The Phillies Are By Far The Best Team in Wild Card Race
Before last night’s 9-4 win over the Blue Jays, the Phillies had hit a rut. They dropped the final two games of the Twins series, scoring just 1 run between…
Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 16, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)Before last night's 9-4 win over the Blue Jays, the Phillies had hit a rut. They dropped the final two games of the Twins series, scoring just 1 run between the two losses. Then in game 1 against the Blue Jays, Yusei Kikuchi gave up just 1 run over 6 innings, and then the Bullpen shut them down. The Phillies as a team hit .188 over those 3 games. And it brought up concerns about how the lineup performs vs good pitching.
But they did roar back with 9 runs and 3 HRs Wednesday night. Two of those homers came from Bryce Harper which was good to see. And despite dropping 3 in a row, they still have a decent grip on that first Wild Card spot. They lead the Giants by 2 games and the Cubs and Marlins by 3.5 games.
Before the 2nd Blue Jays game, Jayson Stark joined The Best Show Ever and was very confident about the Phillies' chances to hold onto that top spot.
"Of all these teams in this wild card race, they are the best. I don’t know how they could possibly not make the playoffs. Try to find 3 teams good enough to overtake them. The Giants can pitch... they are also in the middle of a killer schedule stretch. The Marlins improved their lineup. They are also 11-19 since the break. The Cubs are good. They're legit. But then you have these other teams. The Reds have lost 10 of 13. The Diamondbacks were 16 games over 500 a month ago. They just got back over .500 last night. The Padres have great names in their lineup, but they are 6-19 in 1 runs games. That is the worst record since 1935."
So while we get frustrated by the inconsistency of the Phillies lineup, and Aaron Nola continuing to be the weak link in the rotation, it is important to step back and realize the teams the Phillies are competing with have even bigger issues. And even with those issues, the Phillies have still been a very good team since June.
"For all the issues the Phillies have they have played like a 102-win team since the first week of June. So I know it is everyone's nature in our town to panic. But the Phillies are by far the best team in this field."
That 102-win claim is not just Jayson Stark exaggerating either. Their winning percentage since June 1st is .621. That is 101 wins over a 162-game season. And only the Braves have a better winning percentage over the full course of the season. Since the All-Star Break, they are on a 91-win pace (.563), which is 7th best in the whole league. This is a good team, despite all of the issues.
And they are also a team where there is still a lot of room to improve if guys like Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, JT Realmuto, and Kyle Schwarber pick it up. Harper's multi-HR night is a good sign he is coming around, and it continues a trend of Harper having a better power swing lately.
The only question is, will the Phillies be able to hit good pitching once they get into the playoffs? On that, Jayson Stark could not offer the same optimism.
"It is really not a disgrace to get shutdown by Pablo Lopez, Sonny Gray, and Yusei Kikuchi. They’re all in the upper tier of pitchers... But I think at the heart of the question is won’t they have to hit against great pitching in October? Of course the answer is yes. That’s a worry because this offense has almost never been what it is supposed to be this season."
Hitting against Kevin Gausman was a good start, even if he did not have his best stuff. But the Phillies lineup needs to be better overall. They won't be seeing guys like Dallas Kuechel or Trevor Williams in October. They will have to hit pitchers like Spencer Strider. The lineup has the potential to do that.
But a lot of the big names have not given them the big production we are used to. Trea Turner's struggles are well documented, but he has been better since getting that standing ovation. Harper is still recovering from offseason surgery but still has a good average and the power is coming around. Kyle Schwarber's batting average has hovered around .180 all year, though he still hits homers and draws walks. They need all 3 of them to be at their best if they are going to win in October and into November.
But at the very least, we have good reason to be confident they will be playing in those games. And not as the 3rd Wild Card like last year, but as the first Wild Card, with home-field advantage in the first series.
The Best Show Ever is asking for your help getting local teachers supplies for the upcoming school season:
The Teachers Of The Delaware Valley Need Our Help
As the '23-'24 school year approaches, thousands of teachers in the Delaware Valley will face the annual struggle of securing supplies for their classrooms. It's not uncommon for them to spend a fair amount of their own money on basic supplies. Things like pencils, markers, whiteboards, and notebooks. The things we would all think of as essentials for a functioning classroom.
According to a 2021 survey published in Yahoo Finance!, teachers spend about $750 on average every year on classroom supplies. Much of that cost comes to help kick off the school year. And the prices of these supplies continue to go up, while teacher salaries stay the same.
We'd like to ease the burden with your help. We asked our Fanatic listeners who are teachers to submit a wish list so we could help them start the year off strong. But we could use your help making sure each of them get the supplies they need. Every little bit can help. Even if you can just help them buy one item for $1, we appreciate any support you can give.
Check out the list of Fanatic listeners/teachers below who have each submitted a Wish List filled with basic teaching necessities.
