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Kincade & Salciunas: Weekdays 6am – 10am

Kincade & Salciunas: Weekdays 6am – 10am

What The Phillies Strong Start Means For Their Chances

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Author John Kincade
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 20: (L-R) Brandon Marsh #16, Edmundo Sosa #33, Cristian Pache #19, Garrett Stubbs #21, Whit Merrifield #9, and Bryce Harper #3 of the Phillies react from the dugout after a triple by Nick Castellanos #8 (not pictured) in the bottom of the second inning against the Chicago White Sox at Citizens Bank Park on April 20, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

We are so used to the Phillies having less than impressive starts that a (14-8) launch is worthy of a parade. We said before the season started that it was imperative that they take advantage of a weaker April slate to build up a buffer that would help them all summer. As a ten game road trip ends out the month

Here is why this start was so essential for the Phillies.

The Longer You Stay Strong, The Better Chance To See The Braves Spring A Leak

The Braves starting pitching took a major hit when Spencer Strider went down injured and because of elbow surgery he is out for the season. They have managed to get through the early games red hot, but at some point you will see that injury take hold. Imagine if the Phillies could pull ahead by Memorial Day and create a small buffer? That would change the summer trajectory completely.

Twenty Wins Over .500 Seems Like The Magic Number For The Phillies

When you win 91 games you rarely have missed the post season. Since the addition of the extra wild card that is almost a guarantee. With 140 games left you would only need to go (77-63) the rest of the way. Twenty wins over .500 or more in the first month allows you to only need a few more two to four wins above .500 each month the rest of the way to get home free.

A 6 Man Rotation? Maybe Later

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 20: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Phillies throws a pitch in the top of the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Citizens Bank Park on April 20, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Imagine getting to a comfortable 15 games over .500 by August and then Rob Thomson decides to save a few innings off the arms of his top 3 starters by going to a 6 man rotation. In the last few years you needed every Wheeler and Nola start you could get. Flexibility would be a huge advantage to their October chances.

Added Rest In The Hot Summer Months

When you aren’t digging out of an early season hole it makes it easier to give some of your star players a few extra days off during the summer grind. JT Realmuto is a guy who wore down while being asked to carry the brunt of the catching duties the past few seasons as the team needed almost all of the 162 games to clinch a post season berth. His bat would be fresher if the rest was an option in July and August.

Watch Kincade & Salciunas on the 97.5 The Fanatic YouTube page for discussion about the latest breaking sports news in Philadelphia.

The All-Time Roster Of Phillies Players Acquired In Free Agency

  • C- JT Realmuto (2019-Present)

    .273/ .330/.456/.785 

    154 HRs, 589 Runs, 578 RBIs, 94 Steals 

    If we were going best catcher overall, I would still take Chooch. But since Chooch, he wasn’t available for this list.

    You could argue JT Realmuto is better than both of them though. It’s hard to argue he is better with the bat. Chooch called a much better game than JT, but few catchers can contend with Realmuto’s arm.

    He fell off a bit in 2023. But it seems he reworked his swing this offseason to fix a hole that pitchers were exploiting. So maybe we will see a resurgent year from the former “Best Catcher In baseball.” The early returns have been good.

    The Phillies acquired JT via a trade in 2019 with the Marlins. They have up prospects Sixto Sanchez, Jorge Alfaro, and Will Stewart. Sixto has barely played since they made the trade due to injury. So at least right now, it seems like a great deal for the Phillies.

    MLB on Twitter: "J.T. Realmuto is the 17th catcher in baseball history to hit for the cycle! pic.twitter.com/Q66HnGqW4K / Twitter"

    J.T. Realmuto is the 17th catcher in baseball history to hit for the cycle! pic.twitter.com/Q66HnGqW4K

  • 1B- Jim Thome (2003-2005) and (2012)

    .276/.402/.554/.956

    612 HRs, 1583 Runs, 1699 RBIs, 19 SBs

    Thome is one of the greatest 1st basemen period. He is a member of the 600 HR club and a Hall of Famer.

    He was great in his short time with the Phillies. The problem was the team around him was bad. And his presence was blocking Ryan Howard. Still, he gave us some memorable moments. Like hitting his 400th HR at Citizens Bank Park.

    He came to the Phillies via a 6-year $85 million contract. Before that, he had spent his whole career with Cleveland.

  • 2B- Dave Cash (1974-1976)

    .283/.334/.358/.692

    21 HRs. 732 Runs, 426 RBIs

    Finding a great free agent or traded Second Basemen was tough. It is a weak position historically for the Phillies as it is. The few notable players they have had, Chase Utley and Juan Samuel, were homegrown. It makes a solid dependable player like Dave Cash stick out.

