View Single Post
Old 03-23-2019, 10:27 AM   #17
jaa36
Hall Of Famer
 
jaa36's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3,029
2023 midseason

What's the Phillies problem? If you ask manager Gabe Kapler, it's just the way the games have gone this year. "If you look at our run differential, we've scored over a hundred more runs than we've given up," said Kapler. "That just hasn't translated into a lot of wins for us."

The Phillies are only 48-47 heading into the All-Star break. Nonetheless, they're only one game out of the second Wild Card spot, and they appear poised to make a run in the second half.

Much of their run differential came in an incredible doubleheader against the Rockies in June in which they won games by a score of 16-3 and 31-5 in the thin Colorado air. "That was fun," said left fielder Ross Adolph, who went 8 for 10 in the two games. "We should play there more often."

Starter Trevor Bauer has proven to be worth every bit of his $33 million salary, going 7-2 with a 1.89 ERA. While the offense hasn't had any breakout stars, it's been good enough from top to bottom and leads the National League in runs scored.

Not every move has worked out for Matt Klentak, though. Pitcher Mike Soroka was a disappointment and was sent to the Cubs with infielder Javier Baez for catcher Willson Contreras. That gets the Phils off the hook for the remainder of Soroka and Baez's contracts, but they'll have to pay the declining Contreras $11 million the next two seasons instead.

Just today, Klentak picked up pitcher Luis Castillo from the Cardinals in exchange for a minor leaguer. Castillo, in the last year of his contract, is 6-4 with a 3.43 ERA thus far.

The Phils have a bit of ground to make up. Owner John Middleton is said to be displeased with the team's performance. It's possible that some moves could be made at the top if the team can't turn things around.
Attached Images
Image 
jaa36 is offline   Reply With Quote