The Phillies Are Giving You Reasons to Head Down to the Ballpark
For the first time in 6 years, the Phillies are giving you reasons to head down to the ballpark and watch them. They’re young, they’re talented, they have flame-throwers and they’re winning.
“But why aren’t people showing up?”
Has been the main question surrounding this Phillies team to begin the season. Usually when a team is young, and winning the fans will show up and watch them, but that just hasn’t been the case to begin this season.
Why? Is baseball dying?
Not so fast my friends. Baseball will be just fine and as the Phillies continue to win, the fans will show up. Attendance has always been fickle with baseball in this town. Sure there was the 257 straight sell-out streak but there was also years of an empty Vet before that.
The problem, in my opinion, is that fans don’t know this team yet. Sure, the diehards know this team, but what had EVERYBODY following this team from 2007-2011 was our foundation of Jimmy, Chase, Ryan and Cole. We knew those guys and we trusted those guys.
This whole 2018 season will be a re-introduction to the Phillies for the common fan. After 6 years of being dormant, the common baseball fan has to know whether or not they can trust this team of kids like they did Chase, Jimmy, Ryan and Cole. Once we get past that, the fans will come back to Citizens Bank Park.
Now as for our reintroduction to Phillies baseball here are 4 reasons to head down to the ballpark and watch this team right now:
1. Jorge Alfaro’s Arm
Oh boy does this kid have a cannon. Possibly seeing him gun down an opposing runner is a reason to tune into the Phillies on a night-in night-out basis. His arm is electrifying and it is a weapon behind the dish. The three hardest balls thrown down to second base by catchers this year have all been by Jorge Alfaro and his one to nab Ender Inciarte on Wednesday night registered at 91 MPH.
https://twitter.com/statcast/status/999464091965063168
From his ESPN 8 The Ocho booth you can hear Pepper Brooks exclaim, “Hold the phone, kid’s got a cannon!”
We are beginning the watch the development of something special with Alfaro behind the dish.
2. Seranthony Dominguez… The Fireman
Yes, I just gave Dominguez his official nickname… the Fireman. And yes, I have already picked out his walkout song.
Just imagine how nuts a full CBP would get when they hear, “Fireman comin'” with the fire truck horns coming on immediately after. Ahhh it’d be perfect.
Anyway, Seranthony Dominguez hasn’t allowed a run yet and sources have confirmed to me that he may never allow a run. He’s the perfect multi-inning weapon that has become vital in modern baseball. The kind of guy that come into the crux of the ball game and put out the fire. Using Seranthony as a closer would be a waste when he can come in and get the heart of the order before getting to the ninth inning. Which was more important in that game on Wednesday night. Second and third with two outs in the 7th or ninth inning when the Phils were up by 4. The balance of the game was decided in the seventh and Seranthony shut the door on any Braves rally.
The Fireman.
3. The Starting Staff
An unexpected bright spot of this Phillies start has been this starting staff. Heading into the season, I thought the Phils were going to pummel teams offensively and hope that Pivetta or Velasquez could get you through 5 innings before handing it off to this bullpen. I always expected Nola and Arrieta to give a shot every 5th day but what I didn’t expect was the revelation that is Nick Pivetta and Velasquez finally looking like a competent starting pitcher. What I really didn’t expect was Zach Eflin to come up here and be painting 96 on both sides of the plate with a wipe-out slider but here we are.
Nola is top 5 in the NL in ERA and can pretty much roll out of bed at this point and give you 7 innings and less than 2 runs. He’s phenomenal and has almost taken a next step with his upped velocity and devastating change-up that he can throw in any count. He’ll get Cy Young consideration.
Arrieta has been up-and-down but has a .84 ERA at home and when his team needed him in the biggest start in 6 years, he delivered.
If you take out the Nationals start, Pivetta has a 2.25 ERA and has been developing a change-up, that if you couple with his 95+ MPH and wicked curveball, could give him the best “stuff” on the entire staff.
And Vinny Velo has been in this “fuck it” mode ever since he allowed a first inning homer to Gregor Blanco in the Giants series.
This starting staff is giving the Phils a chance every time they take the hill and they’re worthy of your attention.
4. Odubel being Odubel
If you don’t love Odubel Herrera, you probably hate fun. Odubel is second in the NL in batting average and his on-base streak is definitely still going on. He plays a gold glove caliber centerfield, has elite bat-to-ball skills and is electrifying on the field every night.
Most importantly, he pisses off old people, which the funnest part about Odubel.
Philly Fan Life is #PrOdubel, sorry if that offends.
This Phillies team is a bunch of fun right now. I know a lot of the common fans are just starting to check in on the Phillies and are wondering if they’re worth their time and let me be the first to tell you they are and they’re only getting better.
The Phillies offense hasn’t even come close to reaching it’s potential on paper. Rhys Hoskins is in his worst slump of his career, Scott Kingery has been equally as bad since the beginning of the season, Carlos Santana is just starting to heat-up and Aaron Altherr is starting to show signs of breaking out.
Couple that lineup heating up, with the staff staying hot, Seranthony putting out any fires and a trade in July, this summer is going to be a bunch of fun for Phillies fans that have been in hibernation for the last 6 years.
It’s good to have you back, Phils.