Frustration is mounting with the Phillies’ offense.
It sounds like Joe Girardi is ready to take a look at someone new in the leadoff spot.
And you have to wonder if the team is getting ready for Act 4 in center field.
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The Phillies had plenty of chances to win Monday night’s ballgame against Gabe Kapler’s San Francisco Giants, but came up small with runners on base time after time in suffering a 2-0 loss at Citizens Bank Park.
How small?
How does 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position sound?
The Phils left 11 men on base, mostly against right-hander Kevin Gausman, who pitched six scoreless innings for the Giants. Bryce Harper had three of the Phillies’ seven hits. All were singles. Jean Segura’s 200th career double was the team’s only extra-base hit.
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The Phils, now 8-8, have scored three of fewer runs in five of the last seven games and just six runs in the last three.
They are getting woeful production for the leadoff spot and from center field.
In fact, the Phillies have not gotten a hit from that day’s starting centerfielder in 13 games – or since April 4, the third game of the season. No team has ever gone that long without a hit from that day’s starting centerfielder, at least since records started being kept in 1906. The 1965 Chicago Cubs went 12 games without a hit from that day's starting centerfielder. Now, the Phils own the record.
Mickey Moniak started in center field Monday night and went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. He is 0 for 12 with eight strikeouts in four games since being added last week.
Overall, Phillies centerfielders are hitting .089 (5 for 56) on the season with a .203 on-base percentage and a .107 slugging percentage.
“Well, we’re not happy with what’s going on,” Girardi said. “We’re on our third centerfielder in a sense. Mickey’s getting a chance and we’ll continue to give him a chance. I know they’re all capable of hitting at a much higher clip, they’re just not doing it for whatever reason. But we need someone to be somewhat productive out there.”
Roman Quinn, the other half of the centerfield position, is 1 for 23 (.043) with a .241 on-base percentage. Adam Haseley, who opened the season sharing the position with Quinn, has taken a leave from the team.
If things don’t turn around in centerfield, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski will make changes. Maybe he’ll bring Odubel Herrera up. Maybe he’ll make a trade.
“Yes, I am concerned about a lack of production in center field,” Dombrowski said before the game. “We need more production out of the position, there's no question about it. We haven't gotten the offensive production we need.
“Right now, Mickey's getting the opportunity; I'm sure that he will play against right-handed pitching. We also then have other alternatives we could choose at Triple A.
“But you also are always open-minded. Nobody is doing the job at that particular moment, you have to keep your mind open to what other opportunities are outside the organization. We haven't reached that point yet, but you’ve always got your mind open to that. But you also have to make sure if you're making moves that they're going to be what you consider an upgrade to your situation.
“Hopefully it'll come from within at this point. If they don't get going, we do have Herrera and we have (Scott) Kingery at Triple A, and we'll see how they're doing at that time.”
Leadoff man Andrew McCutchen went 0 for 4 with a walk Monday night. His batting average is down to .157 (8 for 51) and his on-base percentage is just .306.
Girardi said he might make a change at leadoff Tuesday night.
“I might do something a little bit different,” he said.
Segura, hitting .345 with a .371 on-base percentage, would seem to be a candidate for a look at the top of the batting order. He doesn’t walk a lot, but he is hitting and few others are. The Phillies’ team batting average is just .234. Surprisingly, that's middle of the pack in the majors.
“We need more production and these guys are capable of more production,” Girardi said. “I see averages are down around all of the league and there are some numbers that are shocking to me. I think we’re a little bit shocked by some of our numbers, but we can turn it around tomorrow. That’s the great thing about this game. We get a chance to do it tomorrow.”
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