Phillies are 4-0 since changing hitting coaches and 'of course, Charlie's had an impact'

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article_body => "Baseball is a game most accurately measured over the long haul, not in short snippets. So we probably won\u2019t know for a couple of weeks or more exactly what impact Charlie Manuel is having on the Phillies\u2019 offense.<\/p>\nBut with nothing but a short snippet to work with thus far, we can definitely say this:<\/p>\nSo far, so great.<\/p>\nTake it from sizzling J.T. Realmuto.<\/p>\n\u201cOf course, Charlie's had an impact,\u201d Realmuto said after the Phillies slugged their way past the San Diego Padres, 8-4, at Citizens Bank Park on Friday night.<\/p>\n\u201cJust having him in the dugout, being able to walk by him and have him say something as simple as, \u2018Hey, stay short.\u2019 He's a guy that everybody in this clubhouse looks up to so we're definitely glad to have him.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Phillies have matched a season-high with four straight wins, all on this homestand, and all coinciding with the dismissal of hitting coach John Mallee and the insertion of Manuel into that role.<\/p>\nOfficially, Manuel has been in the dugout for three games. In those three games, the Phils have pounded out 35 hits, including seven homers and eight doubles, and scored 26 runs.<\/p>\nNot bad for a club that went 2-5 on its most recent road trip, scored one or zero runs in three of the five losses and was the victim of a one-hitter and a three-hitter.<\/p>\n\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of confidence and looseness in our at-bats,\u201d manager Gabe Kapler said. \u201cWe\u2019re not forcing it right now. There\u2019s not a whole lot of pressing going on. I think guys are just in an easy state of mind.\u201d<\/p>\nHow much of that has to do with Manuel\u2019s arrival?<\/p>\n\u201cI think Charlie has done a great job of keeping it loose,\u201d Kapler said. \u201cHe\u2019s great to talk to. He\u2019s got an incredible demeanor. It\u2019s always nice to look over and see him in the dugout with us. He\u2019s a real calming presence and I think he\u2019s only had a positive impact.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Phils had 12 hits, including homers by Realmuto, Bryce Harper and Roman Quinn, in Friday\u2019s night win. The victory put the Phils in a tie with the Chicago Cubs for the second NL wild card spot. Both teams are 64-58. The Phillies took three from the Cubs earlier this week, capped by Thursday night\u2019s wild 7-5 win in which Harper clubbed a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth.<\/p>\nHarper hit a three-run homer to put the game out of reach Friday night. He has seven homers and 17 RBIs over his last nine games. Harper is up to 90 RBIs, putting him in the top 10 in the NL.<\/p>\n\u201cIt's a lot of fun to watch from this side,\u201d Realmuto said. \u201cI've seen it a lot from the other side (when he was with the Marlins) in recent years. When Bryce gets hot, he's one of the most exciting players to watch, as you guys are seeing right now.<\/p>\n\u201cThese last four nights have been a ton of fun, really. Kind of putting our tough stretch behind us and going out there, we have a lot more confidence than we've had in the past couple weeks so it makes for more fun baseball and that's when you win. You go out there and you have fun, let loose a little bit, you enjoy the crowd. Obviously, they're into it. They've been a blast for us the last four games so we're just riding that emotion, just got to keep going.\u201d<\/p>\nRealmuto is as hot as Harper. He had a homer, a double and a single and is hitting .313 (51 for 163) with 16 doubles, 8 homers and 29 RBIs over his last 44 games.<\/p>\n\u201cWe\u2019ve talked about our offense and how when guys clicked together it could be the catalyst to win a lot of baseball games,\u201d Kapler said. \u201cAnd I think we're seeing that Bryce and J.T. can carry us, but we\u2019re also getting contributions up and down the lineup.\u201d<\/p>\nIf Rhys Hoskins can get going when he returns to the lineup \u2014 he did not start because of a sore hand Friday night, but will be ready to start Saturday \u2014 the Phillies could have three hot hitters. And they could use even more than that because if they\u2019re going to make a run over the final 40 games, they will need to out-hit other clubs. The pitching is just too suspect to carry this team.<\/p>\nNonetheless, the Phillies got a good start from Vince Velasquez on Friday night. He pitched shutout ball through the first five innings before being bitten by the dreaded third-time-through-the-lineup bug.<\/p>\nVelasquez needs to continue to deliver good starts to keep the Phillies in this thing. Ditto for the rest of the rotation. Zach Eflin returns to the rotation on Saturday. He has stretches where he pitched well for a month. The Phillies could certainly use one right now.<\/p>\n\u201cWhat we need is quality starts,\u201d Kapler said. \u201cWe\u2019re not looking for eight innings and zeroes every night. What we\u2019re looking for is to be in games. If we\u2019re in games, we have the kind of offense that can win those games, so we just want very competitive starts from our starters. We feel confident that Zach can help us compete (Saturday night).\u201d<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb788a3d5b83?site_id=Web_NBCS_Philly&creative_id=nbcsphi1356&cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&cp_1=washington&cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&cp_3=nbcsphi1356\">Click here<\/a> to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\">More on the Phillies<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/no-turning-power-bryce-harper-phillies-slug-mlb-playoff-position\">No turning off the power as Harper, Phillies slug into playoff position<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/yard-podcast-run-phillies-fans-have-been-waiting-all-year\">At The Yard: Is this the run Phillies fans have been waiting for all year?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/heres-proof-bryce-harper-has-been-mlbs-most-clutch-hitter-2019\">Here's the proof that Harper has been MLB's most clutch hitter in 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/fan-video-watch-bryce-harpers-walk-grand-slam-seen-right-field-stands\">Watch Harper's walk-off grand slam as seen from the right field stands<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/bryce-harper-almost-tackling-charlie-manuel-after-his-grand-slam-was-best\">Harper almost tackling Manuel after his grand slam was the best<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Phillies

