Philadelphia Phillies Face Strategic Decision Following JT Realmuto’s Injury
BOSTON – Inside the cozy clubhouse of the 112-year-old Fenway Park, there was no place to hide as life without JT Realmuto had to begin. On Tuesday afternoon, Garrett Stubbs set up a small table in the middle of the room amidst the buzz of players, coaches, and journalists. He opened his iPad and displayed colorful heat maps on the table, ignoring the half-empty, cold coffee. He was busy writing with a pen for over 20 minutes.
The best pitching staff in the National League belonged to the guy in striped overalls, not underneath, after a win. «Every time someone goes down, someone gets the ticket,» said Phillies manager, Rob Thomson. «And I expect the same.»
There is no replacing Realmuto, who will undergo knee surgery on Wednesday to repair a small tear in his right meniscus, but the Phillies are trying to handle it strategically. Realmuto is expected to miss «around a month,» said Phillies president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski. The Phillies, if timed correctly, could reach up to five weeks with the All-Star break in mid-July.
The Phillies decided last week that everyone would board a transatlantic flight to London, while Realmuto will undergo surgery. Realmuto agreed that it was time. And he still played in two games overseas while the Phillies brought in another catcher, Raphael Marchand. The 25-year-old Venezuelan spent the weekend observing each pitcher from the bench and discussing strategy with the coaches.
They told Marchand on Sunday before flying to the United States, «Get ready,» they said, «because something will happen soon.» Marchan then found out why the Phillies were so interested in his work over the weekend.
Realmuto played two games in London after agreeing to knee surgery. No baseball position involves less offense than that of a catcher; The Phillies appreciate Realmuto because he can do it all. He can hit for power. He can run. He can squat more innings than almost anyone in this sport. With Stubbs and Marchand, the Phillies are only concerned about defense. Any offensive contributions are a bonus. They can live with this for a month, but not longer.
And with a nine-game lead in the National League East until Tuesday, they felt it was right for their star catcher. Realmuto wanted to see if he could play despite the injury for weeks. The Phillies knew he had a meniscus tear in early May, but doctors told the 33-year-old catcher that he could play as long as he could tolerate the pain.
«Over time, it felt a little better,» said Dombrowski. «We thought maybe he could get through it on his own. But he has constant pain.» Realmuto was open about it. Earlier last week, he told Phillies head coach, Paul Buchheit, how much he was struggling. Buchheit conveyed his recommendations to Dombrowski, who wanted to talk to the catcher before last Wednesday’s long flight.
«It looks like we’re going to have to do it,» Dombrowski told him. «Yes,» said Realmuto. «But, Dave, we can do it whenever you want. I’m ready to play.» They agreed. Ending it now reduces the risk of a catcher being injured for the rest of the season, or knee surgery at a very inconvenient time.
Realmuto had batted .135/.200/.189 since May 25 and hadn’t driven the ball. The knee was likely a factor. The news had begun to filter through the clubhouse that Realmuto was experiencing considerable pain at times. Realmuto’s teammates have often referred to him as the «pillar» of the club, and that description is more fitting in May and June.
«In any case, Realmuto set an example of what the Phillies preach: being reliable and honest. The doctors thought they could manage him and Realmuto prefers that route. He tried. It didn’t work. He didn’t hide that it would be his longest absence in a season since his debut with the Miami Marlins in 2014.
«There have been people working on meniscus tears,» said Dombrowski. «And if anyone could, it would be him. But the situation got very bad.»
The list of players most valuable to the Phillies than Realmuto is not long, as the gap between him and the backups (Stubs and Marchan) is wider than anywhere else on the depth chart. Realmuto is crucial to what the Phillies have done on the mound; he excels in one of the last illegal things: pitch-calling. Both pitchers and coaches have been impressed this season with Realmuto’s game recall and analysis of opposing hitters’ swings. He filters all the different metrics the Phillies use in pre-game planning and mixes them with the feel of the current situation.
As Realmuto’s caddie, Stubbs prepares game plans even on days when he’s not starting. They compare notes. Stubbs usually hangs out in the dugout with Phillies coach, Caleb Cotham. Stubbs is in the big leagues not only because of the concussion, but also because the Phillies trust his behind-the-scenes insight.
He will be tested. Thomson said Stubbs and Marchan could alternate games. Marchand, who said he suffered a minor back injury before spring training that kept him out for over two months, has always been considered a solid defender. He was not blessed with health. His prospects have evaporated. The Phillies believe he can handle a time share behind the plate for a month.
«One thing is that, from a defensive point of view, I feel very good about the reception,» said Dombrowski. «I mean, Marchand is an exceptional defensive forward. He can really pitch. When I talk to our people, over the years they have told me he does very well with a stickman. They love to throw to him. He learns counterpunches. Just like Stubbs.»
The Phillies will look for more depth for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Aramis García is the catcher there and if he gets injured again, he will be the next call. Meanwhile, the Phillies need more offense from other positions on the field. Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh are about to return from their ankle injuries. Marsh is with Double-A Reading this week and should play a game or two at some point. Turner is with the Phillies and will exercise his right to opt out of a minor league rehab assignment. He could return to Baltimore this week, or Monday when the Phillies open at home against the San Diego Padres.
The work behind the plate is to make things as smooth as possible. «The way they played is amazing,» said Marchán. «I want to be part of a winning team and this is the best team for that. We know what we want. We know what the goal is this year. I just want to help them play that way.»
