KANSAS-CITY — When you’re playing against a playoff-caliber team and you get 11 hits, scoring four runs isn’t enough. Still, the Philadelphia Phillies’ offense showed signs of life on Friday night.
But ultimately, they were unable to get out of the hole that their starter Taijuan Walker had put them in, losing 7-4 to the Royals in the series opener.
“It wasn’t good,” Walker said bluntly after the game about his performance. “He didn’t throw the right pitches in the right count… he’s still behind… he allowed the home run ball.”
“It just hasn’t been going well lately, especially because you want to help the team as much as you can,” Walker continued. “Obviously I feel like we’re not playing particularly well, but for me it would be nice if I could help the team back on its feet. I just haven’t really been able to do that, so it’s frustrating.”
Although he said he has probably never felt as good physically as he has in a start this season, Walker allowed eight hits and six earned runs in just three innings on Friday.
In conversation with Walker, manager Rob Thomson and catcher JT Realmuto after the game, a common theme emerged: falling behind and then making up for it by throwing the ball over the middle of the plate is not a recipe for success for the 32-year-old. Or for any pitcher.
In just three innings, Walker allowed nine balls at 95 mph or higher. In 13 starts this season, Walker has an ugly 6.26 ERA. He isn’t even giving the Phillies length, which was his saving grace last season.
After the game, Thomson was non-committal about whether Walker would be in the starting line-up next time as planned.
“We haven’t talked about it yet,” Thomson said.
Since Walker is in the second season of a four-year, $72 million contract, Thomson has limited comment. Unless Walker leaves with an injury tomorrow, President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski and managing partner John Middleton may soon have to make a major decision about the right-hander’s future in the organization.
If Walker does indeed stay in the rotation, what gives Thomson the confidence that the right-hander will get back on track?
“Well, just the jump in speed,” Thomson said. “But you still have to control the ball. And the split was OK. But a lot of times they just take it as soon as they see it and it’s out of the zone. So he has to get it in the zone.”
And what about Walker himself? Why is he still confident he can salvage his season and his tenure with the Phillies?
“I mean, I know I’m better than that,” Walker said. “I’ve proven it before. I just have to keep my confidence and know that it’s going to change and really just trust in my stuff and just attack and really trust in everything I have and know that I’m better than what I’m showing right now.”
Realmuto cited Walker’s hard work between starts as a reason that gives him hope that things will turn around. And that’s always important to remember in discussions like this – don’t assume that just because someone is struggling, they won’t work tirelessly to change that. In nearly two seasons with the Phillies, there was no indication that Walker isn’t a hard worker.
But every athlete’s body eventually reaches its limits. It seems that Walker has reached that point despite his best efforts. It will be interesting to see how the Phillies proceed with him.
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