Baseball is a game most accurately measured over the long haul, not in short snippets. So we probably won’t know for a couple of weeks or more exactly what impact Charlie Manuel is having on the Phillies’ offense.

But with nothing but a short snippet to work with thus far, we can definitely say this:

So far, so great.

Take it from sizzling J.T. Realmuto.

“Of course, Charlie's had an impact,” Realmuto said after the Phillies slugged their way past the San Diego Padres, 8-4, at Citizens Bank Park on Friday night.

“Just having him in the dugout, being able to walk by him and have him say something as simple as, ‘Hey, stay short.’ He's a guy that everybody in this clubhouse looks up to so we're definitely glad to have him.”

The Phillies have matched a season-high with four straight wins, all on this homestand, and all coinciding with the dismissal of hitting coach John Mallee and the insertion of Manuel into that role.

Officially, Manuel has been in the dugout for three games. In those three games, the Phils have pounded out 35 hits, including seven homers and eight doubles, and scored 26 runs.

Not bad for a club that went 2-5 on its most recent road trip, scored one or zero runs in three of the five losses and was the victim of a one-hitter and a three-hitter.

“There’s a lot of confidence and looseness in our at-bats,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “We’re not forcing it right now. There’s not a whole lot of pressing going on. I think guys are just in an easy state of mind.”

How much of that has to do with Manuel’s arrival?

“I think Charlie has done a great job of keeping it loose,” Kapler said. “He’s great to talk to. He’s got an incredible demeanor. It’s always nice to look over and see him in the dugout with us. He’s a real calming presence and I think he’s only had a positive impact.”

The Phils had 12 hits, including homers by Realmuto, Bryce Harper and Roman Quinn, in Friday’s night win. The victory put the Phils in a tie with the Chicago Cubs for the second NL wild card spot. Both teams are 64-58. The Phillies took three from the Cubs earlier this week, capped by Thursday night’s wild 7-5 win in which Harper clubbed a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the ninth.

Harper hit a three-run homer to put the game out of reach Friday night. He has seven homers and 17 RBIs over his last nine games. Harper is up to 90 RBIs, putting him in the top 10 in the NL.

“It's a lot of fun to watch from this side,” Realmuto said. “I've seen it a lot from the other side (when he was with the Marlins) in recent years. When Bryce gets hot, he's one of the most exciting players to watch, as you guys are seeing right now.

“These last four nights have been a ton of fun, really. Kind of putting our tough stretch behind us and going out there, we have a lot more confidence than we've had in the past couple weeks so it makes for more fun baseball and that's when you win. You go out there and you have fun, let loose a little bit, you enjoy the crowd. Obviously, they're into it. They've been a blast for us the last four games so we're just riding that emotion, just got to keep going.”

Realmuto is as hot as Harper. He had a homer, a double and a single and is hitting .313 (51 for 163) with 16 doubles, 8 homers and 29 RBIs over his last 44 games.

“We’ve talked about our offense and how when guys clicked together it could be the catalyst to win a lot of baseball games,” Kapler said. “And I think we're seeing that Bryce and J.T. can carry us, but we’re also getting contributions up and down the lineup.”

If Rhys Hoskins can get going when he returns to the lineup — he did not start because of a sore hand Friday night, but will be ready to start Saturday — the Phillies could have three hot hitters. And they could use even more than that because if they’re going to make a run over the final 40 games, they will need to out-hit other clubs. The pitching is just too suspect to carry this team.

Nonetheless, the Phillies got a good start from Vince Velasquez on Friday night. He pitched shutout ball through the first five innings before being bitten by the dreaded third-time-through-the-lineup bug.

Velasquez needs to continue to deliver good starts to keep the Phillies in this thing. Ditto for the rest of the rotation. Zach Eflin returns to the rotation on Saturday. He has stretches where he pitched well for a month. The Phillies could certainly use one right now.

“What we need is quality starts,” Kapler said. “We’re not looking for eight innings and zeroes every night. What we’re looking for is to be in games. If we’re in games, we have the kind of offense that can win those games, so we just want very competitive starts from our starters. We feel confident that Zach can help us compete (Saturday night).”

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