NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Philadelphia Phillies could not duplicate another magical run to the World Series as they fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 7 games. However, that doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. It’s time to regroup and run it back for 2024. And that begins with the same core.
For the Phillies, all they have to think about is where they stand among the so-called elite teams in the National League. And to take it further, where they stand with teams such as the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros. As it stands now, the Philadelphia Phillies have the pieces, they just need to tweak a few things. But running it back has to be the motto heading into the offseason.
Of course, it all starts with Pitching and Aaron Nola. Yes, he showed his human side in Game 6 but he was stellar this postseason. And add to the fact that the free agent market on SP is not good. Nola will command top dollar but he’s still young enough to pitch through that contract. The Phillies have broken the bank on bats, now it’s time to pay a player who has been through the fire with the franchise.
If they can’t land a top-flight pitcher on the market, then it’s time to look at trades. Zack Wheeler is the Ace of the rotation with Nola backing him up. What they need is that 3rd starter to complement those two. Having Taijuan Walker is not a bad insurance plan but why not swing for the fences as the New York Yankees used to do?
Moving on from Rhyse Hoskins will hurt but the truth is, there is no place for him on the roster. The Phillies are locked at first base and DH with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. Where does Hoskins fit in? If he was healthy this season, the Phillies would be playing the Rangers.
Will The Philadelphia Phillies Win World Series
Another area of concern is the bullpen. Throughout the season, the Phillies were studs here. But during that NLCS, they suffered and suffered at the worst time. Craig Kimbrel cost the Phillies the series (more on that later). The bullpen didn’t seize the moment. Besides Nola, their main concern is a quality Closer. No amount should be spared here. If the Phillies learned anything from this series defeat, it’s that the bullpen is just as important as the SP. Spend that bread.
Fans are throwing the young hitters under the bus. Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott are not the issues. Yes, they struggled at times but they are coming up with great players leading them and they have gained valuable playoff experience. Keep them around. A solid defense 3B may be needed, but that’s something that can be worked on during the offseason and Spring Training.
Adding more bats would be nice as well. It doesn’t have to be a high-profile bat such as Shohei Ohtani, but when the Phillies needed a spark, in Games 6 and 7, there was no one to turn to but more youngsters who were not ready for the moment. Think back to the 4th inning with the bases loaded and Johan Rojas up at the plate with two outs. With Hoskins in the lineup, that would have been the perfect spot for Brandon Marsh. But the Phillies were thin.
While teams such as the Atlanta Braves, Diamondbacks, and Los Angeles Dodges will more than likely keep their core, the Phillies cannot afford to let their talent go elsewhere. Now is not the time to take a step back. If they want to win, do it with the same core that helped lead you to two consecutive NLCS.
Run it back. Spend the money, fix the bullpen, and add an arm or two, and get some veteran bats in the clubhouse. But whatever the Philadelphia Phillies do, running it back is the key.
