The Phillies Game 3 Performance Seemed Eerily Familiar

Let’s just say that unless something changes very quickly in 2024, Philadelphia sports fans are going to look back on this year as a complete failure. I refuse to entertain that conversation when there is still a pivotal Game 4 today. The problem that I see is where the word “pivotal” fits. Is it pivotal towards their true chances to win a playoff series or their future?

We are not going to litigate the Eagles 2023 season collapse over again, but watching that game yesterday I had almost the exact same reaction. All day long my excitement level wasn’t there like in previous seasons.

Going in I felt calm and was not going through the mental gymnastics of stress and strategizing. I bought into the outcome of Game 2 meaning something and the Aaron Nola start as a blessing. I didn’t have a bunch of nerves and anxiety going in. That bothered me.

I thought back to that snowy night when the Eagles faced the Buccaneers in the wild-card round. I had convinced myself that everything was going to be fine once the challenge was presented. I disregarded all of the warning signs and was convinced that the more talented team would win.

Instead from the opening kick off it appeared that the warts they had shown all season would be the playoff headline. It sucked the life out of me. I found myself just staring at the TV and not yelling, complaining or feeling much of anything. It was terrible and I never wanted to feel that way again.

When the Phillies left England the New York Mets were an underachieving team that was 16.5 games behind them in the standings. The Phillies were 25 games over .500 and had already secured 45 wins. From that day something happened and yesterday exemplified them. The team with the swagger in Queens was the Mets. Don’t paint them as some underdog story. They spent $72M more than the Phillies this year due to some terrible contracts. It’s as if the two teams changed personalities that day. One got fat and happy, complacent and lethargic. The other was energized to write a different story for the 2024 campaign. The Phillies may have just assumed that their story was a foregone conclusion.

When the Eagles lost to the Buccaneers it was over. The autopsy was completed and serious changes came to the coaching staff and veteran players walked away. The Phillies had a terrible loss but thankfully they get one last chance to salvage things.

I’m not giving up but I truly understand the portion of the fan base that feels despair. They haven’t given you much reason to believe. I’m not going to join the grave-digging committee, that can wait until things are officially over. It doesn’t feel great today but where there is life there is opportunity. Today changes everything.

Everyone who has jumped off the bandwagon before the possible crash might be smart trying to dull the pain of defeat. I don’t want them anywhere near Citizens Bank Park on Friday. I can’t tolerate the on-and-off fandom. If they win today things change.

Will the same jumpers believe that a Game 5 Wheeler start at home will end in defeat? I doubt it. We learn today about the strength and character of this team. Unfortunately, I can’t begin to know what to expect. I just hope that it doesn’t end up like that January night with snow on the roof.

The Philadelphia Phillies began the MLB Playoffs in 2023 the same way they did in 2022.

Related Content: Phillies Red October Memories: 6 Games That Defined the Run to the 2022 World Series

While they didn’t win the National League East, they look primed for a hot streak in the new playoff format with six bids in each league.

It looked like history would repeat itself with a wild card team reaching the World Series. Except this time, the Phillies wouldn’t be the surprise underdogs against a team powerhouse like the Houston Astros.

Dave Dombrowski had added Trea Turner to an already stacked lineup. The high-priced shortstop finally came around offensively late in the 2023 regular season, and the World Series experience in 2022 made the Phillies a popular title pick locally and nationally.

The Red October crowd resumed the wrath that opponents felt during the miracle ride in 2022.

The Miami Marlins, Atlanta Braves, and the Arizona Diamondbacks stood in their way.

October 16-17, 2023
National League Championship Series Games 1-2 at Citizens Bank Park
Phillies 5, Arizona Diamondbacks 3; Phillies 10, Arizona Diamondbacks 0

It was a done deal. Right?