With power and speed, revamped offense should be fun to watch

There is no question that baseball traditionalists will perceive (or already have perceived) Gabe Kapler’s approach to his new job as much more out of left field than center.

If anything, however, Kapler’s early spring run-up to his first year as a Phillies manager has revealed him to be a man of his word.

It was back in December, while welcoming newly signed Carlos Santana that Kapler re-introduced the idea of multiple players playing multiple positions and hitting in various spots in the lineup.

True to his word, Kapler was a man of several switches during the spring, at one point moving outfielder trainee Tommy Joseph from left to right and non-roster hopeful Collin Cowgill — a better defender in the outfield than Joseph — because Kapler’s analytics sheet showed switch-hitter Victor Reyes of Detroit had more power going to left.

Such is the type of no-movesbarred managing that the numerically inclined Kapler will employ this season. As for multiple players needing to competently play multiple positions ... well, veteran first baseman Joseph and veteran catcher Cam Rupp were both cut loose before the Phils’ final roster was out.

Both would have been defensive liabilities elsewhere. They’re being replaced by players with more flexibility (Santana will play first, but also can be switched to the outfield or third base), and offensive upside (look out for new catcher Jorge Alfaro).

So look for a fresh Phils lineup for the season opener Thursday in Atlanta. But know that at any moment, something could change there... 1. CESAR HERNANDEZ, 2B » He’s impressed with his newly pumped up body, and Hernandez thus is the starter. But that may only be because Scott Kingery can play six or seven positions. If and when Kingery assumes a full-time second base role depends on how easily he can or will take to a utility role, and how often the Phillies need his prodigious bat in the lineup. 2. CARLOS SANTANA, 1B » Joseph is gone, replaced by this $60 million free agent slugger and clubhouse leader. Look for that short fence in right field at Citizens Bank Park to get a lot of leather weather. 3. ODUBEL HERRERA, CF » The man of intrigue and hysterics is back, threatening to be a fulltime .300-plus and run-producing hitter while always entertaining the outfield seat denizens with his sometimes amazing fielding antics. 4. RHYS HOSKINS, LF » If Santana didn’t decide to come here, Hoskins would have moved Joseph at least as far as the bench. Instead, the heroic home run hitting revelation of last August is being asked to find a permanent home in left field, where he didn’t fare badly before. Of course, first base is always an option in a pinch per the flexible thinker Kapler. 5. AARON ALTHERR-NICK WILLIAMS RF» If it comes down to alternating these two in the righty-lefty driven world of baseball, that’s not a bad option. Both are line drive hitters who have and can hit for power. Altherr’s a better defender but Williams is working on it, and Williams has more offensive upside. This is a win-win. 6. MAIKEL FRANCO, 3B » The man who just a couple of years ago projected as a longtime cleanup hitter and Ryan Howard successor almost played his way off the team last season. But Kapler and staff initiated an immediate stance switch that Franco took to very quickly in Clearwater. He may not hit much better for average, but the six homers and 15 RBIs he produced in the Grapefruit League are positive indicators. 7. JORGE ALFARO, C » Yes, he needs work behind the plate. With Rupp waived (and now a free agent), it comes down to second-year man Andrew Knapp to act as mentoring backup catcher. So why will Alfaro start? Because having power through the lineup is an attractive option at the South Philly Bandbox, of course. 8. JAKE ARRIETA-AARON NOLA AND CO. » Yes, Kapler pulled a page from predecessor Pete Mackanin’s book and has shown at least an occasional inclination to hit his pitcher out of the eight hole. Not a bad idea when you consider the No. 9 guy. 9. J.P. CRAWFORD, SS » The Phillies will miss Freddy Galvis’ glove. But only for a while. Crawford, the longtime gem in the minors, is finally ready for the lights of Broad Street. Just one problem: He still has a bottom of the order bat. That projects to change, and Crawford has the kind of speed that can change any game, especially when the top of the order follows him. BENCH » Kingery, who had the best spring of any Phillie, can and will be used almost every day and in every situation. That alone makes their attack better, and if Kingery earns the starting second base spot at some point early in the season, Hernandez can also be a very valuable utility player. Other options in a pinch will include either Altherr or Williams, Knapp and the under-rated veteran Pedro Florimon.

RHP Jake Arrieta, 1B Carlos Santana, RHP Pat Neshek, RHP Tommy Hunter. He’s Outta Here: Manager Pete Mackanin, SS Freddy Galvis, INF Andres Blanco, OF Daniel Nava, OF Hyun Soo Kim, RHP Clay Buchholz, 1B Tommy Joseph. Projected Lineup: 2B Cesar Hernandez (.294, 9 HRs, 34 RBIs, 15 SBs), 1B Carlos Santana (.259, 23, 79 with Indians), CF Odubel Herrera (.281, 14, 56), LF Rhys Hoskins (.259, 18, 48),RF Nick Williams (.288, 12, 55) or Aaron Altherr (.272, 19, 65),3B Maikel Franco (.230, 24, 76), C Jorge Alfaro (.318, 5, 14), SS J.P. Crawford (.214, 0, 6 in 23 games). Rotation: RH Aaron Nola (12-11, 3.54 ERA, 184 Ks), RH Jake Arrieta (14-10, 3.53, 163 Ks with Cubs), RH Vince Velasquez (2-7, 5.13 in 15 starts), RH Nick Pivetta (8-10, 6.02), RH Zach Eflin (1-5, 6.16) or RH Ben Lively (4-7, 4.26). Key Relievers: RH Hector Neris (4-5, 3.01, 26-29 saves), RH Pat Neshek (5-3, 1.59, 1 save with Phillies and Rockies), RH Tommy Hunter (3-5, 2.61, 1 save with Rays), LH Adam Morgan (3-3, 4.12), RH Luis Garcia (2-5, 2.65). Hot Spot: Starting Rotation. There are a lot of question marks beyond Nola, who emerged as a reliable starter in 2017. Arrieta, the former Cubs ace, had a rough first half in 2017 but finished strong. Yet he was a free agent until mid-March. He’s getting paid big bucks to be a No. 1 guy again. Jerad Eickhoff will begin the season on the DL and Velasquez is coming off a disappointing year after showing promise in 2016. Pivetta has upside but needs more maturity. The team has plenty of depth at Triple-A, including several pitchers who have big league experience, in case any of the starters falter or get hurt. Outlook: The decision to sign Arrieta signals the rebuild is over. The Phillies added Santana, Neshek and Hunter to a talented young roster in hopes of being competitive. A month into spring training, they added Arrieta because management thinks it’s time to contend now. The lineup has the potential to be dynamic if the young hitters continue to emerge and Santana does what he did in Cleveland. The bullpen should be formidable with HunterNeshek-Neris at the back end. If Arrieta regains his old form, Nola lives up to his promise and a couple other starters take steps forward, the Phillies can not only end their five-year run of losing seasons but maybe even make a surprise push for a postseason berth.

JOHN RAOUX — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Maikel Franco, a new stance offering him a boost in confidence, has been swinging a powerful bat in the spring with six homers and 15 RBIs. He also hit only .211.