The Philadelphia Phillies are below .500 with a 20-23 record and 6.5 games back of the division-leading Atlanta Braves. They’ve lost five of their last 10 games.
The Phillies are struggling and there are problems with the offense and one of them is named Kyle Schwarber.
I like Kyle Schwarber. He’s a good guy and I am rooting for him, but I am not happy with his play.
Currently, Schwarber is batting .175 with 10 home runs, 19 RBIs, 27 walks and 54 strikeouts in 154 at bats. Those numbers are not good.
When manager Rob Thompson put Schwarber in the leadoff spot for a four-game stretch at the beginning of May, I did not agree with the move.
I like a lead-off hitter who makes contact and has speed on the base paths. I am old school, when it comes to the batting order.
During that that four-game stretch in the leadoff spot, Schwarber went 0-for-19 with seven strikeouts and no walks. His batting average dropped to an awful .183.
In his last seven games, Schwarber has two home runs and three RBIs and a .125 batting average. He strikes out a lot. Just 43 games in, he’s already at a quarter of last year’s 200, with a total of 54.
While his offense has been bad, Schwarber’s fielding is also part of the problem. He’s not a left fielder.
He’s a full-timee outfielder, as the Phillies wait for the return of Bryce Harper in the field. Schwarber is incredibly slow and has missed some key defensive opportunities.
June is usually the month that Schwarber heats up, so hopefully that happens again this year. I am a fan of Schwarber, but the Phillies need better offensive production out of him.
Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber. Photo courtsey of Call To The Pen
