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Phillies: 2020’s playoff-bound ifs (a long version)

By Tal Venada

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 30: Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after hitting a double in the bottom of the third inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on August 30, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 30: Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after hitting a double in the bottom of the third inning against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on August 30, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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After a winter of reflection, Hoskins will be a force to reckon with in April because he wants to get his career back on track. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images. /

Top guns and potent bats: 

For the Phillies, the order of importance is 2020’s success, not 2019’s results. Basically, one ace with ineffective periods is more critical than one of two sluggers with a poor finish to the previous summer. But can a new left-side bat with pop, a bullpen flamethrower and a leadoff man bounce back from injuries? Yes!

On Aaron Nola‘s right arm, 2020’s chances will rest because of his lack of success with a 5.68 ERA through April and a 6.51 ERA in September. But he also went 0-3 in the final month. Translation: The Fightins need a good start and solid finish for an NLDS berth without the Wild Card Game.

Although some locals want to trade Rhys Hoskins, most regulars don’t basically duplicate stats every season without a Hall of Fame ticket. And expecting said production or more is wishful thinking with a side of disappointment. But if your future depended on results and income, you’d fix the problem, no?

Didi Gregorius inked a one-year pact to play for a manager who knows his ability to rebuild his market value with a good 162. Rule of thumb: Baseball men realize stars competing for a multi-campaign deal bring their best. In ’19, though, he hit .290 (June), .256 (July), .222 (August), .190 (September) but .273 in October.

The fourth if is Seranthony Dominguez who has thrown all his pitches from the mound without pain but will probably be on a slower pace in March than other relievers as a precaution. And if he receives influential coaching, he’ll split the difficult innings with two other endgame firemen when Klentak adds that third piece.

Lastly, a healthy Andrew McCutchen has the right ingredients to ignite this offense, and baseball men didn’t have misgivings with the left fielder batting first. But after he began scoring threats, fans couldn’t imagine anyone else in the one hole. So, he needs to stay off the IL (injured list) for extended periods.

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