25 games to go, 2 games out in the loss column against the Cubs.
I didn't analyze the Phillies schedule or the Cubs schedule, to try and figure out the chances, and I'm not going to. Why bother with the haphazard way the Phillies have played all season.
If the Phillies make it, then they make it. If they don't, then they don't.
@stevek said:
25 games to go, 2 games out in the loss column against the Cubs.
I didn't analyze the Phillies schedule or the Cubs schedule, to try and figure out the chances, and I'm not going to. Why bother with the haphazard way the Phillies have played all season.
If the Phillies make it, then they make it. If they don't, then they don't.
@stevek Thoughts on Harper at this point? I haven’t opened this thread or read any of it probably since May so if it’s been addressed already I’m too lazy to look
@perkdog said: @stevek Thoughts on Harper at this point? I haven’t opened this thread or read any of it probably since May so if it’s been addressed already I’m too lazy to look
Harper is a solid addition to any team, and I'm glad the Phillies have him.
The fact that he hasn't been worth that sort of money isn't even debatable.
Obviously the expectations were way too high for a variety of reasons.
Harper is a solid addition to any team, and I'm glad the Phillies have him.
The fact that he hasn't been worth that sort of money isn't even debatable.
Obviously the expectations were way too high for a variety of reasons.
Maybe he'll have a better season next year? 🤷
A mixed bag. This season, he isn't quite worth what they are paying him. On the other hand, he's signed to a long-term contract so the Phils consider him a franchise player. And he isn't even 27 years old till next month. He also has 30 HR's and 100 RBI's and the season is not over yet.
Harper is a solid addition to any team, and I'm glad the Phillies have him.
The fact that he hasn't been worth that sort of money isn't even debatable.
Obviously the expectations were way too high for a variety of reasons.
Maybe he'll have a better season next year? 🤷
A mixed bag. This season, he isn't quite worth what they are paying him. On the other hand, he's signed to a long-term contract so the Phils consider him a franchise player. And he isn't even 27 years old till next month. He also has 30 HR's and 100 RBI's and the season is not over yet.
A number of Harper's stats may wind up as good or slightly better than his previous season with the Nationals. So he should not be considered a bust by any stretch of the imagination, even from the haters.
I just thought, and I believe the Phillies thought, that in the friendly confines of playing 81 games at Citizens Bank Park, that he would markedly improve on his stats. "Markedly" has not happened.
@ernie11 said:
Another loss. They're fading out of the wild card race, even the Diamondbacks are ahead of them now.
Let's remember though that just two seasons ago, the Phillies were one of the worst teams in MLB.
Last season the Phillies finished 2 games below .500, and now they are 5 games above .500. So progress has been made, but it appears right now that it's not quite good enough yet to be a playoff team.
Even if the Phillies do gain a wildcard spot this season, it's obvious that more pieces to the puzzle are needed in order to be a championship contender.
@stevek said:
Well, still a little bit of life left.
Hanging by a thread.
The problem is that the Cubs just haven't put together that consistent a season - I keep waiting for them to break out and run away with the other wild card and then they lose, and now suddenly the Brewers are back in the race. Go figure. At least you can't say it ain't been exciting.
Another loss. Right now the Cubs lost and have fallen into a tie with the Brewers for the second wild-card, Milwaukee has won 6 in a row. Remains to be seen if the Brewers can take this one with Yelich out for the season. Phils and Mets are 2 games back.
@ernie11 said:
Another loss. Right now the Cubs lost and have fallen into a tie with the Brewers for the second wild-card, Milwaukee has won 6 in a row. Remains to be seen if the Brewers can take this one with Yelich out for the season. Phils and Mets are 2 games back.
The basic problem with not many games left, is trying to get hot and climb over teams that are ahead of you, and also hope other teams around you don't get hotter. It's a grim situation.
I'd say the chances of the Phillies making the wild card, right now are probably less than 10%.
But stranger things have happened in the world of sports.
All in all, this season was a big disappointment. Once McCutcheon got hurt, their offense never really got in sync. Too many games where they couldn't score runs. When they brought Charlie back, the offense came to life a little, but could never sustain anything. The starting pitching turned out to be a disaster; the relief corp was a MASH unit. Not just due to the wins and losses but I for one was not very happy with the way Kapler handled things; you would just see the same stuff night in and night out. I'd prefer that they let him go. They probably won't because he is their poster child for baseball analytics, but you have to develop a feel for the game and I just don't see that from Kapler.
