How Ben Revere got his groove back

Kansas City Royals v Philadelphia Phillies Ben Revere is finally hitting the baseball after struggling in May.

When Juan Pierre played for the Phillies in 2012, three things were evident. The nimble base-stealer could still move, he possessed extraordinary work ethic and Pierre knows baseball.

When Pierre was asked about Ben Revere’s initial struggles with the Phillies in late May, the scrappy veteran said to give it time. Pierre recalled moving from the NL to the AL.

“I struggled,” Pierre said. “It’s a big adjustment. Let him [Revere] have some time to adjust. I think he’ll come around.”

Pierre looks like he’s right. Revere has gone from hitting .203 in late May to .272, and he leads the team with 17 stolen bases.

“I just needed some time,” Revere said. “I’m feeling better at the plate. It’s an adjustment coming over here. I’ve been facing pitchers I’ve never seen before but it’s fine. I’m getting there.”

Charlie Manuel never stopped believing.

“I figured he would come around since he hit (.294) last year in the American League. I didn’t think that was a fluke. I liked what I saw in spring training. I knew it would just be a matter of time before he came around.”

All of a sudden the unpopular trade of Vance Worley for Revere isn’t looking so bad. Worley went off a cliff in Minnesota and is pitching in the minors. A Minnesota columnist suggested that baseball should enact a lemon law since Worley has tanked there.

“It’s nice when trades work out for both teams,” Revere said. “But when you look at the trade that brought me here, you have to give it time. I think you need to do that with all trades. I really think I can help this team win. I just have to go out there and play my game. It’s still early. I feel like I’m just getting started.”

Phils getting bargain deal after all

It’s still very early but Ben Revere has better numbers than free agents B.J. Upton and Josh Hamilton.

The other significant difference is that Revere, at age 25, is much younger and makes less than $500,000 each year. Upton and Hamilton each haul in $15 million per season.
Here were the numbers at press time: Revere (.272, 17 steals), Upton (.173, eight homers), Hamilton (.210, 10 homers).