Accountability and the Phillies
Accountability.
It’s a funny word people throw around, with good intentions to get the best out of others, but with no real idea of how to go about accomplishing it.
It’s a word Phillies fans have thrown around much with the team this season. From the players to manager Gabe Kapler, to his various coaches, fans want people held accountable.
And so far, they’ve more or less gotten their wish.
Maikel Franco, who’s had a terrible season, has been sent down to AAA Lehigh Valley twice this season, effectively ending his run as the Phillies’ third baseman of the future.
Nick Pivetta, another massive disappointment, was sent down to AAA last week, also for the second time this season. When asked about it, Kapler said, “I think he’s still really learning 100 percent accountability,” meaning he needs to self-assess and discover why he’s been struggling this year.
Cesar Hernandez was benched for Monday’s opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates for failing to hustle on a long single that should have been a double the day before.
John Mallee was fired as hitting coach for the team’s overall poor offensive performance.
Now the pessimist can say these are just a handful of examples, what about the numerous ones where guys weren’t benched for hustling or poor play? Well, the optimist says you have to start somewhere, and this is a refreshing change from what Philadelphia has been accustomed to with the Phillies the past few seasons.
But there’s one group who is not being held accountable – General Manager Matt Klentak and the rest of the front office.
Klentak was masterful this offseason in constructing an offense that was supposed to be a juggernaut in the National League. He signed two former MVPs in Bryce Harper and Andrew McCutchen. He traded for two more All-Stars in J.T. Realmuto and Jean Segura.
But he completely neglected the pitching staff when everyone knew that it was not good enough to start the season. Instead of trying to bolster the rotation, he was ready to give Vince Velasquez, Zach Eflin, Jerad Eickhoff, Pivetta, and a declining Jake Arrieta more chances. Well, the first four have been shuffled around from the rotation to the ‘pen, and back to the rotation again. And Arrieta’s season is over with a bone spur in his pitching arm.
So when the problem became even more obvious as the season dragged on, it meant it was time to make a move, right?
Wrong.
Dallas Keuchel signed with the division-leading Atlanta Braves for a mere 1-year, $13 million contract. Klentak couldn’t have done that deal? It’s a low risk, high reward kind of deal, and one that makes the contenders stand out above the rest.
At the trade deadline, Klentak opted to trade for Jason Vargas and to sign Drew Smyly. Not that they’re bad pitchers, but they’re not the type of pitchers that are going to make a big difference. Maybe they’re a little better than what the Phillies had at the time, but would you trust a postseason rotation of Aaron Nola, Eflin, Velasquez, Vargas, and Smyly? Neither would I.
Then we can look at the bullpen. Now, the offseason signing of David Robertson was a brilliant one at the time. Klentak can’t be faulted for the season-ending injury he suffered almost immediately after Opening Day. Nor can he be faulted for the injuries to Seranthony Dominguez, Pat Neshek, Tommy Hunter, and others.
And while he’s tried to make up for it with the signings of Blake Parker, Mike Morin, and Jared Hughes, they’re nothing to write home about.
And when you compare it to what the Braves did at the trade deadline, it’s downright embarrassing. Atlanta traded for Chris Martin, Shane Greene, and Mark Melancon.
With moves like that, it’s no wonder why the Braves have the 5th best bullpen ERA in the National League and are leading the Phillies by more than 10 games in the NL East.
The Phillies backup catcher, Andrew Knapp, has been a joke this season. Again, our division rivals, the Atlanta Braves, made a great signing of Francisco Cervelli last week.
It’s moves like that the separate the contenders from the pretenders and Klentak is clearly not in the former category. It almost seems like he’s not thinking outside the box when it comes to making moves. There’s no reason why the Phillies shouldn’t have signed Cervelli.
But is Klentak being held accountable? He was given a 3-year contract extension this offseason, so no.
Now, the Phillies are still in the thick of things in the National League Wild Card. But even if they make the playoffs, this team, with their pitching problems and a short bench, is not good enough to beat the Braves, the Dodgers, the Yankees, or Astros. And while the experience would be good for them, it better be a clear signal to Klentak that he needs to improve the pitching staff this offseason.
There’s still plenty of “stupid money” floating around, and with guys like Gerrit Cole available this offseason, Klentak needs to do what he did to the offense this past offseason. If not, who’s going to hold him accountable?
Featured Image: via Twitter (@Phillies)
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