- The Phillies play their most important game of the 2018 season tonight. They are all important now, as they open a 4-game series in Atlanta. The Phils are 5 1/2 games off the pace in NL East. They need to at least take 3 of 4 to still have a shot next week.
Vince Vlasquez is 0-4 against the Braes this season. He starts tonight but expect him to be on a short leash, with so many pitchers available and a must-win situation facing the team.
Now is the time for guys like Santana to step up. After a mediocre year at best needs to earn his $20 million and have a helluva series in Atlanta. Getting off to a fast start, let's say a 4 runs 1st inning, would give the team confidence and take the frenzied Atlanta crowd out of the game early. The braves could clinch this weekend. Even if they merely split and stay 5 1/2 games ahead after Sunday night, they most assuredly have the division title.
Everyone thought the Nationals would easily take the East. Atlanta has a young club like the Phillies, only the young Braves have been better, more mature and overall played more fundamental baseball this season.
Without an Acuna Jr or Soto in the system, a young stud for years to come, the Phillies need to spend money they have been hoarding for years, and stay in contention next ya free agents. Nice start would be re-signing Ramos and inking bot Machado and Harper.
Boring,analytical baseball is one reason why no one is going to the games, even in a pennant race. Only 19,000 showed up at the ballpark last night, an embarrassment to Phillies' management. They just aren't a very entertaining team, with too many strike-outs and walks, and not enough contact and small ball (stealing, moving runners etc.) If the analytics continue next season, as geeky GM Klentak suggests, management needs to decide- do we want a front office strictly doing things by the numbers, or a more entertaining product? The Phillies are plodding alone with no purpose and bad leadership.
As for this slowly-dying first season under Gabe Kapler, let's see if this Phillies team has the heart to give this season one last fight.
- Brett Brown says guard Markelle Fultz took 150,000 shots this summer to improve his shooting technique. Who counted and how many went in?
-The Flyers won thier initial pre-seaosn game last night. Rookie goalie Carter Hart looked good. He needs to have a good camp in order to make the team and force GM Ron Hexstall to ride his young, promising goaltenders and junk the washed-up netminders he usually rides. Without a true No. 1 goalie the Flyers aren't going anywhere.
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