An Idea Out of Left Field

With both Raul Ibanez and Matt Stairs struggling right now, the Phillies need to get both on track for the post-season push and beyond. Ibanez, their All-Star left fielder, is the everyday starter and has had a severe power outage since the break. In order to provide the necessary punch and protection for the middle of their order, the Phillies need Raul to get back on track, hitting the ball hard. On the flip side, Matt Stairs is their pinch-hitting extraordinaire, who provides left-handed power off the bench. Without his imposing threat, the Phillies' bench is average at best.

The ways and reasons these two players have struggled since the middle of the season are complete different. Raul Ibanez had a groin problem that forced him to the disabled list. Since that time, he has not hit many balls hard and produced very few runs. Let's take a look at his production from both halves of the season:

Pre-All-Star Break: 64 G, 289 PA, .309 BA, 22 HR, 60 RBI

Post-All-Star Break: 39 G, 156 PA, .220 BA, 5 HR, 19 RBI

Clearly, Ibanez's power outage is cause for some concern. But what is the actual cause? Almost without a doubt, it is his timing, which has suffered due to his inability to pick up pitches out of the pitcher's hand. With this trouble in timing, Ibanez could potentially be compounding his problems by trying to compensate for the lack of vision with some bad mechanical habits at the plate.

But the problem with Matt Stairs has been much different than Ibanez. Stairs has been adjusting to his new role as a full-time pinch hitter all season. To his credit, he has embraced the role and welcomed it. When he was first acquired by the Phillies a year ago, he said that he would pinch hit everyday if he could. Lately, Stairs has had a number of such opportunities with no success:

Pre-All-Star Break: 56 G, 9 GS, 76 PA, .283 BA, 4 HR, 13 RBI

Post-All-Star Break: 23 G, 3 GS, 31 PA, .000 BA, 0 HR, 0 RBI

This is probably the most black-and-white split you will see among major leaguers. Stairs has been hitless since the All-Star Break and has no hits in his last 27 at bats. There is nothing mechanically wrong with Stairs, though, as his approach always has been and always will be to hit home runs. With that big upper-cut swing of his, all Stairs really needs is repetition against big league pitching.

On to the joint solution to get Ibanez and Stairs back on track, simultaneously. After the Giants series this week, in which two tough lefties will pitch (and Ben Francisco will likely get two starts), bench Ibanez for a series. Starting Stairs for four games against the Astros will likely get Stairs about 15-20 plate appearances, which should help him get the repetitions he needs. Meanwhile, Ibanez can clear his head, spend more time watching film and taking extended batting practice, and get a break from the game.

Ideally, Stairs won't hurt the Phillies too much in the field, and even if he doesn't produce too much, it won't be a loss on what Ibanez is producing now. Francisco can serve as the late inning defensive replacement for Stairs, as he will also need to see some more action to stay sharp. At the same time, Ibanez can use some rest, as he prepares for his first playoff action since 2000. When Ibanez returns, hopefully he can have some things figured out. And when Stairs returns to the bench, he will hopefully be poised for his next pinch-hitting assignment.