Phillies signal paying Luxury Tax for 2020’s playoffs
By Tal Venada
Factors:
Last summer, the Phillies pitching coach –an analytics-oriented rookie– fell in love like a hurler with a 95-mph fastball at the top of the strike zone. As a sinkerballer, though, Eflin wasn’t a fit. But, recently, Joe Girardi tabbed Bryan Price, who works with each individual differently; so expect better numbers.
Basically, Gabe Kapler had hired a hitting instructor favoring sabermetrics, and Charlie Manuel after replacing the fired coach increased run production by approximately a run a game. Plus Joe Dillon is another coach who uses an individualized approach that the dismissed instructor did not, so expect more offense.
Since a recent article, some fans continue to remind me about the Washington Nationals winning the Wild Card Game and the World Series because the Phils weren’t all-in at the deadline. Ergo, Klentak didn’t make a solid effort to give them a shot at a wild card, and the Nationals are proof of his inability to do the job.
While the division-leading Atlanta Braves and Washington were making deals, the red pinstripes only picked up marginal pitchers and bench pieces. True, they were only 1.5 games behind the Nats, but they were also 11-10 for July three days before month’s end. They were a .500 team!
Phillies vs. Nationals record after May 23:
- Ending May 23, Phillies: 29-21.
- Ending May 23, Nationals: 19-31.
- Ending June 30, Phillies: 44-40 (15-19)
- Ending June 30, Nationals: 42-41 (23-10).
- Ending 1st half, Phillies: 47-43 (18-22).
- Ending 1st half, Nationals: 47-42 (28-11).
- Ending July 29, Phillies: 55-50 (26-29).
- Ending July 29, Nationals: 57-49 (38-18).
No matter how you slice it: The Nationals played 20 games over .500 at 38-18. And they maintained their run without a noticeable interruption, while the Fightins were inspiring no one. In fact, many locals had given up on them in June, so why should the GM swap some decent prospects for a long shot?