ll get the brunt of the playing time.” … Nick Pivetta had a rough start, going five-plus innings, allowing seven runs and eight hits. … Aaron Nola (10-10, 3.71 ERA) will face Miami right-hander Dan Straily (9-8, 3.95) Wednesday at 7:05. Thursday night, it will be Jake Thompson (1-2, 5.23) and right-handed Jose Urena (13-6, 3.61) … Joey Davis, who signed Hoskins, has won the Phillies’ Dallas Green award for scouting excellence.