Big Series, Big Questions for Phillies

When we last wrote about the Phillies, they were cruising to a division championship, the top seed in the National League playoffs, the best record in baseball, and a World Series appearance.

Ok, maybe some of that is hyperbole. But after an almost summer-long swoon, things aren’t so rosy in Phillies land. After one particularly bad run, I saw a graphic on Phillies Post-Game Live comparing their win percentage during that stretch to that of the potentially historically bad Chicago White Sox.

Bryce Harper hasn’t hit a home run in about a month, and recent reports suggest he’s playing through injuries. This week he didn’t bother running on a ball he thought he hit out of the park, and was held to a single in the bottom of the ninth of a tie game. He eventually scored the winning run. Earlier in the year, he failed to run on a grounder that was booted by the first baseman in the ninth, potentially costing the game.

Alec Bohm is hurt. JT Realmuto had knee surgery and has been in and out of the lineup. Kyle Schwarber finally hits a few “Schwarbombs,” and he gets dinged up.

Ranger Suarez “doesn’t seem right,” a phrase I’ve heard after his stint on the injured list. Aaron Nola has one recorded win since July 11^th. If you can name the fifth starter of the Phillies, call Rob Thomson. ‘Cause I don’t think he could tell us who it is right now.

And the surging New York Mets are coming to town for a three game series.

Is it time to take a deep breath or time to change your underwear as a Phils fan?

I’ll vote for a deep breath.

The Phillies are 8-2 in their last 10 games, they’re still 8 games up on the Mets (as I write Thursday evening around 6), and are a game up on the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in baseball. They also just swept the Tampa Bay Rays, who are at least hovering around .500.

I’ve heard Bohm and Realmuto are expected back this weekend, and Schwarber is listed as day-to-day.

My biggest concern is Harper not running out grounders and fly balls. It’s not something I thought we’d see from him, and it at least suggests there are other issues – possibly he’s hurting even more than is being reported. Bottom line, the Phillies go as Harper goes.