Failed bunt derails the momentum in a ‘tough’ loss
PHILADELPHIA » You can’t have the momentum going for you much better than the Phillies did late Saturday night, a seven-run comeback on the verge of being polished into a mini-miracle victory, which would have been their fourth in a row.
Cameron Rupp’s no-out, threerun home run in the eighth inning had somehow leveled the score, then Cameron Perkins singled to put the go-ahead runner on.
It was at that point that Pete Mackanin managed with an ageold doctrine of bunting to move that go-ahead runner over, something that in the past decade or several has devolved into a notso-bright strategy for one reason: Players really can’t bunt anymore.
And so Cesar Hernandez, whose two-run homer had keyed a four-run seventh inning to bring the Phils back into the game, was told to bunt Perkins to second. On an inside pitch he only bunted the ball straight up, and for some reason, Perkins made for second base anyway, making for an easy double play.
That turnaround moment would key this 9-8 Brewers victory Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park, which Mackanin rightly termed, “a tough one to take.”
But he wasn’t about to take any blame for signaling for a bunt in that situation.
“Cesar hit the home run (in the seventh), but he doesn’t do that very often,” Mackanin said. “Cesar’s got to be able to bunt. He’s got to be able to get the bunt down. That’s why I did it.”
Yes, logic would dictate that professional baseball players should know how to bunt. But logic went out the window on that issue years ago.
As for running to second in a sacrifice situation? Well, that’s another matter. That’s why Mackanin showed some quick anger in the dugout toward base-runner Perkins after that disastrous bunting try.
“He misinterpreted the sign,” Mackanin said of Perkins, who has only been with the Phils for about a month. “He thought it was a hit-and-run. It happens.”
But comebacks from 8-1 deficits don’t happen very often, which was why Mackanin was obviously down afterward.
“We got the momentum back ... made up that 8-1 deficit,” he said. “So it’s tough to take tonight.”
*** Mackanin said outfielder Aaron Altherr, who has been out with a hamstring pull, is back to being nearly ready to return.
This just a few days after reports that Altherr was hurt worse than previously thought, and could be facing an absence of three to four months. Not now.
“As soon as he gets off the DL,” Mackanin said, “I think he’ll be ready to go.”
Altherr had suffered the injury July 14 in a game against the Brewers in Milwaukee. Mackanin said he didn’t think it was serious, but may have been taken a bit back later when the Phillies announced the hamstring strain could keep Altherr sidelined nearly a month.
According to Mackanin, that timeframe has changed. Again. He said Altherr, who is hitting .288 with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs, could be available early next week while the Phillies continue their homestand against Houston.
“I made a comment that I thought it was not that bad, but then they said three or four weeks. Now it’s back to not that bad,” Mackanin said. “So I made a mistake, but I found out I was right.”
Altherr’s return would further complicate the Phillies’ crowded outfield situation. Unless trade bait veterans Howie Kendrick and Daniel Nava are moved, Altherr’s addition would leave the Phillies with five outfielders, all of whom warrant playing time.
*** If roster spots open up due to one or a flurry of Phillies trades prior to the July 31 deadline, Mackanin would have a preference on call-ups to fill the spots.
“One guy I’d like to see is (Jesen) Therrien. We saw him in the spring and I really liked his breaking ball,” Mackanin said of the Lehigh Valley reliever. “He pitched very well in the spring — and I know it’s (only) spring training — but he wasn’t nervous, he wasn’t scared.”
Therrien, 24, is a hard-throwing right-hander who closed earlier in the season in Reading. Promoted to Triple-A, the 6-foot2, 200-pound Montreal native had fashioned a 1.75 ERA in 25.2 innings over 16 appearances through Friday.
“I know he’s pitching well,” Mackanin him.”
He added that there would also be a possibility for a recall for reliever Edubray Ramos, who since being demoted in late June is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA with the Pigs in nine outings.
Then there are position prospects, which Mackanin was less clear on. But he did comment on better-known IronPigs prospects who will eventually get their MLB shots.
On outfielder Dylan Cozens, who was the co-leader in the International League with 22 home runs through Friday:
“He’s hit some home runs, and driven in some runs,” Mackanin said. “I think he’s going to be a heck of a hitter with power. He strikes out an awful lot but I’d still like to see him. I’d like to see what he does up here. I’m not politicking for him, but I would like to see him.”
On top catching prospect Jorge Alfaro, Mackanin was less positive.
“I look at the numbers and, you know, statistics mean something,” Mackanin said. “If you’re hitting in the .240s, that doesn’t said. “I’d like to see warrant a promotion to the big leagues. He’s young enough and he’s got enough tools to where I’m hoping he has a real good second half or whatever they have left, and improves the batting average and we get reports that he’s improved defensively. He’s just been inconsistent.”
*** NOTES » Odubel Herrera continued to light it up at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a home run and two doubles. Since May 31, Herrera has raised his batting average from .218 to .270. His 31 doubles is a career high. “He’s hard to figure out,” Mackanin said. “He goes into those little spells where he doesn’t really have plate discipline, and then all of a sudden he comes out of it. When he’s hot, he’s really hot.” ... Jeremy Hellickson, he of the would-be trade bait club, isn’t making GM Matt Klentak’s job easy. Hellickson was lit up again, allowing six earned runs over just five innings in a no-decision night . ... Taking the loss and deservedly so was Hector Neris, who gave up a run in the ninth after that ugly bunt play gave up the Phils’ best chance to win.