It's time for the Phillies to put up or shut-up. This weekend series with the NL East division-leading Braves are three of the biggest games of the year. Sweep the series and the Phils move to only 2 1/2 games behind Atlanta. Win 2 of 3 and they are 4 1/2 back. Lose 2 of 3 and the Phillies are 6 1/2 back. Get swept by the braves and the Phils fall to 8 1/2 back.
The Phillies should be playing to big crowds all weekend ( I'll be at the Saturday night game). Earlier this summer, especially on Fireworks Nights with Washington, with sell-outs at Citizens Bank Park, the Phils are come up small. This time they can't choke. They must win the series, by sweeping or taking 2 of 3 games.
Anything less not only puts the team farther behind in the East, but would be crushing psyschologically as well. The opening weekend of the 2019 season was a sweep by the Phillies over the Braves at CBP. If not now, then when?
Winning the series would get the front office more incentive to pull the trigger on significant trades going into this final week of the trade deadline. Losing the series may make the already passive front office become even more hesitant to make deals.
Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins need to step up against Atlanta. Hoskins was the hero in two of the four victories on the recent road trip to Pittsburgh and Detroit. Everyone needs to play well, especially the starting pitching, but seeing Harper put the team on his back would do wonders. Harper has yet to have a really devastating game this summer, where he hits multiple homers and drives in more than 5 runs. A 4-hit, 3-home run, 6-RBI game is what I'm talking about. If not now, then when?
Jake Arrieta needs to pitch well tonight, bone spur or not. This is why the club signed him for big money. The Braves counter with young All-Star Mike Soroki. The Phils scored 4 runs on Soroki in the first inning down in Atlanta on the 4th of July, only to see the Braves storm back and win. If the Phillies get the lead this weekend they need to keep their foot on the gas and keep adding on. The Braves' lineup is too good to relax.
On Saturday night, Zach Eflin goes. He must return to form and pitch well. He and Valasquz, as well as Nick Pivetta need to understand that they are running out of chances in Philadelphia. Unless they are ultimately labeled as busts, the organization saw potential is these young pitchers. They've had chances to step up and solidify their spots in the rotation. They are too inconsistent, and Eflin leads this group in inconsistent performances.
Aaron Nola pitches Sunday afternoon. He is always tough on the Braves, and should be good again this week. Nola could nail down the sweep, win the series, or stop an Atlanta sweep. The Phillies can't ask for a better set-up.
Saturday is 70s Retro night. The players will be wearing the "Saturday Night Special" all-Burgundy uniforms, which they only wore one time. There's a reason they only wore these ugly threads once * they lost the game). Hopefully the outcome is different.
Why wear the ugly all-Burgundy uniforms on Photo Night? If it truly is the very last time the team wears all-burgundy, these photos may be collectible in time.
Build on the excitement. Carry it through for the rest of the summer. Show the young Braves they are in a dogfight. Stay aggressive, Gabe Kapler, by playing a little small ball. Steal bases, use the bunt and the hit-and-run as offensive weapons, and pull out all the stops. What does this team have to lose?
No comments:
Post a Comment