This is a preview of the Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter, an e-mail newsletter about all things baseball, featuring analysis and opinion about the game on and off the field from the perspective of the informed outsider.
You can subscribe to the newsletter for one year for $79.95
using your PayPal account or major credit card. (Zelle users, please email me for details.)
--
The Phillies have earned their 8-17 record by having a bottom-five offense and, quietly, a miserable defense: last in Outs Above Average, 26th in Defensive Runs Saved. Even with Harper and Schwarber hitting, the Phillies’ position players are third-worst in baseball by FanGraphs WAR. They’ve allowed the highest batting average in baseball on grounders (.294), and the highest BABIP on fly balls by so much it looks like a floating-point error.
Phly Balls Phind Phield (BABIP allowed on fly balls, 2026)
BABIP
Phillies .191
Astros .136
Mets .126
Tigers .123
Red Sox .123
