"I personally think we get ourselves out" - Trea Turner opens up on the Phillies’ disappointing offense after struggling against the Mets
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner feels the team was responsible for its downfall after losing the National League Division Series to the New York Mets on Wednesday night. Turner lamented the Phillies' mediocre offensive performance from the Phillies lineup during the series and believes they would have been eliminated regardless of who they faced as they were struggling badly at the plate.
The Phillies ran away with the NL East title after an outstanding first half of the season. But they were hardly at their best following the All-Star break and finished with a 33-33 record down the stretch. Therefore, the Phillies batters did not carry a lot of momentum heading into the postseason, especially with the five-day interval between the end of the regular season and the start of the division series.
Trea Turner gave an interview to NBC Sports Philadelphia in the Phillies dressing room after their 4-1 loss to the Mets in Game 4 of the NLDS.
"I personally think we got ourselves out," Turner said. "I don't think it matters who's on the mound. I know I feel that way personally. I would think a lot of guys in this room feel that way as well.
"Hitting is very tough and it's very easy to sit in the dugout and say, 'don't swing at this pitch,' or 'do this or do that.' We say it all the time; it's so easy from here when we are in the dugout and someone else is hitting, we say it.
"But, when you are in the box and there's a guy on the other side throwing 95 miles an hour, [you've got] all sorts of things going on," he added. "It's easy to say do this or do that. But when you're in the box, you've got to make a decision about how you are going to compete," he added.
Trea Turner had an abysmal NLDS against the Mets, going 3-15 with two walks. He batted .200/.294/.200 over the four games without racking up any home runs, RBIs, or extra-base hits.
We have a great lineup: Trea Turner
Making its third straight appearance in the playoffs, the Phillies were one of the leading contenders for the NL pennant. The Phillies possessed a lineup featuring Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos that was further backed up by a rugged and reliable starting rotation.
Yet Trea Turner was not the only Phillies hitter who struggled in the NLDS. They scored just 12 runs in the four games, with more than half of those being recorded in one game alone. Meanwhile, the entire Phillies lineup batted just .186/.295/.302 against the Mets, with a mere eight extra-base hits and three home runs.
"I think we have a great lineup and great offensive players," Turner said. "And I think, honestly, we got ourselves out."
It remains to be seen whether the Phillies front office decides to persist with this explosive but slightly aging offensive lineup after another heartbreaking end to their postseason campaign.