NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Philadelphia Phillies this offseason paid their two main arms in Aaron Nola and then a hefty contract for Zach Wheeler. However, it’s Taijuan Walker who may be the reason for a World Series trophy in 2024. Nola and Wheeler are the Aces of the rotation which makes Walker the forgotten man. To be honest, he’s the man left on an island. Where was he during their run last October?
During the regular season, it was Taijuan Walker who led the Phillies in wins with 15. He also pitched just 172 innings in 31 starts with a 4.38 ERA. Walker was solid, but come postseason time, he vanished. It’s no secret that rotations get cut during the playoffs but teams will still go at least 4-arms deep. Rob Thomson decided not to give the nod to Walker even after having a solid season at least numbers-wise.
It could have been the inconsistency he displayed down the stretch but there is no way that anyone can say the younger Christopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez were better options than the veteran. The Philadelphia Phillies needed his arm as their bullpen was the main reason they did not advance to a second straight World Series.
To add more fire to the flames are Walker and his tweets, and we can see why this is a big season for both parties in 2024. Walker knows he can get the job done but can Thomson trust him enough when the season is on the line?
Disrespect is at an all time high #nextyear
— Taijuan Walker (@tai_walker) October 25, 2023
The offensive lineup of the Philadelphia Phillies with hitters such as Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber will make all the headlines, however, it will be their pitching that either makes or breaks their season. Many know what to expect from Nola and Wheeler, and even the young guys, but if Walker can come in and solidify that 3rd spot in the rotation as he did last season, this team will be a force, once again.
Can The Philadelphia Phillies Count On Walker
While the Phillies are still in search of more pitching, as with most contenders, it’s all about the core. Who will be the guys they can count on when they need a big out or inning? Nola has been great but he’s also been up and down. Wheeler is the stud here but can he take it up another notch when needed? Sanchez and Suarez are the young guys and with their postseason experiences, this is an added bonus. But as great as they were, neither is ready to claim that spot that Walker should hold.
The regular seaosn is a time for stats to be made. The postseason is where careers are defined. The Philadelphia Phillies are hoping that Taijuan Walker can put the postseason behind him and get back on track.
