The Positive Fallout from this Phillies October Run
by John Kincade
There is usually a domino effect to making a run for a championship. An unexpected run for a championship sometimes even makes more of an impact because there are more things available to be purchased. Take the following into consideration;
Even in September as the Phillies made their move towards a post season berth, Citizens Bank Park was a bit of a ghost town. I railed on it on air. The lack of fan support at the gate with October on the line was troubling to me. Callers and other hosts spoke to me about the pain of being let down that was causing fans not to buy in. I didn’t like the explanation but I most certainly could understand it. Fans want to invest their money and energy into something that pays off for them. Well, know they have been rewarded.
In 1994 after an unexpected run to the World Series in 1993, the Phillies sold a huge number of tickets for their season. The season ticket base rose and individual game ticket sales went through the roof. They didn’t deliver on the field but the fans already had made their investment. This off-season might be a good time to be in the Ticket Sales Office down at CBP.
I think of the roster decisions that need to be made. The Phillies could look North to New York and see the Mets losing Jacob deGrom and potentially other players. The Braves could lose a critical leadership piece like Dansby Swanson that might affect their team chemistry. If John Middleton believes either of those teams is slightly vulnerable you could see even more spending while some other contracts come off the books.
There was much discussion about whether Rhys Hoskins or Jean Segura would be a part of the 2023 Phillies before this charge towards the World Series. Does this change their plans? Nostalgia doesn’t have a place when you are trying to win a championship. Memories about happier times and great moments are worth celebrating, but what you saw after 162 games has to matter more. I still expect that next years Phillies will have new faces and exciting additions.
EXTRA THOUGHTS
Ranger Suarez wasn’t as impressive in 2022 as he was in 2021, but after the All Star Break he definitely took a turn for the better. He dropped his ERA almost a full run from May to September. He had a few rough outings but seemed to right the ship. Then he had a rough outing in Game 1 of the NLDS. He only recorded 10 outs despite the fact that his teammates awarded him a nice cushion of run support. If the Phillies are going to win Game 3 tonight, you can’t see a repeat of that effort. Ranger has a chance to secure his spot in the rotation as a third starter for years to come. Showing the organization that you have “big game pitcher” on your resume isn’t a bad way to start. I’m excited and expect him to deliver tonight.
