GDT 6/24/18 Philadelphia Phillies (Pivetta) @ Washington Nationals (Rodriguez, J)

[zambonir]

Also, from the 6th inning onward, the Phillies had a grand total of three baserunners while the Nationals had eleven. The Nats' bullpen got the job done, ours didn't.

This team has shown remarkable resiliency but you have to wonder how many more gutpunch losses can it take.

I"m gonna say eight or ten. Since they're probably gonna lose another 40. It really doesn't feel like a gut punch to me when they just blew out this team on the road for two days and five innings. Just a squandered opportunity to show dominance instead of mere excellence.

They are what they are, a team with a legit chance of winning between 84 and 90 games. Nothing's changed, and as shaky as the bullpen has been, the starters have been well beyond expectations,several hitters have come around big-time lately and several others may yet. It's exciting to think they may actually try to upgrade the pen (along with Neshek). The line-up too. But developing still comes before making big trades just to chase a wild card or a NLDS loss.

Seven games at home means 3-4 would be a disappointment but I remember when that road trip looked like the beginning of the end.

[EastFallowfield]

Not sure who Kapler is supposed to pitch out of this bullpen, no one is doing well right now. Seems the rain was the biggest factor in this game,

[andyb]

Well if San Diego is serious about Brad Hand maybe they need to think about it. A left-handed late inning guy was sorely needed last night. We went with Seranthony (a guy who is still not used to back to back outings) against Harper instead of a left-handed pitcher. We are already using him beyond what has happened in the past (i.e. dangerously). But one keeps left-handed pitchers on the team specifically for that sequence of hitters last night (Harper, then 2 of next 3 were lefties).

Rain delay forced an extra inning on the bullpen, but we can't keep up this pace with Seranthony.

[el-pietro]

Phillies win the series and have won 4 series in a row. They are playing so well that we freak out when they don't sweep a series.

This is a young team and most of the players are still maturing and developing, hopefully into improved players. Record now goes to 41-34, 7 over .500 and probably better than we should have expected at this point. Certainly a huge improvement over last season.
...
Tough week starts tomorrow. 7 games in 7 days. Yankees and Nationals. It should be a good test and I hope the Phillies continue to be in the games and winning their share.

Very tough week and if they can win 3 of 7 I'd be very happy. That would be a very good endtot a very tough month or so since the trip out west. To come out of this period above 500 for the season is really positive.

The good news is that once this week is over it gets much easier. Oriels, Pirates, Mets, Marlins and Padres make up the next 16 games. Then three against the Dodgers, before 4 vs the Reds, 2 vs the Red Sox and 4 vs the Marlins.

Between July 2nd and August 4th the Phillies face teams with a combined record of .439. In fact including this weeks 7 games and 7 of the final 11 against the Braves to end the season the combined record of the teams the Phillies face for the rest of the season is just .483. They have just about gotten through this really tough month of games and it should be much smoother for the rest of the year.

There are 87 games left, win just half of those plus one and the Phillies go 85-78. Given 28 games remaining against the Mets and Marlins its not inconceivable that this team could win 90 games. Relief pitching is definitely a concern though.

Those 7 games against the Braves in September could be very important in the division and wild card races.

[gmwannabe]

i agree El. 3 and 7 would make it for me. i just hope once they are through this stretch they don't lose focus. sometimes this team has played down toothier opponents. if it happens, they're sunk. young bullpen growing, is good for the future. they sure have the arms for it. now sign carpenter and make it a successful summer.
gm

[zambonir]

Yup that's why there is no rush to overpay on the early trade market. For all the bullpen woes and injuries they just played .600 ball for two weeks, since the first Milwaukee series, which is also the only series they didn't win. It sure would be nice to have an extra arm or bat this week, especially with Franco and Knapp both banged up, but all the other teams know that too. Get to the all-star break, get Neshek back, and there will be deals to make.

They probably should have been willing to lose the game with Morgan last night, but Kapler probably figured that he couldn't get those three lefties out two nights in a row.

[Earl_U]

Nats homers? I don’t know, perhaps I wasn’t paying close attention, but it seems that there was plenty of positive talk while the Phils were scoring their six runs. How can you not talk about a team that is making a comeback from several runs down late in the game?

[zambonir]

The ESPN announcers actually made me feel less negative because unlike us their focus was on what a good job the Nats did coming back, rather than how poorly the relievers pitched. But of course the national announcers are going to know/say more about the team that has been winning divisions and making the playoffs and being on their network a lot. Whereas it's been so long since the Phillies were on Sunday Night Baseball that they missed Curt Schilling's entire career.