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Urgency Could Be Something That The Phillies Might Want To Practice Right Now

Urgency, whether in real life or sports, is something that only comes about when there is pressure. Pressure to get something done at your place of work, with your family,…

Manager Rob Thomson of the Philadelphia Phillies returns to the dugout during the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 27, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Manager Rob Thomson of the Philadelphia Phillies returns to the dugout during the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 27, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia.

(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Urgency, whether in real life or sports, is something that only comes about when there is pressure. Pressure to get something done at your place of work, with your family, and, yes, with your favorite sports teams. So here is the question I posed on the show and something I'm still wondering. Do the Phillies have any sense of urgency right now and should they? 

As they prepare to get back to the "second half" of the season with 73 games to play, the Phillies find themselves a half game out of a Wild Card spot. They'll start things up again on Friday at Citizens Bank Park, five days after their last game. So it would appear that any starter would be available to go. Whether it be ace Zack Wheeler or any other starter. 

But manager Rob Thomson has decided to start fifth starter Christopher Sanchez to open the series against the San Diego Padres. That decision doesn't exactly scream urgency, does it? Sanchez wasn't even a starting pitcher on the roster for most of the first half. 

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"Once you kick it past the All-Star break, nothing is early," said our own Ricky Bottalico. "They are under the impression that it will come back to us in late September," he said of the Phillies, also showing confusion as to why the team decided to start Sanchez on Friday. 

There is no secret as to what needs to happen for this team to get to where many thought they would be by the time the season ends - and that is around the 90-win mark. Trea Turner needs to start hitting the baseball the way he has done his whole career; Kyle Schwarber can't be a .180 hitter and Aaron Nola has to find his better form for most of the rest of his starts this season. 

It all starts with Friday night. And the urgency that is going through the veins of Rob Thomson tells him to start Christopher Sanchez. We'll see what happens. Also, maybe, just maybe, Kyle Schwarber is taken out of the leadoff spot. That would be a pretty good example of urgency 

Ricky Bo’s 5 Keys For the Phillies After The All-Star Break

The first half for the Phillies is in the books. At 48-41, they find themselves .5 a game out of a Wild Card spot. The season started out as a disaster, but they righted the ship a bit in June and July. It looked like they would go into The All-Star Break on a high after sweeping the Rays. But then they dropped 2 of 3 to the Marlins. Now many of us don't know what to think of this team.

Are they the team with a great rotation and pen that swept one of the best teams in the league? Or are they the team that struggles to drive runners in that we saw vs the Marlins? And what do they need to do to right the ship going forward? That is what Ricky Bottalico explored below.

Here are Ricky Bo's 5 keys to the Phillies making a playoff push after the All-Star Break.

Aaron Nola Needs to Look like an Ace

Aaron Nola has to pitch like a top-of-the-line starter.  He has given up 21 home runs this yearHe definitely has the tools to be great, but the mistakes have piled up and those mistakes have cost himNola still shows signs of being great but inconsistency is an issueWe have seen the blow-up innings…We have also seen the innings where he strikes out the side and looks like Cy YoungThe Phillies need him to be that latter version if they want the big trophy. 

Trea Turner Needs to Get On Base More

Trea Turner, has come up small in the first half, but we do know that his tools are all thereIt isn’t power we are looking for with him, it simply is for Turner to be an on-base machine and use his speed to be a problem for opposing pitchersI do think he will turn it around in the second halfAnything he adds to the offense would be huge to a team that has plenty of stars. 

ST PETERSBURG, FL - JULY 5: Trea Turner #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a single during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 5, 2023 in St Petersburg, Florida.

(Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Bryce Harper Moving to First Base

Bryce Harper….He is key to so many things coming up.  First, Harper moving into a role as a first baseman could benefit the whole team.  If he is adequate at first base, then the Phillies have the perfect move for Kyle Schwarber to move to DH (As we know, he has struggled in the field this season).  This could simply help the defense immediately, putting Christian Pache into left, and Brandon Marsh in center.  One thing that should be noted, Harper is not a first baseman. While he is athletic, it will not be an easy move and there will be growing pains. But it certainly will be a big move if it works out. 

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on during the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on June 23, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on during the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on June 23, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Have to Hit With Runners in Scoring Position

The Phillies offense with runners in scoring position are hitting .248 on the year, but there have been many games in which they have come up smallLook for the middle of the lineup to kick it in gear. I think certain players like Harper, Realmuto and Castellanos are due to become huge run producers in the second halfRealmuto struggled early last season and kicked it into gear in the second half last season, hopefully, that continues this year. 

Bullpen Needs to Stay Healthy

Jose Alvarado, arguably one of the league’s best relievers, has had some arm issues, they need him to get healthy and be strong for the second half. Phillies need a bounce-back second half from Seranthony DominguezHe was dominant last season and we know he can be in the second halfThese two guys are a huge key to the Phillies' success. Craig Kimbrel has been huge for this team, really stepping up and being a reliable closerSo too has Gregory Soto, stepping up in a setup role and doing a tremendous job. With these 5 elements, the Phillies can for sure make another run in the postseason… 

Bob Cooney has been a part of the Philadelphia sports scene for more years than he wants to admit after 25 years in print media, and now in his seventh year at The Fanatic. Throughout the years, he has covered all sports from the World Series, multiple Final Fours and Regional Finals in men’s college basketball, to the U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club and the 76ers. He takes his sports media knowledge and background to a new level by joining a conversation with the passionate fans of this great city. He writes about the Sixers, Eagles, Flyers, and Phillies for the Fanatic.