@JRR300 said:
All in all, this season was a big disappointment. Once McCutcheon got hurt, their offense never really got in sync. Too many games where they couldn't score runs. When they brought Charlie back, the offense came to life a little, but could never sustain anything. The starting pitching turned out to be a disaster; the relief corp was a MASH unit. Not just due to the wins and losses but I for one was not very happy with the way Kapler handled things; you would just see the same stuff night in and night out. I'd prefer that they let him go. They probably won't because he is their poster child for baseball analytics, but you have to develop a feel for the game and I just don't see that from Kapler.
Kapler has another year on his contract.
I suspect that he will probably be given once more chance. But if the Phillies get off to a bad start next year, Kapler may not finish the season.
I suspect that he will probably be given once more chance. But if the Phillies get off to a bad start next year, Kapler may not finish the season.
I hear you, but do you really want to see him back again next year? This team is now under .500 with 3 games left...against a team that has given them fits all season. If I'm the one who spent all that money to bring in Harper, Realmuto, et al, I'm pretty pissed now. We shall soon see.
Per the Harper deal, the saying goes “only time will tell”, well there’s plenty of that. But Realmuto is a beast and has one of the best canons in the game. I personally think he was a much wiser pickup than Harper. Got to give Harper credit though. I was very surprised to see him remain rather healthy for the season.
As for Kapler, I believe in second chances. Just not third. Firmly align with the theory that if they come out lackluster, he’s a goner before the all-star break.
I suspect that he will probably be given once more chance. But if the Phillies get off to a bad start next year, Kapler may not finish the season.
I hear you, but do you really want to see him back again next year? This team is now under .500 with 3 games left...against a team that has given them fits all season. If I'm the one who spent all that money to bring in Harper, Realmuto, et al, I'm pretty pissed now. We shall soon see.
I was really rooting for Kapler to succeed, i like the guy. Usually i don't care that much about the baseball manager. But if Kapler gets canned it wouldn't bother me that much at this point.
One thing that does bug me a little about Kapler were the silly lineup changes, some of which were a bit bizarre. So who knows what else "bizarre" chit could be going on behind the scenes?
i don't know what the front office is going to do with Kapler in the off season? Likely they don't even know for sure right now. But in my opinion they're probably leaning towards one more try.
I thought I was by far in the minority, but it doesn't appear that's the case. Just listening the last few days, TV and radio, they are all calling for his firing. They have some viable pieces, so let's get a real manager in here; I vote for Girardi.
@JRR300 said:
I thought I was by far in the minority, but it doesn't appear that's the case. Just listening the last few days, TV and radio, they are all calling for his firing. They have some viable pieces, so let's get a real manager in here; I vote for Girardi.
Last time i checked, and it could of been a chart made before the Harper signing, the Phillies had only the 15th highest payroll in MLB.
So i would think that they've got room to sign at least one or two good pitchers.
Presuming that will get done, in my opinion, they'll probably give Kaplar one more shot at it.
There are a few top flight pitchers that should be available this off season; that has to be their #1 priority. And they need probably 2 guys at the back end of the pen, as Robertson is out all next year as well.
@ernie11 said:
80 wins in 2018. 81 wins in 2019. Progress. (And if you take my comments here literally, your sarcasm settings are set to Off).
It’s what statisticians call “statistically insignificant.” Last season the Phillies were in first place for a lot of the summer. That did make things more interesting.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
@ernie11 said:
80 wins in 2018. 81 wins in 2019. Progress. (And if you take my comments here literally, your sarcasm settings are set to Off).
It’s what statisticians call “statistically insignificant.” Last season the Phillies were in first place for a lot of the summer. That did make thing more interesting.
Interesting yes, but without mincing words, 2019 turned out to be a good old fashioned collapse.
@ernie11 said:
80 wins in 2018. 81 wins in 2019. Progress. (And if you take my comments here literally, your sarcasm settings are set to Off).
It’s what statisticians call “statistically insignificant.” Last season the Phillies were in first place for a lot of the summer. That did make thing more interesting.
Interesting yes, but without mincing words, 2019 turned out to be a good old fashioned collapse.
And yet they didn't go thru the worst second-half collapse for a Pennsylvania team (i.e., the Pirates: 44-45 at the All-Star break, 69-93 at the end).
@ernie11 said:
80 wins in 2018. 81 wins in 2019. Progress. (And if you take my comments here literally, your sarcasm settings are set to Off).
It’s what statisticians call “statistically insignificant.” Last season the Phillies were in first place for a lot of the summer. That did make thing more interesting.
Interesting yes, but without mincing words, 2019 turned out to be a good old fashioned collapse.
