Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Phillies’ outfielder Bruce not worried about sore heels
Jay Bruce insists the soreness around his heels isn’t anything to kick into panic mode over.
The Phillies’ veteran revelation in left field took a seat on the bench for Saturday night’s game against the Washington Nationals, something that’s become a rarity since he was stolen in a deal with Seattle at the start of June.
Bruce missed a start in this middle game against the Nats due to what was being called soreness in both Achilles’ tendons. While that may sound a bit odd and worthy of worry, manager Gabe Kapler termed it as somewhat of normal soreness.
“He’s learned how to get ready to play every single day,” Kapler said of Bruce, who’s only 32 but has 11 seasons of MLB wear and tear. “There are going to be some days when he’s a little bit sore, whether it’s his hamstring or Achilles. During those time periods we’re going to have to be supportive.”
Without question, the Phillies have been leaning on Bruce more than anticipated. He’s hitting .239 with a pedestrian on-base average of
.288. Yet balance that with Bruce’s .280 mark in his 29 games as a Phillie through Friday, and with a .914 OPS since coming here.
Add in the 24 homers (10 as a Phillie) and 57 RBIs and know that Bruce is having a season to remember, heel pain and all.
“It’s been off and on, all year, pretty much,” Bruce said. “I don’t think it’s anything to be concerned about long-term. I’m just trying to get back in the swing of things, take today and get my work done and get going and be ready to play tomorrow.
“It’s been something I’ve kind of dealt with all year this year, to varying degrees.”
It’s something Kapler might have to help manage, especially since Bruce’s bat in the middle of his lineup has become a necessary ingredient to the Phillies’ too-few moments of success.
“If there was no shift, Jay Bruce would be some kind of awesome,” Kapler said. “He hits a lot of balls directly into the shift and a lot of line drives directly into the shift. He’s just a really good, all-around hitter and with a good game plan.”
One that, statistically at least, is a bit hard to peg.
“He’s not the kind of player that walks a lot or reaches base because he works deep counts ... and ends up with a walk,” Kapler said. “He swings the bat very frequently and has had a lot of success with that approach over the years. This hitting environment is very good for Jay Bruce, because he puts the ball in the air, and in today’s environment that leads to home runs.
“What I make of him is he’s a very dangerous hitter in today’s environment.”
Kapler didn’t say whether the environment factors in juiced baseballs. But Bruce isn’t the only one thriving in the conditions – his 24 homers at midseason only ties him for 10th best in the National League.
Either way, the Phillies are appreciating the power boost.
“When he hits the ball his best, it’s in the air and it’s with loft,” Kapler said of Bruce. “You’re seeing a lot of those balls go out of the ballpark this year and you’re seeing it go for extra bases.”
Achilles pain or not, Bruce isn’t planning to slow down.
“Before this year I’d never dealt consistently with Achilles soreness, but I never question anything that happens anymore because it’s a crazy game we play,” Bruce said. “We play a lot and I’m just trying to be as proactive as I can with it.
“It’s been fun. It hasn’t really affected my on-field play at all this year. I’ve played a really solid outfield since I’ve been here. I’m happy with the way I’ve been playing defensively and obviously I think that I can continue to get better.” ••• After a one-game hiatus while he was on a paternity leave, J.T. Realmuto was back in the starting lineup Saturday. That meant Andrew Knapp didn’t have to be.
Knapp went 1-for-4 in the series opener Friday ... and that raised his season batting average five full points. All the way to .157.
So it seemed fairly reasonable to ask Kapler if maybe it wasn’t time to send Knapp down to get him more at-bats and maybe bring a little of the offensive talent he showed as a minor leaguer to the fore.
“No, not at all,” Kapler said. “I think (that’s) because of who he’s been in the clubhouse, who he’s been as a teammate ... and because we continue to think that the small sample size that we’ve seen at the major league level is not indicative of Andrew’s true talent. I am fully aware he’s not been productive as an offensive player for us, however, he has a track record of being an offensive threat at the minor league level.”
Meanwhile, the TripleA IronPigs’ top catchers Deivy Grullon and Rob Brantley were both hitting .306. Brantley had been with the Phillies Friday with Realmuto’s absence but was sent down Saturday.
•••
NOTES » Kapler said utility infielder Sean Rodriguez (mild abdominal strain) could be getting an MRI Sunday. ... Adam Haseley was brought back up from Lehigh Valley. ... As for reliever Seranthony Dominguez, he’s “moving in the right direction,” Kapler said. “We have some optimism that he might be able to throw here at some point in the middle of July. Nothing is set in stone.” ... Max Scherzer was put on the 10-day IL Saturday. So Anibal Sanchez will start Sunday against Jake Arrieta.