If it feels like the Phillies have been getting burned more than they’ve been helped by defensive shifts so far, you’re not crazy.
It happened again this week in their series against the Marlins. A defensive shift in the outfield directly led to a run-of-the-mill single up the middle turning into a one-out triple in the 10th inning of a game the Phils would lose 2-1.
The speedy Cameron Maybin came to the plate with the bases empty and one out against hard-throwing relief pitcher Yacksel Rios. Rios has routinely been in the mid-to-upper 90s this season, and the Phillies played Maybin to hit the ball the opposite way.