Phillies Notebook: Despite past criticism, Kyle Schwarber still embracing leadoff role

PHILADELPHIA — You would think Kyle Schwarber was accustomed to the attention, the anticipatory vibe coming off a crazed, full-house fanbase that at any moment during his at-bat, something riveting could happen.

Schwarber stoked that fiery feeling again Monday night, taking the first delivery from Arizona starter Zac Gallen deep to right field, the house of nearly 46,000 at Citizens Bank Park roaring in kind. It was a jumpstart to what would be a 5-3 Phillies victory in Game 1 of the NLCS.

It also was another pleasant stab of nervous joy for Schwarber, who with that home run surpassed former Phillie Jimmy Rollins and Yankees all-timer Derek Jeter with his fourth leadoff home run in an MLB postseason game.

“Absolutely I like being able to lead off a game,” Schwarber said. “You’re walking up to the plate, and next thing you know 46,000 people are getting on their feet and ready to rock ‘n’ roll. I think it’s just positive anxiety … where I can’t control anything out on the field anymore.

“I’m just trying to put myself in different scenarios when I’m in the cage. So whenever I am out there, I’m not going to be shocked by any kind of scenario. But it’s definitely anxious. You’re wanting to get out there, wanting to be in front of the fans, get in that box and try to start the game off by getting on base or anything like that.”

Schwarber didn’t quite duplicate it Tuesday night, with Trea Turner doing the first-inning home run honors. But he cranked one just out over the wall in right in the third off Merrill Kelly.

As anyone who follows Phillies news and fan views knows, Schwarber is not exactly your prototypical leadoff guy. He’s far from the hitter Jeter was, can’t flash nearly the speed Rollins did. And despite the rules prohibiting overshifting during the season, he only managed to hit .197. But as his .343 OBP would suggest, Schwarber seems properly cast in the leadoff role with his 126 walks, second in the majors only to Juan Soto.

And then there’s that ultimate Schwarber intangible – he hit 47 home runs during the regular season, 11 of them when leading off a game. At that kind of rate, Rollins’ franchise-leading 46 all-time leadoff homers in a game might fall at some point to a guy who hasn’t been here that long.

“You’re looking to set a tone,” Schwarber said. “If that’s a home run, if it’s a walk, a single, whatever it is, to try to get on base for these guys behind me. Yeah, it’s a really special thing. Those are things I’m not going to forget ever, whenever I’m done playing.”

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Schwarber was followed two batters later in Game 1’s first inning by Bryce Harper, who hit a somewhat more majestic home run into the bullpens in center off Gallen.

Shots like that and the crowd reaction turn Schwarber into more of a fan than fellow star attraction.

“I mean, everyone went nuts. This guy, he is looking for the moment, and he wants it,” Schwarber said of Harper. “He’s doing such an unbelievable job for us. Talking about when he is going up to the plate, you are just thinking that he is going to do something special every single time. Can that be unfair to have an expectation on a player? Sure. But that’s what everyone is thinking when you’re in the dugout: ‘Man, what’s this guy going to do next?’”

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Matt Strahm earned a large measure of respect from everyone with his ability to escape the ninth-inning jam he was handed last Thursday in Game 4 of the NLDS. After reliever Greg Soto left after putting runners at the corners with no outs, Strahm was a surprise call, and he came in got three straight outs to eliminate the Braves.

“I’m not a starter. I’m not a back end guy. I’m just a pitcher,” Strahm said. “When the phone rang and it was me, it’s just get the outs until the ball is no longer in your hands. … It’s just you’ve got to get an out. That’s the way this game goes.”

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NOTES >> Thomson said either Taijuan Walker or Cristopher Sanchez will be the Game 4 starter Friday in Arizona, and that both are available out of the bullpen for now. … D-Backs manager Torrey Lovullo said he’d start righty Brandon Pfaadt against Ranger Suarez in Game 3 Thursday. … D-Backs bullpen guy Kevin Ginkel on dealing with Phillies fans: “They get on you if you’re not performing, but then they’re your best friend when you are performing. Warming up in the bullpen, you hear the jeers, you hear the crowd and stuff, so it’s just special.”

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