PHILADELPHIA — Max Kepler paid back his teammates and all intra-clubhouse supporters Saturday, launching one high and deep to right field in the eighth inning, taking what had looked like a game bound for extra innings to a 3-2 Phillies victory.
The Berlin-born Kepler, 32, a heralded free agent signee from the Twins, had seen his average dip to .211 during a recent slump. It was only recently that he was giving signs of change.
Before Saturday’s game, Phils manager Rob Thomson said he was encouraged by some of Kepler’s at bats of late, saying, “he gets hot and cold every once in a while but for the most part now he’s been getting the ball up in the air a little bit and showing some slug.”
That’s precisely what Kepler did with one out in the eighth against Toronto reliever Chad Green, turning on a pitch and blasting it high into the seats. But Kepler claims he hasn’t intentionally been trying to get under the ball more often.
“I’m just trying to take healthy hacks until I get to two strikes,” Kepler said. “In BP and in the cages, I work on just driving the ball. I wouldn’t say I’m working on launch (angle) or anything, I just try to hit the ball hard and square it up.
“I think I’m starting to see the ball better. It’s just be patient and continue to believe in my swing, and not worry if it’s going to fool me or make it look like I’m way out front. I just commit to my swing and get it off.”
That and starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez worked well enough to give the Phillies their fourth win in five starts. It also was part of Kepler’s larger plan for the sellout crowd 43,711 in South Philadelphia trying to make it home through other politically well-intentioned crowds in “No Kings” demonstrations.
“I just wanted to get everyone out of here on time and home safely with all the stuff going on,” Kepler said. “There are some roads blocked off in my neighborhood. So hopefully I can get back in there and see my loved one.”
Not that he doesn’t have that luxury around the ballpark. If it takes a village to change the world or his baseball fortunes, Kepler has one.
“Baseball comes with a lot of doubt. It’s a mental game,” Kepler said. “You fail, as you know, the majority of the time. So if you tend to overthink, like me, it can sometimes spiral a little bit and you can find a dark place. But as of right now I’m leaning on my guys on this team that really uplift me, from the staff to the players to everyone around it. … I’m just looking forward, and believing in my work off the field and believing in myself.”
And who exactly has been most helpful to him in that effort?
“They’re numerous,” he said. “It would take me a while to name them all. There’s a lot. I mean, go down the line, from coaches to players to guys on the training staff to guys in the kitchen, you know? It’s great.”
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Thomson noted before the game J.T. Realmuto’s recent offensive upswing, not surprisingly indicating it had everything to do with Realmuto’s left-leg-lift to start the swing.
“Timing,” Thomson said. “He’s got the leg kick and he’s really comfortable with it. He’s had a lot of success with it. But usually if he’s not going good, it’s the leg kick and it’s timing. It’s difficult sometimes.
“(It’s) the height of it,” Thomson added about the Realmuto kick. “Sometimes it gets bigger than what he wants, he doesn’t land at the right time and it throws his entire swing off.”
Realmuto’s batting average had fallen to .222 after a 17-7 loss to the Brewers on May 31. He had gotten it back up to .241 heading into the game Saturday.
But his numbers against left-handed pitching this season has been the real head-shaking story. In 74 plate appearances against lefties thus far, Realmuto is slashing .129/.176/.171 … and that’s with the recent improvement.
Not surprisingly, the Phils’ starting catcher has started against lefties only 20 times out of 70 games.
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NOTES >> With the rain before the game, Bryce Harper and almost everybody else stayed in the clubhouse. Thus, when asked about a daily update on Harper’s progress on his elbow rehab, Thomson said, “Couldn’t get anything done on the field today, so he’s just moving around in the weight room: strength and conditioning.” Harper was hit on the right elbow by a Spencer Strider fastball back on May 27. He was out of action with what X-rays say is only a bruise, until a series in Toronto starting June 3. He had a hit, two walks and two runs scored that day, but went 0-for-8 the rest of the way in that series, then went on the IL. … Sanchez has now allowed three or fewer earned runs in 13 of his 14 starts.
Source: Berkshire mont
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