Yeah but some guys have power and some guys don't and this line-up has 3-4 guys who used to have more power [including Harper] and also never replaced one who did.
They have improved their chase rate compared to last year, and are not bad situationally as a team/over the whole season. They talk about doing what they are supposed to constantly. Just have been especially bad at actually doing it lately. You can't overstate what Harper's absence and slump did to them too. In '22 it was much more survivable [and yet that team wasn't as good as this one].
But it's a team game and a game of multiple dimensions and the Phillies are great at one of them and very good at offense. Bullpen is still the biggest flaw. Defense something they don't seem to care about. The idea that they can't beat better teams just doesn't stand up to scrutiny. They have handled some, and not others. They're not great on the road but no worse than the Yankees, or Cubs, and far better than the Mets [Dodgers and Astros are better].
I just think the element of luck/randomness, and also the miniscule difference between a good situational team and a great one [like, 1 hit every 30 ABs] is not something you can really manage. I wish they had traded for Tucker instead of signing Kepler but many here would have hated that prospect cost.
Really, nothing has changed. We're watching one of the five best teams by W-L record in Phillies history and it's agonizing to post about!
