Sub Stars

Bench players are almost always not given a starting job for a reason – they have a significant flaw in their game that usually involves either an inability to field a position, a lack of offensive ability, or (if you’re a Seattle Mariner) both. Teams just want their reserves to be able to fill a specific role (pinch runner, defensive replacement, etc…) and not completely embarrass themselves when they get put in the game.

For instance, the average in-game substitute compiles a .217/.305/.324 line after entering the game. As a group, reserves don’t hit much – if they did, they’d be starting. But in Philadelphia, it’s a different story – their subs have hit .283/.350/.453 in 183 plate appearances off the bench. That .803 OPS from their subs is 52 percent better than the league average performance, and is one of the reasons the Phillies are surging to the front of the N.L. East.

The shining star of the Phillies fill-ins is Greg Dobbs, who has destroyed the baseball in games he entered but did not start – 19 for 42 with five extra base hits for a .452/.467/.653 mark. That dwarfs Dobbs’ performance as a starter – 13 for 45 with three extra base hits for a .289/.333/.400 mark. This, of course, is just random variation, but it’s interesting random variation.

The Phillies have some big name stars and several former MVPs on their roster, but let’s not overlook the yeoman’s work their bench has done for them this year. Jayson Werth, Chris Coste, and Greg Dobbs have given them all-star caliber performances despite not being handed regular jobs out of spring training, and those guys are the hidden stars on the first place Phillies.