Let’s just get right to it — Otto Kemp and Justin Crawford are carrying this IronPigs lineup, and it’s time for the Phillies to stop overthinking things when it comes to roster decisions.
Otto Kemp is on an absolute heater for the second month in a row.
Otto Kemp in April
97 AB, .330 BA, 8 HR, 24 RBI, .421 OBP, 1.132 OPS
Otto Kemp in May
97 AB, .330 BA, 4 HR, 21 RBI, .426 OBP, .952 OPS
It goes beyond just month-to-month consistency. Across 43 games, Kemp is hitting .324, slugging .606, and owns a 171 WRC+ — which basically means he’s been 71% better than league average at the plate.
He’s also stacking up across all of Minor League Baseball:
- Tied for the MiLB hits lead
- Most total bases in MiLB
- Most extra-base hits in MiLB
Otto Kemp is destroying lefties this season with a .362 BA and 1.230 OPS. That’ll absolutely play — anywhere.
Justin Crawford dominating at the dish
And then there’s Justin Crawford, who is turning into a complete lefty killer. Look at these splits and tell me why he’s not the everyday center fielder at this point.
Justin Crawford vs Lefties
.455 BA, 1.159 OPS
Justin Crawford vs Righties
.306 BA, .758 OPS
This is a 21-year-old slashing .455/.455/.705 against lefties. And I don’t want to hear about BABIP or ground ball rate when the alternative is Weston Wilson.
Wilson should be DFA’d into oblivion yesterday. There is no argument left. The production gap is laughable.
Yes, Crawford has a .424 BABIP with a 64% ground ball rate, and yes, maybe that regresses some at the MLB level.
You know what won’t regress? Wilson’s .000 chance of helping you win games against elite pitching and his inability to play the outfield.
If you’re telling me you’d rather keep running Wilson out there instead of giving Crawford everyday run — especially with how bad the Phillies’ outfield depth looks right now — I don’t know what we’re doing anymore.
The numbers are screaming for it. Kemp is knocking the door down. Crawford is begging to be in Philly. It’s time for the front office to wake up and stop overcomplicating this.
Every day that Crawford isn’t in center field and Kemp isn’t being given a shot to impact this Phillies bench is a missed opportunity.
There’s your argument. There’s the math. Now do the right thing.
