The Phillies are Tied for First in the East…So Why Not?

Close your eyes and remember a time when this team gave you goosebumps.

 

If you’re a little older maybe it was 1980 or ’93. If you’re like me, it’s probably 2007-2011.

 

I feel it again. The Phillies are fun to watch.

 

They’re in first place once again in the east and have been comfortably holding onto a wild card spot for weeks. So, let’s get excited again because why not??? And there’s a very good reason to be enthralled with the Phils.

 

This team kinds stinks, doesn’t it?

 

If you look at this team on paper, it looks nothing like a team that’s on pace for over 80 wins and a playoff berth.

 

The Phils have the second highest team strikeout percentage (24.6%) and the 4th lowest team average (.239) and they’re still winning games?!?

 

Thanks Gabe.

 

They’re 6-0 in their last six games and the bats are white hot. Rhys, Maikel, and Scotty (I’m particularly excited about him) are all on fire in the last month and while they all seem to be streaky, the team has really been winning all season except for small skids.

 

What that really shows is a manager who is finding ways to win games that his team has no business winning. Remember when we wanted him fired day 1? I was in that boat too but Gabe has brought me to a complete 180 and I’m all about (most) of his moves and you should be too because they’re winning games.

 

The team has nowhere to go but up from here. Don’t expect any rings this year but if this rag tag team of misfits can somehow manage to squeak into the playoffs (44.4% chance to) imagine what they can do next season with more pieces in place.

 

There are pitchers coming. There are first round position talents coming. And most importantly, there is a LOT of money coming. This Phils team payroll is well below the league average. This team needs an All-Star level player to draw people to games and to bring wins. Trout, Harper, Machado…whoever (see my article “The Future of The Phillies Looks Like Manny Machado” about all that).

 

It’s going to take a lot to beat the Braves for the next ten or so years by the way that team is looking and the Phillies have the talent to do so without even showing their best hand.

 

I trust Klentak, Kapler, and everyone at CBP to make the right decisions with this astoundingly average team going forward.

 

So why not for the Phillies this year? There’s a young budding manager, young talent and a promise of older, experienced talent on the way. This just feels right doesn’t it? I had the same feeling in my stomach about the 2016-17 Eagles and look what happened the year after.

 

Let’s get excited about the Phillies Ladies and Gents because if watching this team doesn’t make you laugh, cry, smile ear to ear, or anything in between then you have no soul.

 

I’ll leave you with the following video. They say the universe is cyclical, and do these words by the late, great HK not perfectly show that? I dare you to watch this and not tear up.

 

By Vince Scian | July 8, 2018