The Phillies Core Is Rotten, And It Needs To Change
The Phillies lost in 4 to the New York Mets in the NLDS and I can’t help but think about the fool’s errand “running it back” was in hindsight. Dave…
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JULY 24: Trea Turner #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates his solo home run with Bryce Harper #3 during the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on July 24, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
(Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images)The Phillies lost in 4 to the New York Mets in the NLDS and I can’t help but think about the fool’s errand “running it back” was in hindsight. Dave Dombrowski tried to bring back the crew that allegedly loves one another more than any he had seen, and it just didn’t work.
The Phillies lost to the Diamondbacks in 2023 due to a pathetic offense and against the Mets in 2024 it was even worse. A look at the batting averages of their core star players tells the entire story. You don’t even need any of the advanced stats.
The Phillies Stars Didn't Show Up
(Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)Kyle Schwarber, who had two hits in game 1, never got another hit in the series and batted .125. Trea Turner who has been treated better than any star in Philadelphia sports history by a wide margin, repaid the fans with a .200 average & criminally bad at bats in game 4. The alleged best catcher in baseball, JT Realmuto, didn’t get a hit the entire series. Not a single one.
Those guys deserve the biggest chunk of the blame. While Francisco Lindor came through with the biggest hit of the series, the Phillies stars came up small.
It wasn’t just the expensive stars who came up short though. Johan Rojas, who is there for defense, batted just .200, but he was better than the other role players. Alec Bohm, who was a first-time all-star in 2024 batted .077. Bryson Stott, a player many Phillies fans want to be the leadoff hitter batted .182. Brandon Marsh batted .077. It was gross. It was horrifying to watch.
The bullpen was brutal as well. Matt Strahm (18 ERA) and Jeff Hoffman (40.5 ERA) were not up to the task either. Rob Thomson mismanaged the bullpen in game 4 especially. He left Hoffman in for too long, and then he brings in a fly ball pitcher in Estevev with the bases loaded. Thomson was just as poor in game 4 as the team was.
A Few Bright Spots
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)There were a couple bright spots in the haze of miserable. Bryce Harper batted .333 and Nick Castellanos batted .412 in the series. They knocked in or scored almost all the Phillies' runs. They weren’t perfect, but they showed up. Zack Wheeler was excellent. Ranger Suarez did not have his best stuff, but he battled. If everyone battled as hard as he did, the Phillies win the series.
This Phillies’ core group is very talented, and they appear to be good guys. When they are in the heat of the moment though, none of them step up and make a difference. They love each other, but they go quietly into the night when they face adversity. There is something missing from this group and now it is on Dave Dombrowski to make the changes needed to win a World Series.
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After the Philadelphia Phillies broke a long playoff drought with a wild card berth in the MLB Playoffs in 2022, the city suddenly remembered the euphoria of postseason baseball at Citizens Bank Park.
An unexpected run from the sixth seed in the National League reignited Red October like nobody could've expected after 11 years of disappointment.
The 2022 Phillies
The Phillies swept the St. Louis Cardinals in "Baseball Heaven" to get things started. They stunned the heavily favored Atlanta Braves and convinced an entire fan base to believe.
The incredible momentum continued through a dramatic series win against the San Diego Padres to clinch the National League pennant.
Although they couldn't finish off the Houston Astros in the World Series, the city of Philadelphia will always remember the 2022 Phillies for a miracle October ride that coincided with success for the Eagles, Union, Flyers, and 76ers during the best month in Philadelphia sports history.
Relive the whirlwind of an unforgettable October with rally towels waving in the autumn air, the tension of living and dying with every pitch, and one of the best runs in Phillies franchise history.
Comeback Over Cardinals Sparks Momentum
October 7, 2022
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Phillies 6, St. Louis Cardinals 3
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October 14-15, 2022
National League Division Series, Games 3-4 at Citizens Bank Park
Phillies 9, Atlanta Braves 1; Phillies 8, Atlanta Braves 3
Remember when Red October awoke from 11 years or dormancy
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesKyle Schwarber Moonshot Leads Off NLCS
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National League Championship Series Game 1 at Petco Park
Phillies 2, San Diego Padres 0
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National League Championship Series Game 5 at Citizens Bank Park
Phillies 4, San Diego Padres 3
Relive one of the most memorable days in Phillies history
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesGame 1 of the World Series Spills Into 97.5 The Fanatic Fan Fest
October 28, 2022
World Series Game 1 at Minute Maid Park
Phillies 6, Houston Astros 5
The Tensest Game Of Your Life
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty ImagesJohn Kincade Intro Leads Into World Series Game 3 Slugfest
November 1, 2022
World Series Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park
Phillies 7, Houston Astros 0