Aaryn Snyder
Schuylkill Valley Elementary
Amy Pekarchik
Leap Academy in Camden, NJ
6th Grade Math
Breanna Miller
James J. Sullivan Elementary School
Reading Specialist
Caitlin Bedesem
MaST Community Charter School III
Carla Drabik
Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Levittown, PA
7th Grade Math
Cayla Maratea
James R. Ludlow Elementary School in Phila, PA
Kindergarten
Christine O'Connor
Richey Elementary School in Newport, DE
Reading Specialist, Grades K-5
Connie McHugh
Neil Armstrong MS in Fairless Hills, PA
7th grade ELA teacher
Dina Hurwitz
Greenberg School in Phila, PA
1st Grade
Kathryn Eagle
E B Barth Elementary in Pottstown
1st Grade
Eileen Rafferty
Samuel Smith Elementary in Burlington City, NJ
Sally Foose
Rupert Elementary School & Franklin Elementary School in Pottstown, PA
PreK-4th Grade, General Music & Choir
Gina Terefenko
Holbein Middle School in Mount Holly, NJ
5th & 6th Grade Math and Reading to Special Ed
Laurie Gresko
Rupert Elementary School in Pottstown, PA
Hannah Hubbs
Gilbert Spruance Elementary School in Phila, PA
Kindergarten
Brooke Hughes
Hanby Elementary School in Wilmington, DE
1st grade
Jennifer LaMantia
Mother of Divine Grace in Phila, PA
3rd Grade
Josetta LaFaver
Northeast Middle School (Reading School District)
Kerri Garrity
Saint Mary Magdalen in Media, PA
6th-8th Grade Math
Kerri Ward
MaST Community Charter School III in Phila, PA
Kristie Dappolone
Maude Wilkins Elementary in Maple Shade, NJ
2nd Grade
Luke Dougan
G.W. Childs in Phila, PA
Maria Resinski
Good Shepherd Catholic Regional in Glenside, PA
Megan Jones
Watson Comly Elementary in Phila, PA
Michael McHugh
Harry S Truman High School in Levittown, PA
Patricia Bogda
Battle Hill Elementary in Union, NJ
3rd Grade
Rachel Peixoto
Antonia Pantoja Charter School in Phila, PA
Sherry Stockmal
Spring-Ford Area School District
Taylor Butler
Winslow Twp School District
2nd-3rd Grade Special Ed
Thomas Negron
Multicultural Academy Charter School in Phila, PA
Algebra 1
Timothy Smallwood
Hill Top Preparatory School in Bryn Mawr, PA
Phys Ed
William Kerr
Gertrude C. Folwell Elementary in Mt. Holly, NJ
Michelle Carter
St. James Regional Catholic School in Ridley Park, PA
Maria Shadle
St. Andrew School in Newtown, PA
Colleen Corcoran
Jefferson Elementary
Lauren Buckley
Lakeview Elementary School in Ridley Park, PA
Kelsey Hultz
Rupert Elementary in Pottstown, PA
Katharine Webb
Freire Charter Middle School in Phila, PA
Taylor Honert
Montgomery County Intermediate Unit in Norristown, PA
Reynalda Campbell
Mastery Charter Mann Elementary in Phila, PA
Lizzy Hoenigke
John Wister Elementary in Germantown
Keri Cooper
Billingsport School in Paulsboro, NJ
Elizabeth Hagmayer
Southampton Township School #2 in Southampton Township, NJ
Hope Weiner
Chester A. Arthur Elementary School in Phila, PA
Melissa Dugan
Elwyn Davidson School in Media, PA
Melanie Hansley
Tyson Schoener Elementary School in Reading, PA
Tara Johnson
Voorhees Middle School
Kayla Murray
Rupert Elementary School in Pottstown, PA
Kristyn Yost
Francis Willard Elementary School in Phila, PA
Jennifer Bolling
Glenwood Avenue Elementary School in Wildwood, NJ
Amanda Haney
Emlen Elementary, School District of Philadelphia
Sandy McHugh
Early Learning Academy
Samantha Miller
Riverton Elementary School in Riverton, NJ
Chrissy Griffoni
Dr. Henry H. Davis Family School, Camden City, NJ
8th Grade ELA Teacher
Candy Marchant
Franklin Towne High School
Math
Marlena Ruser
Coatesville Area School District at Rainbow Elementary
2nd Grade
Bo Shappell
Daniel Boone Area High School
Health & PE Teacher
Ashley Bellevou
Rupert Elementary in Pottstown, PA
Helen Lam
Greenberg Elementary, The School District of Philadelphia
1st Grade Teacher
Jacinda Bartolucci
Rupert Elementary School
Kindergarten Teacher, Pottstown, PA
Tiffany Cunningham
John H. Webster, Phila, PA
MaryEllen Gresko
St. Jude School in Chalfont, PA
5th Grade
Mollie Taylor
Potter Thomas Elementary School, Phila, PA
Jenna Winchenbach
Tracy Elementary School in Raston, PA
Angela Cianchetta
Northeast Middle School in Reading, PA
Chelsea Williams
J.P McCaskey High School, Lancaster School District
Brian Morris
Samuel S. Fels High School in the Philadelphia School District, Music Director
Nichole Brown
Arthur P. Schalick High School in Pittsgrove, NJ, Grades 9-12 Multiple Disabilities
Stephanie McDonald
John S. Clarke Elementary Center in Pottsville, PA, Special Education
Lynn Mills
Charles Street School in Palmyra, NJ, Kindergarten
Raichl Davenport
William Penn Charter, Phila PA, 5th Grade
Renay Langley
Willow Hill, 6th grade teacher
Jessica Nicholls
Phila, PA
