Nick Castellanos didn’t hide his frustration after getting pulled for a defensive replacement in Friday’s win. When asked about dealing with the move, he kept it short: “It’s a big adjustment.” A reporter pressed whether that was difficult. “Yes,” Castellanos replied.
Seems harmless enough, right? Not to Phillies fans who’ve watched this play out before.
The reaction was swift and harsh. “I’m tired of his act,” one fan posted. Another was even more direct: “I can’t wait until he’s gone.”
That’s the thing with Castellanos – he’s built up a track record that makes even mild complaints sound worse than they probably are. Back in June, he really crossed the line when manager Rob Thomson pulled him from a game. That outburst earned him a spot on the bench the next day.
But here’s what makes this whole situation trickier for Castellanos: the numbers back up Thomson’s decision to pull him.
His defense has been brutal this season. Castellanos ranks dead last among qualified major leaguers in Fielding Run Value at minus-12. His Defensive Runs Saved sits at the same ugly number. Both metrics put him in the first percentile – meaning he’s trailing just about everyone else in baseball.
It gets worse. He’s also fourth-worst in Outs Above Average among all qualified players.
The guy replacing him? Harrison Bader, the former Gold Glove winner Philadelphia specifically acquired at the trade deadline for late-game situations exactly like this one.
Thomson’s called Bader “our best defender,” and the numbers support that confidence. Bader ranks in the 87th percentile in Fielding Run Value and 93rd percentile in Outs Above Average. He’s comfortable at all three outfield spots and brings the kind of defensive reliability that matters in tight games.
What makes this different is the timing. With October baseball approaching, fans are wondering if Castellanos’ frustration could become a bigger problem. They’ve seen him push back against Thomson before, and that’s not exactly what you want when every decision matters more.
The way I see it, Castellanos has every right to be frustrated about losing playing time. But when your defense ranks among the worst in baseball and your team just traded for a proven defender to handle these exact situations, the complaints ring hollow.
Thomson’s job is to put his team in the best position to win games that matter. Right now, that means trusting Bader’s glove over Castellanos’ bat in crucial moments.
