Without a doubt Jeremy Hermida wants to play, but since he isn't, he is saying all the right things.

Right fielder Jeremy Hermida was not in the starting lineup for the fourth consecutive game.

"We're trying to win games," Hermida said. "That's the most important thing, to keep ourselves in the playoff race and if that takes me coming off the bench some, me starting some, whatever it takes. I'm all for it. Anything I can do to help."

Hermida was 2-for-2 as a pinch hitter in the four-game span.

From August 11 to the present, in games where he has made at least three PA, he has a total of two hits, with one being for a home run.  He has a total of four hits over the same period when the pinch hits are added in.

Granted, it is impossible to get out of a slump sitting on the bench.  But Hermida is proving to be a very good pinch hitter.  Which is a bit of a surprise to me given how long his swing is.

If he keeps this up, he may finish the season as a pinch hitter, and if he does, okay.  But whether he does or doesn't I don't think the club is ready to give up on him just yet.

But whatever happens for the rest of the season, Hermida knows the right things to say.  And who knows, he may even believe them.  But I can guarantee this: he wants to start.  And I suspect, he will get the chance again, whether it is this year or not, I can't say.