As the Philadelphia Phillies inch closer to an expected playoff berth for the second consecutive season, J.T. Realmuto continues to struggle.
That must change.
Soon.
Realmuto -- considered by many experts as the best catcher in Major League Baseball – remains in a maddening funk at the plate. He’s still making a major difference defensively.
But he’s not hitting.
If the Phillies harbor aspirations of another deep postseason run culminating with a World Series title, Realmuto must start being an offensive force again.
Realmuto went 0-for-8 Saturday and Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Over his last eight games, he hasn’t registered an extra-base hit or a walk. He’s also in a 4-for-32 slump.
All players go through slumps during the course of a 162-game season.
But you don’t want to be scuffling this badly as the playoffs approach.
"If I had the answer, I'd probably fix it," Realmuto told NBC Sports Philadelphia. "Maybe trying to do too much in those situations, expanding the zone a little bit. I don't really have an answer for it. I just haven't been able to find a groove for a consistent amount of time like I usually do. I've been fighting things back and forth, haven't really gotten on a roll. Hitting is a mentality and confidence thing just as much as anything else and I haven't been able to find my confidence for a consistent amount of time this year.
“The confidence comes when you get hits and barrel the ball up. Even when I've been going good at the plate, I've had a lot of hard outs."
Realmuto’s average has dipped to .248. Just watching him at the plate, it looks like he’s searching for answers.
This has happened before.
The task now is to find a solution.
Maybe choke up further. Maybe lower the leg kick. Maybe shorten his swing.
Realmuto has heard it all.
The high leg kick theory annoys him.
"It's never that. That's a media thing," Realmuto told NBC Sports Philadelphia. "When I've been at my best, my leg kick is usually at its highest. My leg kick changes at-bat to at-bat, swing to swing. It's more of a rhythm thing for me. That's not the issue. I just have to be more consistent and get the barrel on the ball more often."
On Monday, his high leg kick delivered a home run to extend their lead against the Atlanta Braves. Maybe that could be a turnaround for him at the plate.
Philadelphia needs their stellar catcher to be a key contributor, especially offensively. They know it. Realmuto knows it.
Now it’s time to get the job done because the Phillies won’t keep advancing in the playoffs without added production.
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