Phillies emphasizing hitting to starters

Last season the Phillies had the National League's best offense knocking in 865 runs. This season the Phillies hope to improve on that number. Charlie Manuel isn't worried about Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, or any of the position players; he knows those guys can rake. The concern is how poorly Phillies pitchers hit last season.

Last season the Phillies pitchers had the worst batting average in baseball hitting an impressively awful .092. They finished second to last in sacrifices laying down only 29 successful bunts.

You might now be asking the question, “Who cares?” It’s true that a bunt has never caused Citizen’s Bank Park to erupt with applause, but pitcher hitting is very important. Consider that every time Brett Myers sacrifices Rod Barajas over to second, it gives Jimmy Rollins a chance to knock another run for the Phillies. Over a season that can add up. In addition, if the Phillies pitchers could improve from terrible to mediocre, then Charlie Manuel could keep his pitchers deeper into games instead of having to pinch hit.

Manuel recognizes that pitcher bunting has been a weakness, lamenting, "The whole object of the guys pitching is to move the guy over into scoring position. He can stay longer in the game and it gives you a chance of winning, too. I think that we have lagged in that department, because the workload has been very big and we didn't push it a lot. I think the more we can concentrate on it, the better off we'll be."

The job of turning the Phils hurlers into a group of offensive juggernauts has fallen to new Philllies bench coach Jimy Williams. Williams is a veteran’s veteran who brings to the Phillies a veritable encyclopedia of baseball knowledge. If the Phills hurlers are smart they will listen to Williams and bring the offense to a new level.

Sources:
Williams put to early test
By Michael Radano / Courier-Post

Notes: Hurlers working on bunting skills
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com

Picture of Jimy Williams from usatoday.com