As a Phillies fan for 59 years, after 1964, I'm used to it. In fact I almost expect it. That's why 1980, when the Phillies beat the Expos to get into the World Series, was so entertaining. So was 1993 when it was Atlanta's turn to collapse in the play-offs. All the comentators were saying, "Atlanta will walk over these turkeys" but it didn't happern.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
I beg to differ because this year's team did have some talent. Offensively, with the players they have, there was no logical reason for this team to struggle to score runs the way they did. I'd like to have a breakdown of how many games they were either shut out or scored just 1,2,or 3 runs. It just seemed to happen way too often. And a team with these players should never have been outscored over the entire season. I know the pitching wasn't good, but the lack of offense made it difficult for the pitchers night in and night out.
The NL East must have been kind of weak this year. The Cards came into their (Atlanta the Division winner) house and put 10 on them in the 1st. Are they playing Baseball or Football?
@DIMEMAN said:
The NL East must have been kind of weak this year. The Cards came into their (Atlanta the Division winner) house and put 10 on them in the 1st. Are they playing Baseball or Football?
I am surprised by the NLCS finalists. But I recall that both the Cards and Nats did very well down the stretch.
Comments
Nice little three game win streak for the Phillies.
I'll take it.
They're chasing the Cubs for the 2nd wild card, but that's about it, they're chasing.
25 games to go, 2 games out in the loss column against the Cubs.
I didn't analyze the Phillies schedule or the Cubs schedule, to try and figure out the chances, and I'm not going to. Why bother with the haphazard way the Phillies have played all season.
If the Phillies make it, then they make it. If they don't, then they don't.
Even if they make it........it's one and done!
That winning streak came to a screeching halt when the opposing pitcher took the Philly's downtown!
@stevek Thoughts on Harper at this point? I haven’t opened this thread or read any of it probably since May so if it’s been addressed already I’m too lazy to look
Harper is a solid addition to any team, and I'm glad the Phillies have him.
The fact that he hasn't been worth that sort of money isn't even debatable.
Obviously the expectations were way too high for a variety of reasons.
Maybe he'll have a better season next year? 🤷
A mixed bag. This season, he isn't quite worth what they are paying him. On the other hand, he's signed to a long-term contract so the Phils consider him a franchise player. And he isn't even 27 years old till next month. He also has 30 HR's and 100 RBI's and the season is not over yet.
A number of Harper's stats may wind up as good or slightly better than his previous season with the Nationals. So he should not be considered a bust by any stretch of the imagination, even from the haters.
I just thought, and I believe the Phillies thought, that in the friendly confines of playing 81 games at Citizens Bank Park, that he would markedly improve on his stats. "Markedly" has not happened.
30 HR's and 100 RBI's isn't that bad really. I didn't realize he was doing that good.
Another loss. They're fading out of the wild card race, even the Diamondbacks are ahead of them now.
Let's remember though that just two seasons ago, the Phillies were one of the worst teams in MLB.
Last season the Phillies finished 2 games below .500, and now they are 5 games above .500. So progress has been made, but it appears right now that it's not quite good enough yet to be a playoff team.
Even if the Phillies do gain a wildcard spot this season, it's obvious that more pieces to the puzzle are needed in order to be a championship contender.
Somehow they survive the Mets. Now a 4-game series with Hotlanta.
Badly need to take 3 outa 4 here, but I have to question the Phillies capabilities to do that against the Braves. Hopefully the Phils can step it up?
Even a series split isn't much help at this point. Time is getting short. And losing 3 outa 4 might end it for the season.
I think the "Fat Lady" sang on the Phillies.
Phillies down 4-0 and being no hit after four innings.
Might be time to admit that this dog can't hunt.
Phillies now down 7-1 in the seventh inning.
This Phillies season now officially has one foot in the grave. ⚰️
The other foot is on a banana peel!
Well, still a little bit of life left.
Hanging by a thread.
The problem is that the Cubs just haven't put together that consistent a season - I keep waiting for them to break out and run away with the other wild card and then they lose, and now suddenly the Brewers are back in the race. Go figure. At least you can't say it ain't been exciting.
I am new, so let me apologize in advance but this being the first thing out of the gate literally made me shoot beer through my nose.
It’s still stinging but I am stick cracking up!
Another loss. Right now the Cubs lost and have fallen into a tie with the Brewers for the second wild-card, Milwaukee has won 6 in a row. Remains to be seen if the Brewers can take this one with Yelich out for the season. Phils and Mets are 2 games back.
The basic problem with not many games left, is trying to get hot and climb over teams that are ahead of you, and also hope other teams around you don't get hotter. It's a grim situation.