    Cash was only here for 3 seasons, but it was his best 3 seasons. He made the All-Star game every year and hit nearly .300 in his time here. In 1975 he led the league with hits. He didn’t have much power to speak of, and his speed was solid, but not elite. But he racked up hits with the Phillies.

    The Phillies acquired Cash via a trade with the Pirates.

    Philadelphia Phillies on Twitter: "Before becoming a three-time All-Star with us, Dave Cash was an MLB trailblazer.#BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/bRkYhevjwa / Twitter"

    Before becoming a three-time All-Star with us, Dave Cash was an MLB trailblazer.#BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/bRkYhevjwa

  • SS- Trea Turner (2023- Present)

    .296/.349/.483/.832

    150 HRs, 688 Runs, 510 RBIs, 260 SBs

    Turner’s first season in Philly did not go well. He saved it a bit at the end of the year. But in the first 4 months, he was genuinely one of the worst players in the league. His fielding was terrible, and his bat wasn’t much better. In August, September, and the first two series in the playoffs, he was one of the best players in the league. He regressed to his early season form vs the Diamondbacks though.

    But there is a reason they paid him what they did. With the Nationals and Dodgers, he was one of the best players in the league. Hopefully the first season was just jitters, and we get someone closer to what he was in August and September this season.

    The Phillies’ history at SS is bleak. There is Jimmy Rollins, Larry Bowa, and not much else. So even though he was only here for 1 somewhat disappointing season, Turner already is the best Free Agent SS in Phillies history.

    Philadelphia Phillies on Twitter: "TREA SHIESTY#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/UM9MwbHDHx / Twitter"

    TREA SHIESTY#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/UM9MwbHDHx

  • 3B- Placido Polanco (2002-2005) and (2010-2012)

    .297/.343/.397/.740

    104 HRs, 1009 Runs, 723 RBIs, 81 SBs

    Polanco is very similar to Dave Cash. He doesn’t have much pop, and his speed was only okay. But he was a hitting machine.

    Like some of the infield positions, there was a lack of good options here. The best 3rd basemen, all came up with the Phillies. Mike Schmidt, Scott Rolen, Dick Allen, all were homegrown players. Polanco was the best of the bunch when you only look at free agents or trades.

    He came to the Phillies via the infamous Scott Rolen trade. Before that, he had spent the first 4 years of his career in St. Louis.

  • LF- Raul Ibanez (2009-2011)

    .272/.335/.465/.801

    305 HRs, 1055 Runs, 1207 RBIs, 50 SBs

    I feel like we underrate how good Ibanez was here, especially in that first season. Similar to the way we underrate his predecessor, Pat Burrell.

    In 2009, Ibanez had a slash line of .272/.347/.552/.899. It fell off in his other two seasons here, but he was a special part of that 2009 team that almost won a 2nd straight World Series.

    There is also the fact there is not much competition among free-agent Left Fielders for the Phillies. The best left fielders, all started with the Phillies. The only other option was Kyle Schwarber. But because we were able to slot him in at another position, Raul still made the list.

  • CF- Shane Victorino (2005-2012)

    .275/.340/.425/.765

    108 HRs, 731 Runs, 489 RBIs, 231 SBs

    The Flyin’ Hawiian was up there amongst my favorite Phillies from that era. He started his career as a disappointing player for the Padres. So the Phillies snatched him up in the rule 5 draft, and he went on to be a key piece of the 2008 team.

    At times he could be frustrating. But he also played Gold Glove defense in Center and gave them a great power speed option behind J Roll and ahead of Utley.

  • RF- Bryce Harper (2019-Present)

    .281/.390/.521/.911

    306 HRs, 998 Runs, 89 RBIs, 134 SBs

    There was no other option here. Harper has a chance to go down as one of the greatest Phillies of all time. He already feels like a lock to be a Hall of Famer. He is going to get to 400 HRs here, and there is a good chance he will get to 500 as well.

    Harper signed with the Phillies in 2019. It took a couple of years, but he eventually pulled them out of the dark ages. He already has multiple legendary moments, including Bedlam at the Bank, his walk-off Grand Slam, and the stare-down in the 2023 NLDs, just to name a few. Harper is a Phillies legend.

    To the point, that in a few years, if we remake this list, he might surpass Jim Thome at 1st base. That is how good he is.

  • DH- Kyle Schwarber (2022- Present)

    .226/.339/.491/.830 

    246 HRs, 580 Runs, 584 RBIs, 23 SBs 

    There are not many options at DH. This is only the 3rd season the NL has had a DH. In that time, Harper spent a lot of time as the DH as he battled a elbow injury. When it wasn;t him, it was usually Kyle Schwarber.

    We already put Harper in Right Field. Now he is a 1st baseman, and he will probaly spend the rest of his career at 1st, barring a full time move to DH. But for now, given he spent most of his time here in right, we call him a right fielder. And that leaves Schwarber as the default answer.

