Tria Turner starts slow with Phyllis – ‘We sucked’

“I’m honest with myself, I shut up,” Turner said Monday after the struggling Phillies lost to the Diamondbacks.

Less than two months have passed since Turner’s 11-year, $300 million contract with the Phillies, who signed the two-time All-Star to fanfare last December following their improbable run to the 2022 World Series.

But the early returns have been underwhelming for Turner, who bats . 256 with four home runs, 11 RBIs and a 0.693 OPS in 46 games. The former National League hitting champion also struck out 56 strikeouts in 208 plate appearances for a strikeout rate of 26.9% — well above his career average of 18.5%.

Turner’s struggles have been more pronounced lately, as he batted just . 211 with 38 strikeouts in 120 starts over his past 27 games. Fans’ frustration with Turner began boiling Sunday when he was booed during a home win against the Cubs, and that booing continued Monday as the Phillies lost for the sixth time in their past eight games to fall to 22-25.

Despite what he admits is “probably” the worst downturn of his career, Turner said he’s trying to stay positive.

“Every strike, every game, every game is another day to try to do better and try to be the player that I know,” he said. “If you played the harp yesterday or played the last beat, it will just snowball on you, you won’t be able to turn it over.

“So I’m honest with myself. I tell myself openly, and I don’t lie to myself. I think I’m a positive guy. I think I can always do better and I can always be better. That’s the attitude I have. , but at the same time, I know when I’m not doing something right.”

Turner, 29, isn’t the only culprit when it comes to the Phillies’ offensive struggles. The defending National League champions go into Tuesday tied for 10th in the league (201), and other veteran stars, including Kyle Schwarber and GT Realmoto, are also getting off to a slow start.

299 hitter, Turner said he needed to make better decisions in terms of getting to know the pitch and “making up his mind,” but Phillies manager Rob Thompson said he was encouraged by some of Turner’s recent batters, saying, “It feels like it’s coming.”

My first three strikes [Sunday] And [Monday] It was kind of brutal for the most part,” he said. “It’s just that consistency.” If I think I can do it for four or five beaters a day, then for a week and a month, and then I’ll feel a little better and more satisfied. But you just have to fight. … I feel like it’s all decision making. The swing has been feeling fine now for two or three weeks. But the decision-making process is very much hit or miss.”