The Phillies (.778) are currently the second best team in the entire MLB second only to the Seattle Mariners. Their age last night against the Nationals last night was by far one of their better games of late. Odúbel Herrera hit his first home run of the 2019 season and Rhys Hoskins hit two home runs bringing his 2019 home run total to 5. Leading the Phillies to win the game in Philadelphia otherwise known as Barreldelphia for the time being against their rival Nats 4-3.
Phillies starter Vince Velasquez pitched 5 solid innings with 2 strikeouts. Previous to the game Phillies infielders such as Rhys Hoskins practiced some infield defense fundamentals together. It was evident in the game that this practice payed off. The Phillies have set a goal of improving their defense and were able to display such improvement with multiple impressive plays in the field including an impressive snag by third baseman Maikel Franco. As has been the feeling after most Phillies games this season losses included the Phillies are quite clearly an improved team this season and have proved that they have a bright future at a chance for success. The momentum of doing so well in these first few games has put the players and fans in a completive in it to win it mentality that with continued faith could carry the team to fulfill their hopes of October baseball.
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Yesterday the Phillies secured their sixth win of the season when they beat the Twins 2-1. The Phillies have yet to lose a series this season and hope to continue that victory streak going into their series at home against the Nationals tonight. Although the Phillies offense did not necessarily have the usual strength they have had in these past few games. They were still able to obtain yet another victory. Thanks to a Rhys Hoskins two run home run along with a solid 7 innings from Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin. The Phillies impressive success has carried them from number 10 on the MLB power team rankings to number 2. There is no denying that the Phillies lineup can hit and there is no denying that this team is destined to continue their success throughout the season.
The Phillies lost at home for the first time in their young 2019 season. They are now currently 6-2 and only half of a game behind the first place Mets in the national league east division. Although the team procured 7 hits 2 of which belonging to the newly acquired Bryce Harper their offense fell just short last night.
Going into the top of the ninth inning the Phillies offense was behind 3-2 to the Minnesota Twins. It seemed as though perhaps they may have stood a chance at succeeding in achieving success at catching up to the Twins. Then Phillies' reliever Seranthony Dominguez gave up a three run home run blowing any chance the offense had at catching up. By the bottom of the ninth inning with the score at 6-2 in the Twins favor. The Phillies were retired with ease and the game was lost. However it is silly to let such a trivial matter distress us seeing as we knew that we would have to lose at home sooner or later. It is best to go into the phillies upcoming series against the Nationals with a fiery passion to win. For the first time since 2011 the Philadelphia Phillies seem to stand a chance at a season filled with true success. As I mentioned in my latest post, yes it is quite early in the season. But there are so many signs pointing in a positive direction. Center fielder Odúbel Herrera who could barely hold off on a single pitch last season has now walked twice in the past three games. Third baseman Maikel Franco already has two home runs in the three game season and is looking more and more like his old self. My point is that the old players have improved on their areas in need of critique from last season.
As for our exciting additions made over the offseason they are doing just as successfully as we had hoped. Bryce Harper and Andrew McCutchen already have two home runs each. From the pitching standpoint, the Phillies down to earth ace Aaron Nola pitched moderately well on opening day despite allowing a career high of five walks he also gained six strikeouts. Nola may not have had his best stuff on opening day but he was still a challenge for opposing batters to face as per usual. This opening series against the Braves resulted in the Phillies getting a three game sweep against the Braves. The Phillies are currently the only undefeated team in the MLB at 3-0. If they win Tuesday's game in Washington against the Nationals the Phillies will be 4-0 for the first time in decades. In this series against the Phillies division rival the Atlanta Braves holds the promise of a hopeful season. This year may finally be the year Phillies fans have been waiting for for what feels like forever. This may be the season that the Phillies return to their good old winning form. Over the offseason, the Phillies obtained several impressive new players. Andrew McCutchen (.255), Jean Segura (.304), as well as the cherry on top which is the late but long-anticipated arrival of Bryce Harper (.249). With a lineup so good that the players who were at the top of the 2018 Phillies lineup are now at the bottom of the 2019 Phillies lineup. This year's lineup has been described as incredibly challenging for opposing batters to face. Given the large number of players with successful batting careers it makes it a lot easier for the team to gain runs. It seems impossible for opposing pitchers such as the Atlanta Braves to get any breath in between the impressive hitters that the Phillies lineup is now filled with.
