I walked to get coffee at my favorite neighborhood coffee shop this past week, and as I made my way to the shop I noticed sidewalk chalk drawings along the sidewalk. Drawings of Phillies P’s, Let’s Go Phillies and “Ring the Bell” the team’s home run slogan were beginning to fade away from their sidewalk canvas’. How fitting I thought. Like these children’s drawings our memories of this past postseason are…hopefully… beginning to fade also. But there are still some big lingering questions that are still remaining about this Phillies team.
“I want my F**king trophy back” became the rallying cry during Spring training. It made Phils fans..me included.. rabid for the start of the season. Especially after the heartbreak of the 2023 NLCS. I looked like Spike being held back by his weird Dad from the movie The Little Giants waiting for the start of the season. You know that scene when the Cowboys were being insulted by the Giants through the vents in the locker room before the big game? Spike was ready to go out and pummel the Giants. Maybe a poor reference considering it involves the Cowboys and Giants but you catch my drift, Phillies fans were hungry for a Championship. A Championship that we came so close to getting in 2022 and 2023.
At the beginning of the year that championship appeared inevitable. The Phils looked like they were shout out of a freakin ‘cannon. Holding the best record in baseball for most of the first half of the season and on pace to conquer the 2001 Mariners all time single season record. Barreling their way through their opponents. Schwarber was hitting lead off bombs, Bryson Stott looked like an emerging star, It was looking like Ranger and Wheeler were going to have to split the NL CY Young ( I had a future bet on Ranger actually winning the award) and Bryce was Bryce leading the team and donning the Phanatic details on his uniform and his Wawa headband. I was already getting ready to save a spot on Broad Street for the parade.
The All Star Game came and 3 of the 4 infield positions were occupied by Phillies. Bryce Harper at first, Trea Turner at short, and Alec Bohm at third. The second half was going in the direction of a fall to remember. The Phils were appointment TV. They were a must watch.
But like it always does in sports the team hit a skid. Bats went cold, injuries happened and the long haul of 162 game season began to take effect.
The Phillies limped their way into the postseason. Winning the NL East (the first time in 13 years) and clinching the first round bye all in the last week of the season. Now, with the postseason fully in our sights the questions about the postseason began to arise. Will the bye be a good or a bad thing? Who will be the game 2 starter? Will this offense be capable of getting back to its early season form? There was something that was just off from the start. My confidence in the team was waning. Then the NLDS happened.
And as most of you know it didn’t end well. A series loss to the Mets..
It had to be The Mets.
All of those questions were answered. The biggest one being the offense. Turns out The Phillies were not able to get back their early season form. Posting a .186 team average and a .302 team slugging percentage in the NLDS. Numbers you don’t want to see from the team with one of the best records in baseball. It was hard to watch. The Phils looked uninspired at times, trying to win on talent alone, except for game 2 every game after was hard to watch. I was waiting on every at bat thinking “this is it this is the at bat where we bust it open”. Nah. I was cursing the ghost of Tom Seaver, getting upset at the very sight of Mark Vientos, and asking the question how on earth is Pete Alonso a pro athlete?
There was no discipline at the plate, no adjustments to pitching, and errors in the field. An absolute brutal series to get through. The Phillies essentially faced the 2022 version of themselves.
A season that started with such hope and excitement went away just like that. Like it always seems to do in Philadelphia.
It had to be The Mets…
This week the Phillies announced they are bringing back Topper on a 1 year extension after another postseason short of a World Series title and questionable managerial decisions. Taking care of one of the first big offseason decisions they face.
In all honesty, I like the move. Good organizations have stability at the top and The Phillies are a good organization. Bringing back Topper shows that. Not only is stability important in the pursuit of championships but it also shows the players like to play for him. And we all know we have to make these cry baby millionaires happy!
Just kidding.
I know some people are pointing fingers at Rob Thomson for his minimal changes to the lineup and his easy laid back approach with his players, and some people are in the Dave Dombrowksi didn’t do shit at the trade deadline camp. But those things in my opinion had little to do with the postseason outcome.
The talk so far is that the team will run it back next year with the same group. But there really needs to be some changes. Trea Turner in center? Schwarber finally out of the leadoff spot? An actual serviceable outfielder? A closer? Plus add in a fully healthy Braves team and a Mets team most likely to add a superstar.
It should be an interesting offseason for the Fightins. I don’t expect them to fade away but who knows how long this window will be open.
thetownmile.com 