Right now, a Phillies game is merely the serene, slow-moving surface of a dramatic frenzy. Going into Saturday nigh’s game against the Marlins, the Phillies were the talk of baseball, namely because of converging narratives involving Nick Williams’ unhappiness and Gabe Kapler’s management of playing time; but don’t forget subplots like the evening’s starter, Velasquez, trying to rebound from a poor 2018 debut and the Mets starting the season 6-1.
Addressing the Willams situation with Scott Franzke pre-game, Kapler said he had a twenty minute “great conversation” with the young outfielder. Williams wasn’t in the lineup.
The good news was, entering play, the Phillies led baseball in pitches seen per at-bat with 4.