As we close in on the start of spring training, it’s time for the annual debate about the Philadelphia Phillies’ lineup. Fans and media go through the same discussion every offseason, it seems.<\/p>\n
To be fair, the debate is usually spurred by manager Rob Thomson hinting that he’ll look at his batting order and consider changes. He did it last winter, but ultimately decided to stick with designated hitter Kyle Schwarber at the top of the lineup card for the full season. In fact, the top three, including Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, kept their spots all year when they were healthy.<\/p>\n
Thomson repeated the song and dance this offseason during his end-of-season presser in October, per Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia, musing whether moving his players around could create a more consistent offense. Now, almost four months later, the question is rearing its head again with the Phillies gathering in Clearwater, Florida, starting next week.<\/p>\n
Thomson recently gave insight into his plans for the lineup during an appearance on The Phillies Show podcast. When asked about switching the lineup around and finding a new leadoff hitter, Thomson had only one player in mind.<\/p>\n
“I think you’re you’re probably talking about Trea [Turner],” Thomson said.<\/p>\n
That seems clear enough. However, second baseman Bryson Stott has also been mentioned as a player who would be a good fit for the top of the lineup, even by Thomson himself. That’s a move that doesn’t appear to be in the cards, according to Thomson, and for good reason.<\/p>\n
“The thing is that we’re so left-handed, and you want Harper and you want Schwarber getting as many at-bats as you can,” Thomson said when questioned about Stott leading off. “Now you put Stott in the leadoff spot now you’re really left-handed at the top, and it might create a problem, even if you’re facing a right-hander, everybody’s got three lefties in the ‘pen it seems, and they’ll just start matching up on you.”<\/p>\n
Moving Stott up creates a left-handed deluge, with Schwarber and Harper also needing to stay near the top of the lineup. But Thomson has plans to tinker with different looks during spring training.<\/p>\n
“I think we’ll play with it during spring training and see where it goes, see what the best fit for us is,” Thomson said. “And maybe it’s a situation where if we’re facing a lefty, we do one thing; if we’re facing a righty, we do another thing. Maybe it’s moving Schwarber behind Harper to protect Harper more, which maybe that moves Harper up in the lineup a little bit, not leadoff but maybe two.”<\/p>\n
It sounds like we’ll see some spring lineups in which Turner leads off, followed by Harper and Schwarber. That’s just one iteration, but it’s the one that makes the most sense on paper. Getting Harper one spot higher will give him extra at-bats throughout the season, while Schwarber’s eagle eye and prolific power will offer him the protection he deserves.<\/p>\n
Whatever looks Thomson rolls out over the four-and-a-half-week spring training Grapefruit League schedule, it won’t really matter unless he feels confident enough to incorporate a change when the games start to mean something.<\/p>\n Get ready for the annual debate, with the top of the Phillies’ lineup getting a potential overhaul during spring training.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":31450,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n