Hold Your Complaints, This Phillies Team is Near-Perfect
It is still early, but this has been one of the most fun Phillies seasons in my memory. The last two years the Phillies got off to slow starts, and were out of the division race early. Even back in 2011, when they broke the franchise record for wins, the Phillies were not quite this fun. And even when they won in 2008, the season itself wasn’t like this.
Obviously they will have to finish it. October is what really matters. But October is still 4 months away. As we learned the last two years with the Braves and Dodgers, there is nothing we can do about what will happen in October right now.
If things go south in the playoffs, we can address it then. But for now, can we just enjoy this team? Do we need to nitpick the few things that are not perfect?
Some People Finding Reasons To Complain About The Phillies
There was a Tweet for the account Phillies Tailgate showing how the Phillies had 4 starters in the top 6 of ERA for the NL. When I clicked on it, most of the replies were people complaining about Taijuan Walker.
I have seen Phillies fans complain about how the bats went cold against the Diamondbacks. People complain about what pitcher Rob Thomson uses out of the bullpen. When Bryce Harper didn’t run a ground ball some people were mad about that.
But Andrew Sacliunas recently said something that I am 100% behind. Andrew suggested from now until the trade deadline, we not have any conversation about the Phillies that has any negative spin on it.
This Phillies Team Is Nearly Perfect
The Phillies are 44-19. They and the Yankees have gone back and forth for who has the best record in the league. Outside of one bad West Coast Trip, the Phillies have won every series since the second week of the season. They just swept the Brewers who are also among the best teams in baseball.
This Phillies team does almost everything well. Their starting rotation is the best in baseball and goes deeper into games than any rotation in baseball. As already mentioned, 4 of their 5 starters are top 6 in ERA in the NL.
Their bullpen has been nearly perfect after a shaky first 2 weeks. The bullpen pitchers who are still on the roster, so excluding guys like Ricardo Pinto, Connor Brogdon, etc, have a 2.30 ERA since the 2nd game of the season.
They have the 2nd most runs per game in baseball. That is without Trea Turner for over a month.
What on Earth is there to complain about? The 5th starter? The last guy off the bench? That they occasionally run into an out?
None of those things are preventing them from being the best team in baseball right now. and none of those things will hurt them in the playoffs.
Taijuan Walker won’t see the field in the playoffs. Turnbull might as a long man, or as a reliever. But in order for him to still be effective at that time, they need to manage his innings. If that means more Taijuan walker starts, so be it.
Whitt Merrifield has been terrible. But we hardly saw the bench players in the postseason last year. If he is still struggling, they just won’t play him. But right now with Marsh, Turner, and Clemens hurt, they need someone to fill in. They still swept the Brewers with him out there. So who cares?
This team is awesome. They are as close to flawless as a team can be. Why go digging for flaws? Especially when those flaws won’t even matter in the playoffs.
No Dire Needs
Can they improve? Sure. There are already rumors they might go after someone like Luis Robert Jr. If they get him, awesome, their amazing lineup just got better. But there is no pressing need there, even if I did see someone on Twitter say that they cant wait until the deadline to address the OF.
RELATED: Phillies MLB Trade Deadline Candidates: Luis Robert Jr.
Close To Perfect
Most teams in the league would love to have the “problems” the Phillies have. While other teams have to do bullpen games, Phillies fans complain that Turnbull isn’t in the starting rotation.
There is no flaw on this team worth complaining about. Just enjoy the ride. If things so south, or glaring flaws emerge. Sure, go ahead and call it out. But if your complaints are Walker, Merrifield, Stubbs, or baserunning, please just save it.
This team is too good to nitpick. This team is special. They are doing things we haven’t seen any other team do. I mean just look at this quote from Jayson Stark, and tell me how you are going to complain about anything this team has done in the first two months.
So please, just save your complaints. Enjoy the run. This Phillies team is on one hell of a journey, and it would be a shame if you missed it because you were upset about something as pointless as the 5th starter.