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Phillies: NL East coast-to-coast bias

By Tal Venada

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 19: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a pinch hit solo home run in the sixth inning during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park on May 19, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 7-5. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 19: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a pinch hit solo home run in the sixth inning during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park on May 19, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 7-5. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
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Dialing up his no-hitter, Hamels ended his Phillies tenure on a high note. Photo by J. Robbins/Getty Images. /

First-place fever:     

The last-to-first Phillies of ’93 were a patched-together group following a 70-92 campaign with a bottled-lightning 97-65. As for a coast-to-coast 162, these lovable misfits were atop the division for all but one day: April 9. Yes, 181 days in first! And they almost pulled off even winning it all!

Regarding the ’08 champions, they went 92-70 and spent 95 days in first place. They were in first or second through Sept. 19. Again, no one complained about not being atop the division from day one because the squad was working their way up to this crescendo.

With the exception of Cole Hamels, the other core members are no longer active. Eight years ago, they were setting the organizational record with 102 triumphs. And now they only look like they could still compete.

Before ’09, Hamels cut his offseason regimen short to meet the demands on his time: the rubber chicken circuit. Regardless, the red pinstripes were in first place from May 30 through season’s end. Of course, the acquisition of Cliff Lee to head the rotation was for the stretch drive and beyond.

They finished at 93-69 with 141 days atop the division because the other stars and Lee picked up Hamels during his off year. However, adding to a championship team had the downside fans are experiencing today. Goliath and expectations had grown, but 2019’s spending has revived that cerebral monster.

In 2011, April 26 was the only day the Fightins were in second place during their record-setting 102-60. Yes, they were atop the NL East for 180 days and finished 13 games ahead of the pack. But today’s front office had acquired stars for a blossoming roster, not a formidable one: a major difference missed by many.

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