Trea Turner. Kyle Schwarber. Bryce Harper.
Those three, in some order, have taken down the bulk of the plate appearances in the top three spots of the Phillies lineup over the last three seasons. We’ve had plenty of debates on where Schwarber belongs, Turner’s role, and if Harper should be somewhere other than the No. 3 spot.
But the real issue isn't who bats first, second or third.
It’s who bats fourth.
The Phillies, if we keep the top three status quo, don’t have great options. Alec Bohm isn’t a clean up hitter on a championship team. Adolis Garcia hasn’t been that kind of bat for years. J.T. Realmuto's days of profiling as that kind of hitter are long gone. The platoon of Otto Kemp and Brandon Marsh? Please.
Instead, let’s re-imagine this entire thing. I’m willing to go to a place that I haven’t before, including moving a different player into the top four of the order.


