The Phillies got swept by the New York Mets to start the week, shrinking their division lead to four games. After the weekend, the Phillies had taken 3/4 from the Atlanta Braves while the Mets lost 3/4 to the Miami Marlins. With that, the Phillies’ lead went back to six games as we enter the final month of the season.
September Starts Now
As the calendar turns over to September, the Phillies lead the NL East by six games, which is something they would’ve loved if they heard that in April. However, the last series at Citi Field proved that playing the Mets on the road is the worst thing that could happen to the Phillies come October. The Phillies have lost 10 straight games at Citi Field, and this past series was no different. The Phillies got absolutely dominated. To put it frankly, the Phillies showed absolutely no fight against the Mets. Something that I will touch on later. However, that debacle of a series went down the drain after they returned home and took 3/4 from the Atlanta Braves. Starting the series off with a four-homer game from Kyle Schwarber, the fourth in franchise history. Thanks to our friends down in Miami, the Marlins took 3/4 from the Mets, bringing the lead back to six games.
That brings us to today. A six-game lead with 25 games to play in the season. Four of those 25 are against the New York Mets, but this time at home. If the Phillies can take 3/4 from the Mets during that series while maintaining this current lead, they could bury the Mets that series. If that’s the case, this team is going to have to put up way more of a fight than last time.
Lack of Urgency
This is something I have avoided all year because I don’t want to doubt Rob Thomson, but with the season coming down the stretch, my biggest concerns are the offense disappearing and Rob Thomson. Last Tuesday, while the Phillies were getting mopped up by the Mets, the umpiring was questionable (as it was the whole series). I was waiting and waiting for Rob Thomson to explode and give his team some kind of juice. Instead, he just sat in the dugout. The night before, he put Jordan Romano in a close game, then immediately gave up four runs. No spark, no flare, not much of anything. A series against a division rival, and the team looked flat. It reminded me of the days of Charlie Manuel. I’m watching, thinking Charlie would’ve lost his mind by now. I’m not even in the dugout, and I can tell this team is flat. Isn’t it part of a manager’s job to motivate their guys when needed?
Ever since Rob Thomson put Craig Kimbrel back into that Diamondbacks series two seasons ago, I have questioned his bullpen decisions in big-time games over and over again. A clear example of this is putting Orion Kerkering in (a guy who has struggled inheriting runners on base) in a BASES LOADED jam against the Mets. What do you think happened? He gave up runs. For someone who claims to be so analytical, I truly question Thomson’s managerial feel for a game. Yes, baseball is a numbers game, but you also have to go with your instinctive feeling. The fact that we kept trotting out Jordan Romano and his 8 ERA is beyond me. Then, for the organization to cut Joe Ross and not Romano is questionable to me as well. If Romano is on the postseason roster, that tells me everything I need to know about this team. Time and time again, it feels like Rob presses the wrong button, and one wrong push might cost him his job this offseason.
Now, yes, they turned the page and beat the Atlanta Braves, but is that something we really should be happy about? Beating down on a team that is 62-75. They did what they should have done. I’m not calling for Thomson’s job, but if this team loses in a fashion in which the offense disappears and Thomson mismanages the bullpen (again), I think the conversations are going to get really loud about whether Rob is the guy. This core is not getting any younger, and at some point, you have to explore other options. He’s a player’s manager, but sometimes this city needs a little tough love. I’ve yet to see any spark from any player this year outside of Turner and Schwarber.
Even Harper has been inconsistent lately. Oh, and can we please cut it out with this “Rivalry” series equipment? Here we are entering the final stretch of the season, and our superstar is worried about his batting gloves and cleats matching the color of our division rivals. Guess what, the Phillies are 0-2 in those games. It doesn’t work.
New Addition
Hopefully, that spark is coming soon since the Phillies announced yesterday the signing of Walker Buehler, a right-handed pitcher who was let go from the Red Sox last week. Buehler is a former World Champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers and provides the attitude this Phillies team desperately needs. Buehler offers playoff experience along with a guy you can trust in a big game in big moments. I think this signing is going to be a very beneficial one for the Phillies come playoff time. With Zach Wheeler done for the year, the only righties we have are Aaron Nola and Taijuan Walker. Buehler provides depth at that right-handed pitcher position and can start games but also come out of the bullpen.
Upcoming Week
The Phillies have a big week ahead, starting with a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers (85-53). They play Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday in Milwaukee with an off day mixed in on Tuesday. A huge three-game series with the top two teams in the NL based on record. The Phillies are currently 5.5 games back of the Brewers for the top spot in the NL. After the Brewers, the Phillies head to Miami to take on the Marlins (65-72) in a three-game series.
It would be massive if the Phillies could win 5/6 on the week. Especially if they can take at least 2/3 from the Brewers, a team that swept them at home earlier this season.
Weekly Predictions
The Phillies’ offense gets back into a consistent groove after a week of inconsistency.
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