The Phillies' Trades After 15 Games

On July 31, the Phillies gutted their starting outfield by trading away Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence. There have been 15 games since then - how are the trades working out?

The basic answer to that question is that not much at all has changed with the trades. The Phillies were 8-7 in the 15 games before the trade. They've played slightly better ball in the 15 after, going 9-6. Even though the Phillies have won at a slightly improved clip, their offensive production since the trades has been down. They scored 60 runs in the 15 games before the trade, while scoring only 50 after the trade. The team has improved its run prevention in the 15 post-trade games, giving up only 52 runs in the most recent 15 games while giving up 69 in the last 15 games of the Victorino-Pence era.

The drop in runs scored is not surprising, as giving up two of the team's major run producers certainly hurts. To the extent the difference in this 15 game comparison is related to the trades, it's all about Victorino, not Pence. The Phillies weren't getting much from right field in Pence's last days. Right field production for the Phillies was at just .167/.219/.217 in the last 15 games. Since the trades, the position has improved slightly, though it's still pretty abysmal - .232/.279/.304.

It's center field where the real difference appears. In the 15 games prior to the trades, the Phillies received a .367/.406/.600 line from center field. Since the trades, the position has produced just a .218/.283/.345 line. That's a big drop in production.

Overall, though, the team's offensive line isn't that different in the two 15 game samples. Yes, the pre-trade 15 games produced 10 more runs, but the triple-slash line is almost identical - .229/.300/.384 before the trades and .226/.296/.378 after the trades. Whatever loss the team has had in center field has been compensated for in the rest of the lineup.

How about Victorino and Pence themselves? Well, the change of scenery hasn't helped either player. Victorino has been with the Dodgers for 13 games (the team has gone 9-4). He was on fire in the 13 games right before he was traded, hitting .383/.431/.596. Since the trade, he's been much more mediocre - posting a .298/.344/.439 line.

Pence, who was struggling with the Phillies right before the trade, has continued doing so with his new team. His Giants have played 15 games with him (going 8-7). In his 15 pre-trade Phillies games, Pence hit .177/.212/.290. With the Giants, he's done no better - .190/.242/.241.

Obviously, there's a lot more baseball that has to be played before evaluating what the impact of Victorino and Pence leaving is on the Phillies. But, so far, the Phillies are no worse for the wear.