I'd say the chances of the Phillies making the wild card, right now are probably less than 10%.
But stranger things have happened in the world of sports.
Hangin' on by a thread.
/thread.
Stick a fork in'em guys.....their done!
Bad ending to the season.
All in all, this season was a big disappointment. Once McCutcheon got hurt, their offense never really got in sync. Too many games where they couldn't score runs. When they brought Charlie back, the offense came to life a little, but could never sustain anything. The starting pitching turned out to be a disaster; the relief corp was a MASH unit. Not just due to the wins and losses but I for one was not very happy with the way Kapler handled things; you would just see the same stuff night in and night out. I'd prefer that they let him go. They probably won't because he is their poster child for baseball analytics, but you have to develop a feel for the game and I just don't see that from Kapler.
Kapler has another year on his contract.
I suspect that he will probably be given once more chance. But if the Phillies get off to a bad start next year, Kapler may not finish the season.
>
I hear you, but do you really want to see him back again next year? This team is now under .500 with 3 games left...against a team that has given them fits all season. If I'm the one who spent all that money to bring in Harper, Realmuto, et al, I'm pretty pissed now. We shall soon see.
Per the Harper deal, the saying goes “only time will tell”, well there’s plenty of that. But Realmuto is a beast and has one of the best canons in the game. I personally think he was a much wiser pickup than Harper. Got to give Harper credit though. I was very surprised to see him remain rather healthy for the season.
As for Kapler, I believe in second chances. Just not third. Firmly align with the theory that if they come out lackluster, he’s a goner before the all-star break.
I was really rooting for Kapler to succeed, i like the guy. Usually i don't care that much about the baseball manager. But if Kapler gets canned it wouldn't bother me that much at this point.
One thing that does bug me a little about Kapler were the silly lineup changes, some of which were a bit bizarre. So who knows what else "bizarre" chit could be going on behind the scenes?
i don't know what the front office is going to do with Kapler in the off season? Likely they don't even know for sure right now. But in my opinion they're probably leaning towards one more try.
I thought I was by far in the minority, but it doesn't appear that's the case. Just listening the last few days, TV and radio, they are all calling for his firing. They have some viable pieces, so let's get a real manager in here; I vote for Girardi.
Last time i checked, and it could of been a chart made before the Harper signing, the Phillies had only the 15th highest payroll in MLB.
So i would think that they've got room to sign at least one or two good pitchers.
Presuming that will get done, in my opinion, they'll probably give Kaplar one more shot at it.
There are a few top flight pitchers that should be available this off season; that has to be their #1 priority. And they need probably 2 guys at the back end of the pen, as Robertson is out all next year as well.
80 wins in 2018. 81 wins in 2019. Progress. (And if you take my comments here literally, your sarcasm settings are set to Off).
It’s what statisticians call “statistically insignificant.” Last season the Phillies were in first place for a lot of the summer. That did make things more interesting.
Interesting yes, but without mincing words, 2019 turned out to be a good old fashioned collapse.
And yet they didn't go thru the worst second-half collapse for a Pennsylvania team (i.e., the Pirates: 44-45 at the All-Star break, 69-93 at the end).
And they didn't collapse as suddenly as the Cubs.
As a Phillies fan for 59 years, after 1964, I'm used to it. In fact I almost expect it. That's why 1980, when the Phillies beat the Expos to get into the World Series, was so entertaining. So was 1993 when it was Atlanta's turn to collapse in the play-offs. All the comentators were saying, "Atlanta will walk over these turkeys" but it didn't happern.
I beg to differ because this year's team did have some talent. Offensively, with the players they have, there was no logical reason for this team to struggle to score runs the way they did. I'd like to have a breakdown of how many games they were either shut out or scored just 1,2,or 3 runs. It just seemed to happen way too often. And a team with these players should never have been outscored over the entire season. I know the pitching wasn't good, but the lack of offense made it difficult for the pitchers night in and night out.
Season ended Sunday and still no word on Kapler. Absolute quiet on all fronts. Can't get a read on this one. Is he staying?
He's outlasted Joe Maddon, Clint Hurdle and Brad Ausmus, but that ain't saying much.
They were gone before Sunday night. Been relatively quiet since then
Over a week later....still all quiet on the Phillies front...office that is.
The NL East must have been kind of weak this year. The Cards came into their (Atlanta the Division winner) house and put 10 on them in the 1st. Are they playing Baseball or Football?
Kapler bites the dust. I have a new definition for getting old: when you've lived through at least 20 Phillies managers.
I am surprised by the NLCS finalists. But I recall that both the Cards and Nats did very well down the stretch.