5 things we learned about the Philadelphia Phillies this season

With the end of the season right around the corner, the hunt for Red October in Philly is also coming to an end. But what exactly did we learn about this Philadelphia Phillies team this year?

For starters, the DAWG mentality runs deep in Philadelphia … and not just across the street on the gridiron. There have been countless times during this season that the Phillies could have folded and fallen off but fought back time after time, landing them at the top of the Wild Card race in the National League heading into Thursday’s action.

The Daycare has become a legit threat. Last season, we saw some flashes of what a legit and future cornerstone piece of a franchise could be developing. Bryson Stott, Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh and add-in Johan Rojas has given Rob Thomson youth, speed and some extremely reliable players.

The Phillies faithful have proven to be a bigger intangible than they were during last year’s World Series run. When Trea Turner was having such a down year, Jack Fritz of 94.1 WIP put it out on X to give Trea Turner a standing ovation. The Phillies fanatics delivered, and the message was heard by Turner.

Bryce Harper might actually be one of the greatest players of our generation and is doing it so quietly. How many other players do you know can return from Tommy John surgery and perform at the levels he is? I can’t fail to mention the pure mastery of transitioning to first base as if it’s normal.

Lastly, it feels like Dave Dombrowski did not do enough to improve the bullpen or get a legit starter and someone who can be a reliable third starter for this team in the playoffs. While Walker, Sanchez and Suarez have been good, outside of Wheeler, the other two starter spots are still up in the air.

Here are five things we have learned about the Philadelphia Phillies so far this season

This team has been nothing short of a scrappy bunch being led by Bryce Harper and Trea Turner. We have seen this team claw back in games time and time again. While most of those games have been blown, it still has shown the willingness to battle back.

This has become a part of the team’s identity and will be big when it comes down to needing big at-bats during the playoffs. Watching the way, the Phillies took their at-bats against the Atlanta Braves in their extra innings win, it was meaningful at-bats filled with situational hitting. Trying to score the runner was the key.

Even after the double play by Trea Turner, the Phillies drew a walk. With Rojas coming in to pinch run for Schwarber, the Phillies got aggressive with a double steal which drew no throw. The Braves decided to walk Alec Bohm and bring the one player who has been hitless throughout the entire series up to the plate, Bryson Stott.

On the 0-1 count, Stott saw the cutter and knocked it down the line to give the Phillies the go-ahead two-run double. Say what you want, but this team has that never say die attitude that could carry them back to the World Series as I believe this is a team built for the playoffs.

I have said it time and time again this season … the Daycare is going to be what makes or breaks this team when it comes down to winning a playoff series. While there have been times where they struggled, throughout the majority of the season, it felt like you were the most confident with Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott or Brandon Marsh coming up to the plate to get a huge hit.

Add in Johan Rojas to the mix and you have some potential corner pieces developing for this team moving forward. Rojas and Marsh provide two options in the outfield for defensive purposes and speed as well. Bohm has really grown into a fine third baseman. And Stott? The compliments for Stott just can’t stop coming.

Here are the slashing lines for the members of the Daycare:

Bryson Stott: .283/.331/.427 HR:15 RBI: 61 Hits:158 Runs:76 OPS: .758

Alec Bohm: .279/.335/.433 HR:17 RBI: 92 Hits: 146 Runs:69 OPS: .768

Brandon Marsh: .279/.375/.449 HR:10 RBI: 54 Hits:107 Runs: 54 OPS: .824

Johan Rojas: .301/.344/.439 HR: 2 RBI: 21 Hits: 37 Runs: 19 OPS: .783

Even while struggling at times, the kids have been more than alright. The development of Marsh has a hitter has been one to marvel at. Hitting coach Kevin Long deserves a ton of credit for getting these kids in the right space and helping them make the necessary adjustments throughout the season.

Stott, Marsh and Bohm struggled in the playoffs at times last season. However, if they continue to hit and get hot going into these last 10 games, the Phillies lineup will be dangerous from 1-9.

At the beginning of this season, the Phillies took a massive blow losing Rhys Hoskins to a freak non-contact ACL injury and Darrick Hall to a broken thumb. With those injuries, question marks surrounded first base. While playing Alec Bohm at first and Edmundo Sosa at third was a good lineup, it wasn’t the permanent fix.

Even sprinkling Jake Cave and Kody Clemens wasn’t exactly doing it for the team. Then, out of the blue one day, an alert came through on most sports fans phones about Bryce Harper wanting a move to first base for this season. While a lot of fans were skeptical, those in Philly believed that if anyone could do it, it would be Bryce Harper.

The moment Bryce Harper jumped to first base was the second Bryce Harper returned. While it was a wonder as if we would see Harper’s power return, leave it to him to show it off in an insane fashion. Hitting clutch run after run, the Bryce Harper who had the biggest swing of his life had returned.

There is no fear for Harper not being Harper going into the playoffs and that is the big key for this team to get back to the mountaintop.

The trade deadline didn’t have much activity for the Phillies other than Michael Lorenzen and Rodolfo Castro. There were definitely some arms that were acquirable to help this team make that postseason run. The fact that Dave Dombrowski didn’t add to an already questionable bullpen left many fans scratching their hands.

We have seen some brilliance from the bullpen at times. However, we have also some suspect usages of the bullpen by Rob Thomson. As of right now, I feel like Alvarado, Strahm, Kimbrel and Hoffman have been Philadelphia’s most trustworthy pitchers. Marte and Soto have been up and down this season, but if they can have their best stuff, they are extremely effective. Unfortunately for Dominguez, he just hasn’t had the command or consistency that made him so effective last season.

Even the starters have been up and down at times. Aaron Nola has been a huge disappointment at times this season. While showing flashes of his form from last season, this is definitely not the way he envisioned his contract year to go. However, Nola has slowly been regaining his form and seems to be pushing towards confidence and command similar to last season. He will most likely be Philadelphia’s second choice for the Wild Card round.

Walker, Sanchez and Suarez are all getting a chance to get that third pitching spot. At this point, it will go to whoever is pitching the hottest. Regardless, the other two who go to the bullpen will help this pitching staff out immensely, especially if Lorenzen can find his form going into to the post season.

There is much time left, but this season has been a fun one and Phillies fans hope it is a season that sees the team return to the promised land.