How Did We Get Here?
It’s not truly fall unless I’m undergoing some sort of season-ending emotional turmoil with the Phillies. I care! No I don’t! We’re going to win it all! We will never win another game! Well, everybody, by that measure, fall has officially started.
Phillies GM Matt Klentak participated in interviews this week while the Phillies finished up a series with the Braves in Atlanta. The press rightly asked questions that gave Klentak the chance to claim accountability for why the city stares down the barrel of potentially (probably?) yet another October without any Phillies baseball. The outcome is unsatisfactory.
When the Eagles schedule was released, the NFL scheduled three away games for them in a row in October, because the league assumed the Phillies would make the playoffs and the games would directly conflict. Hearing that now feels like it was the kiss of death. It’s hard to reconcile the expectations the city had for the Phillies with seeing how it played out.
Which is why it’s so frustrating that Klentak’s answers conveyed the apathy the front office has displayed since mid season.
The tired Philadelphia motto of “there’s always next year” began earlier than anticipated, given how the previous offseason went. It’s perplexing why it feels like we have been discussing the offseason since July. What the hell happened to World Series or bust? Or at least division or bust?
At the trade deadline, the Phillies front office pursued neither Dallas Keuchel nor Craig Kimbrel, instead opting for players like Jason Vargas and Drew Smyly. Keuchel called the Phillies out last week for not pursuing him and making themselves actual contenders, a sentiment shared by fans. Klentak tried to explain that away as not worth the value of the asking price. Fine, I’ll accept that. It wouldn’t be the first time the Phillies opted for less expensive players, and yielded great results (i.e. they originally signed Jayson Werth for a one year, $850,000 contract, which was a steal from what they ended up getting from him during their 07/08/09 playoff runs).
What’s more confusing – and feels like it’s not being addressed nearly enough – is Klentak’s blind confidence in Vince Valasquez, Nick Pivetta and Zach Eflin, enough that he didn’t feel compelled to address it. To any casual fan, the Phillies main problem was obviously starting pitching. The Bryce Harper and Andrew McCutchen additions brought energy to the clubhouse, and both players sparked a sense of contention. They allowed fans have playoff expectations instead of hopes. But Klentak gambled on Valasquez/Pivetta/Eflin and not a single one took the step forward the front office thought they would. They still haven’t.
It is understood that Klentak is not to blame for everything. The Phillies have lost eight (eight!) bullpen pitchers to injuries this season. The offense, understandably, cannot carry every single game while enduring regular season hot and cold streaks. Jake Arrieta’s bone spurs and Andrew McCutchen’s ACL took them down. Circumstances worked against the team that were out of the front office’s hands, but their inability to bolster morale or make aggressive moods is deflating at best, and essentially nullifies any excitement acquired with the previous offseason signings.
So, if Klentak is talking about offseason moves, he has no shortage of a place to start. They need to include locking JT Realmuto down; figuring out how to maximize Scott Kingery’s talent; ditching Odubel Herrara; and please, PLEASE, addressing our starting pitching.
Klentak signed a three year contract extension after the Harper acquisition. Does that mean we have another three years of lackluster moves and resigned attitudes? It’s hard not to feel a little bitter about what this year could have been. Perhaps the largest issue that the organization needs to answer for is overall attitude. At this point, the season is technically not over yet, but damn does it feel that way.
Phillies fans know how to be cynical on their own – the whole organization should be fighting hard until the very end. I guess there’s always next year.