    Just because he is the default though does not make him unworthy. He hit 45+ HRs in both of his seasons here, and will likely get there again this year. Last season, he had the 2nd highest OPS leading off games in Phillies history. Only Jimmy Rollins MVP season was better.

    Despite the debates about Schwarber leading off, he has undeniably been one of their most productive hitters these past two seasons.

    Philadelphia Phillies on Twitter: "WAIT, WHAT KYLE???#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/j9mga9TbKz / Twitter"

    WAIT, WHAT KYLE???#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/j9mga9TbKz

  • SP- Steve Carlton

    3.22 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 329 Wins, 4136 Ks

    Lefty was a lock to be this team’s Ace. He is far and away the best pitcher in Phillies history. His 4 Cy Youngs, 10 All-Star appearances, and his place in the Hall of Fame tell you that. He even got the Triple Crown for Pitchers in 1972.

    He is not just the Phillies best pitcher, he is one of the best LHPs period.

    Baseball In Pics on Twitter: "Steve Carlton becomes the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards, October 26, 1982. pic.twitter.com/NSyLjliAVA / Twitter"

    Steve Carlton becomes the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards, October 26, 1982. pic.twitter.com/NSyLjliAVA

  • SP- Roy Halladay

    3.38 ERA, 1.178, 203 Wins, 2117 Ks

    Doc is by far the best pitcher I have ever seen pitch for the Phillies. The two-time CY Young winner was dominant as it gets in his first 2 seasons here. Including pitching a Perfect Game and throwing the 2nd ever playoff No-Hitter.

    His time here was unfortunately short. Injuries caught up to him, and he did not look like himself in his final 2 seasons here. But I will always remember him for how amazing he was in 2010 and 2011.

    MLB on Twitter: "Roy Halladay's No. 34 will be retired by the @Phillies on May 29, the 10th anniversary of his perfect game. pic.twitter.com/qq3bdYdEvA / Twitter"

    Roy Halladay's No. 34 will be retired by the @Phillies on May 29, the 10th anniversary of his perfect game. pic.twitter.com/qq3bdYdEvA

  • SP- Zack Wheeler

    3.43 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 87 Wins, 1406 Ks

    Picking the 3rd starter was tough. When I made the Homegrown list, I only had 3 starters, because I didn’t think there was a 4th guy worthy of being listed among Robin Roberts, Cole Hamels, and Aaron Nola. I wasn’t going to stick Brett Myers on there just because.

    But that means I was limited to 3 here as well. So who made it. Do I go with Cliff Lee? He has a strong case given how amazing his 2009 run was. There is also Curt Schilling. Numbers wise he is worthy, but much like the HOF voters don’t want to honor him, neither do I. Wheeler and Lee get the edge because they didn’t ruin a small town in Rhode Island or reveal private details about Tim Wakefield’s battle with cancer against the families wishes.

    I went with Zack Wheeler. Wheeler has been nothing short of dominant in his time here. And after signing a massive extension recently, he will have more longevity here than Lee had. But it was a really tough choice between the two.

    MLB on Twitter: "Zack Wheeler brought the heat in the 1st striking out the side! #Postseason 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zBwQvEewLO / Twitter"

    Zack Wheeler brought the heat in the 1st striking out the side! #Postseason 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zBwQvEewLO

  • RP- Steve Bedrosian

    3.38 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 184 Saves, 921 Ks 

    It was close between Bedrosian and Brad Lidge. Lidge had the perfect season, that ended in him getting the final out to give the Phillies their 2nd ever World Series. But he was a bit of a 1 year wonder.  

    Bedrosian meanwhile had multiple great seasons. Including him winning the Cy Young as a Relief Pitcher. For me, that gave him the edge. I never got to watch him play, but the numbers tell the story of a dominant relief pitcher, worthy of a spot on this list.  

    He is still 3rd on the all Time Phillies Saves list.

    OldTimeHardball on Twitter: "1987 NL Cy YoungSteve Bedrosian (40 Saves with a 2.83 ERA) pic.twitter.com/BKo96dkOXT / Twitter"

    1987 NL Cy YoungSteve Bedrosian (40 Saves with a 2.83 ERA) pic.twitter.com/BKo96dkOXT

A full blooded Delco native from a sports crazed family, John has been obsessed with Philly sports from his days at St. Annie’s drawing team logos on his book covers! Told many times by teachers along the way “if you knew your studies as well as you know your sports” he turned that perceived weakness into a career. John has been broadcasting at the local and national levels since 1992. As a content creator for 97.5 The Fanatic he writes about Eagles, Sixers, Phillies and Flyers. You can follow @johnkincade or reach him at John.Kincade@bbgi.com

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