WASHINGTON -- Phillies manager Pete Mackanin began his day at the ballpark on Sunday morning with a one-on-one meeting with Odubel Herrera.
Actually, there was a third person in the meeting. Mackanin brought along third base coach Juan Samuel, trusted consigliere of the team's Latin players.
Mackanin would not disclose the nature of the meeting -- "I'll keep it between us," he said -- but the timing was interesting considering it came the morning after Herrera swung at a number of pitches significantly out of the strike zone en route to going 0 for 5 with three strikeouts in a 6-4 loss to Washington.
In the first inning of the game, Herrera did not completely run out a double-play ball that he probably could have beaten out and that did not sit well in the clubhouse. After the game, Mackanin said Herrera occasionally experiences tightness in his legs, but he said the player was "healthy."
Herrera was not in the lineup for the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against Washington. Mackanin was asked if it was a benching.
"I want to get everybody in (the doubleheader)," the manager said.
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Herrera is expected to play in the second game.
Aaron Altherr started in center field for the Phillies in the first game. He was flanked by Ty Kelly in left and Daniel Nava in right.