It is only two games into the 2019 season but the Phillies have dominated in both games with sellout crowds. It is impossible to deny that this year's Philadelphia Phillies are on the track to an amazing season. Although it is just a tad bit early to tell, with the way that the Phillies are playing currently it is seeming more and more possible that the Phillies may be able to play baseball in October. It seems as though winning is an infectious disease, it spreads rapidly. It spreads faster than Odubel Herrera's 11.4 second sprint around the bases on Wednesday. It also appears as the Phillies may very well have bene infected by the disease that only hits a lucky select few teams of the MLB.
Needless to say I am quite happy that we seem to have caught this disease, for it has given us first place since before the all star break. Somehow by seemingly miraculous occurrences the 2018 Philadelphia Phillies have a 2.5 game lead in first place. As players and fans alike struggle to grasp this newfound success, the team will continue their success I guarantee it. Aaron Nola is the Phillies lone representative to the all-star game this year and last night he most certainly played like it. In the second game of the doubleheader yesterday Nola not only pitched an impressive seven innings and struck out ten but he also gave himself the lead with a three-run double. Even with a .073 batting average, Aaron Nola was able to provide the runs for his own cause. Aaron Nola hit the double following Maikel Franco's getting intentionally walked. After the walk, Aaron took a risk and swung on the first pitch.
Although Nola's double was superb, to say the least, the Phillies offense was a disappointment. In total, the Phillies had only two hits throughout the entire game. To be fair they had only just finished game one of the doubleheader which they had lost to a walk off. The Phillies remained in first place, even with the game one loss yesterday. Hopefully, they can remain in first place until the all-star break. At 11:30 last night, the Philadelphia Phillies took first place after a. record-setting 4.5-hour baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, To say the game was extensive in length would be a definite understatement but it was more literally long than figuratively. It was one of those games where one team was completely mauling the other and it just escalates to the point that the other team simply can not catch up. For at least the second time this season the Phillies were the team demolishing the other not the other way around. It has been a long time since it was our Philadelphia Phillies beating up other teams, it's been a long time since we were able to win a game against the Pirates 17-5 and boy does it feel good.
Despite the fact that the Phillies have the youngest roster in baseball with an average age of 26.5, we are not at all the worst. In fact, we are far from it, last night's victory and the Braves loss to the Brewers has resulted in the Phillies sharing first place with Atlanta. However, they are just a few points above the Braves in terms of percentage. Its safe to say the Phillies dodged a bullet by climbing into first place. You see the team who just so happens to be in the NL Central wild card spot is the Chicago Cubs who are still technically better than the Phillies percentage-wise, just like the Phils are better than the Braves percentage wise. The Cubs are behind the Milwaukee Brewers who have been a force to be reckoned with this season and have kept the Cubs from their rightful spot at first place. I'm not just here to talk about how great the Cubs are and how they're my second favorite team. No, I am here to say be ready for the Cubs because we are at almost exactly the same point as them, trust me I'd know MLB At Bat sends me the notifications for both teams. Although the Cubs and Phillies are at almost the same point the Cubs are still an ounce better. As much as I love it when the Cubs play the Phillies, I have to admit that I hope very much that the Phillies do not end up playing the Cubs in the wildcard. I know that we are only just now approaching the all-star break and it might be a bit early to discuss the postseason but admittedly it is very entertaining to imagine the possibilities of the future. Believe it or not, there are many similarities between the Chicago Cubs of 2016 and the current Phillies. Kris Bryant the Cubs star player was 24 years old when the Cubs won the World Series in 2016. Many of the Phillies' rookie players are 24 years old at the moment. But age isn't the only similarity the Phillies share with the Cubs, we also share Jake Arrieta with them as well, There is something else in common that lies in the fact that both teams always seem capable of winning at just the same tune, There has to be a reason as to why both the Phillies and Cubs have an incredible team dynamic that resembles more of a family than a team. As the Phillies continue what is proving to be one of their most impressive seasons since postseason glory in 2011 so does the mystery of the Phillies and Cubs similarities. For the 11th time, this season Aaron Nola left anyone watching him in shock. Whether you're a Phillies fan or not you have to be able to appreciate the level of talent that the Phillies 25-year-old ace contains. He struck out nine batters in Wednesday's game against the Baltimore Orioles to complete the two-game sweep.
Although the Phillies were no-hit through five innings they were able to wake up following Jorge Alfaro throwing out Tim Beckham at second. Scott Kingery broke the no-hitter in the fifth with a double following a Nick Williams walk. Alfaro brought both of them home on an error by Oriole's first baseman Chris Davis. In the seventh Nick Williams hit a two-run home run to give the Phillies an even better lead. Philadelphia now finds itself perched at second place in the National League East Division just 1.5 games behind the first place Braves. Thanks to the help of the Yankees and Red Sox the Phillies have much better shot at first as they sit comfortably ten games above .200 for the first time since 2011. |