Amidst the growing animosity within the Phillies’ fan base regarding the team’s recent struggles, the Phillies themselves are still feeling quite confident.
While their lead in the National League East has shrunk to just 6 games over the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies still very much control their destiny. The Phillies are set to play the Braves at the end of the month and have 7 more ballgames against their division rival. A stretch of 10 road games against playoff contenders will put the club to the test but for the Phillies, all they have to do is win.
Easier said than done of course, but ahead of a West Coast trip, the Phillies can put to bed all noise of a collapse with a win Friday night in Seattle. Facing arguably the best pitching staff in the major leagues, it will not be the easiest game on the calendar in 2024.
Down the path most traveled
The Phillies struggled in July. They are a below .500 team since taking a trip across the pond to play in London and have fallen from the historic pace they played to at the beginning of the 2024 season. It was unreasonable to think the club would shatter the 2001 Seattle Mariners win record of 116 games but expecting the 4th highest payroll to play well above .500 is warranted.
Every professional baseball team will go through a stretch where they look like a shell of themselves. The New York Yankees and Houston Astros have gone through similar patches this season as well. Based on the way the Yankees played in Philly this past week, you would never be able to tell the club had struggles just weeks prior.
All teams travel down this path at one point or another. Other great Phillies teams have had similar struggles. If you check back into the 2008, 2009, 1980, and other teams in Philly’s past, you will see the common trend. Their sweep by the Yankees is the first time suffering this fate all season and waiting until the last weekend of July to get swept is a very proud achievement.
Speaking of the 2001 Mariners, they didn’t get swept until the final series of their regular season. It just goes to show that it happens to every team and while the last few weeks have not been their best, the Phillies aren’t falling off the rails quite yet.
Time for the Phillies to get angry.
When you play a sport in Philadelphia, it has been proven that the fans want you to show you care just as much. When the team is playing well, they want you to show your excitement. During times when the clubs aren’t playing well, the fans want them to showcase they are just as frustrated.
When heading onto the field in Seattle tonight, fans are going to want to see their favorite team hustle and show emotion. With a close play, a strikeout, or even a big hit, the Phillies would be good to wear their emotions on their sleeves.
Tyler Phillips will have no issue with this, as he is tonight’s starting pitcher. Phillips, a longtime Phillies fan, puts everything he has behind every pitch. The rest of the club should follow suit against Seattle.
Series in Seattle
This weekend the Phillies will face off against the 57-53 Seattle Mariners. The club is tied with the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West. At one point this season, they held a 10-game lead over the Astros in the division. The very nightmare some Phillies fans are having is one Mariners fans have lived this season.
The Mariners will send Bryan Woo to the mound in Game 1. Woo has a 4-1 record in 11 starts. His 2.35 earned run average is almost expected in a dominant rotation that the club features. In his last outing, he went 4 innings, allowing 4 hits, 0 earned runs, and had three strikeouts. If the Phillies can get Woo in the 70-pitch range, this is where Seattle often goes to their bullpen.
At the trade deadline, the Mariners were active. Adding Randy Arozrena and Justin Turner to a struggling offense, the Phillies will be facing off against a team looking to light a spark. Keeping these new additions in check will be key to victory.
Photo Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
