While Bohm seeks a breakthrough, the Phillies' “selfless baseball” advocated by Schwarber offers a path

NEW YORK – Alec Bohm stepped onto the turf at Citi Field on Monday afternoon wearing a white “Rocket Man” shirt, courtesy of his teammate Kody Clemens. The Phillies bench player, of course, has a famous father, and he once pitched eight scoreless innings (and a bat split) with the New York Mets in the World Series. It was a subtle wink to this relaxed day of training.

Boehm smiled. He completed infield training with his teammates. He participated in full batting practice on the field. He will be at third base in Game 3 of this National League Division Series after the Phillies benched him in Game 2.

He radiated a different energy than he did on Sunday afternoon. Before the game that day, as many of the Phillies' infielders were fielding grounders, Bohm strolled to shallow right field. He sat on the grass and had a long chat with Andy Abad, a Phillies minor league outfield coordinator who has been with the big league team for a month. Bohm entered Game 2 as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. He saw three pitches in two at-bats. He jumped out twice.

Bohm seemed desperate.

“I mean, I already passed,” Bohm said Monday afternoon. “It’s not about me, it’s about winning baseball games. I’ve already forgotten all about that.”

But it's not hard to see the cracks in the foundation. This is a pivotal moment for Bohm, an All-Star third baseman who was the club's top run producer for months this season. He's been slumping over the last few months, struggling with an injured hand, and is a complete unknown this October.

“I think,” said manager Rob Thomson, “he’s in a good position.”

When Thomson Bohm subbed in Edmundo Sosa, a righty hitter who had struggled against righty pitchers all year, in Game 2, the manager cited the need for more energy. This wasn't an indictment of his lineup; The point was that Bohm's recent frustration had seeped into his game. It's one thing to pop a helmet. It's another thing to carry a defeatist mindset into later attacks.

“It’s just the timing of everything,” Bohm said. “You know, it’s not June, so everyone notices. 'Oh, this guy doesn't hit.'”

Maybe yes. But timing is important.

Alec Bohm showed his frustration as he struggled at the plate after returning from the injured list in September. (Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images)

Kyle Schwarber, one of the few players in the Phillies' clubhouse who can claim to have won a World Series, has talked for years about postseason baseball being the purest form of the sport. The individual numbers on the scoreboard are meaningless. You don't play for personal stats. No one will remember what Bohm hit if the Phillies win a championship, and he contributed in some way, even in the smallest way.

“Now it’s like a little reset,” said Schwarber after training on Monday. “And now he can play again this season. Go back to the mindset he had. This will be a dangerous club for us throughout the playoffs. And that’s why I’m looking forward to seeing him tomorrow.”

The Phillies talk about playing unselfish baseball; You've been watching New York's hitters embody this for weeks. The Mets have earned a reputation as a tenacious offense because they have improved the quality of their offense, especially toward the end of games. But unselfish baseball goes beyond focusing on a particular shot.

It could mean taking on a different role for the good of the team. The Phillies believe in taking advantage of the platoon advantage. That will be tested in Games 3 and 4 at Citi Field, as New York will start left-handed. Thomson has said he will play Austin Hays whenever the Phillies see a left-handed hitter. That would relegate Brandon Marsh to the bench. Thomson could also start at second base, with Sosa starting ahead of Bryson Stott.

The manager refused to shake his hand on Monday. “We’ll see,” Thomson said when asked if Marsh and Stott would sit.

Even if that is the case, the Phillies expect both to be used in the game. Marsh and Stott can step in whenever the Mets remove their starter, given New York's lack of trustworthy left-handed hitters.

“You always want to be ready,” Stott said last week. “Of course you want to start. I played every game in the playoffs last year, left and right. But I don't know what will happen. We’ll just wait and see.”

It could be painful for Stott. But staying sharp while starting a game on the bench is the kind of selfless baseball Schwarber preaches.

Schwarber might have used this moment to remind Bohm of this.

“I think that’s the beauty of it,” Schwarber said. “The season is over. This is about nothing other than winning. He understands that. This is just about finding a way to win a game. I'll have fun watching him play tomorrow. Because in my opinion, this guy could be one of the more important players in our lineup.”

After a strong start, Alec Bohm slumped in the final months of the season. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Bohm has struggled with trust issues in the past. He has endured public failures at the highest levels. He is a shy person; The Phillies reached out to him when Bobby Dickerson, the veteran infield coach, challenged Bohm. In a way, Thomson did something similar. His decision to bench Bohm was out of character. The Phillies sent a clear message.

Bohm hit .170/.204/.298 in 49 plate appearances from September 14, when he was activated from the injured list, through the end of the season. From early August to the end of the season, he hit .238/.268/.361. Going back to May 23, Bohm was hitting .255/.303/.407 in his last 399 plate appearances. Good, not great.

What held him back?

“If I knew,” Bohm said, “I wouldn’t come out.”

His bat speed, as measured by MLB's Statcast system, declined over the summer. Maybe he's become too eager to pull. He was aiming for 100 RBIs, a mark that meant something to him. Bohm recorded 46 RBIs in the team's first 50 games.

He finished with 97.

Bohm said he's no more frustrated than usual. He said his confidence hasn't waned because he's embraced the bigger picture that each October brings.

“Confidence can be an individual thing, but it can also be a group thing,” Bohm said. “So, you just get lost in the team. Every time I go up there it gets closer and closer to getting through.”

Even the smallest thing could cause it to start spinning. The Phillies will know when. On Monday, Bohm at least smiled.

(Top photo of Alec Bohm and Kyle Schwarber in June: Eric Hartline / USA Today)