Friday night in Philadelphia certainly left Phillies fans scratching their heads. The team opted to start Cal Stevenson in centerfield, a move that didn’t exactly pan out as hoped. Given that Stevenson hasn’t been frequently called upon, this decision was intriguing, and the resulting play was perplexing.

Stevenson, perhaps feeling the nerves of limited recent play, got caught off first base and then found himself all turned around on a relatively straightforward foul ball that dropped. These miscues came at a crucial juncture; the Phillies were leading before Stevenson’s mishaps but found themselves trailing by the end of that sequence. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a team and fanbase with high expectations.

What made Phillies manager Rob Thomson’s choice even more puzzling is the impending return of starting centerfielder Brandon Marsh, expected back from injury as soon as Saturday. This likely means Stevenson’s stint with the big-league club is drawing to a close, and Friday’s start might have been Thomson’s way of giving Stevenson one last moment in the sun.

With Stevenson coming into the game sporting a modest .167 batting average from limited at-bats, the gamble didn’t pay off. And while Stevenson will perhaps have another chance to prove himself in the future, for now, Phillies fans seem ready to turn the page as Marsh makes his comeback. Whether the intent was sentimental or strategic, the result wasn’t quite what Philly hoped, leaving questions about decision-making at this pivotal time of the season.