21 Washington Nationals (Corbin) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Sánchez, C)

Sabin 2021-07-30 00:28:02 UTC #161

Oh, come on, now...you've been playing on both sides of these dueling lines since the beginning of the season. You've jousted with me over it on occasion - one I distinctly remember following a 2-6 road trip, where you countered my less-than-optimistic view to the rest of the season with talk of taking solace we didn't fall further back of the Mets.

It's perfectly reasonable that someone may have held on to hope in the early stages of the club's mediocrity this season - small sample size, players off to slow starts, etc. - but with the season now past its halfway point and the trade deadline on tap, they may be ready to call it in favor of 'not our year.' It doesn't make it about a single series or 10-game stretch.

What's harder to understand at times is which path you actually think the club should be taking. On one hand you've continually spoken to 'taking solace', re-affirmed striking distance to the Mets, and countered posters pointing to the team's general mediocrity or gearing up for future years. But when pushed you've also fallen back on things like you're not saying you have faith, you don't think the team should be buying - but it's what the FO is determined to do, etc.

That all said, I agree with what you alluded to regarding forward-thinking and the FO...if today proved anything, it's that this team will keep teasing alternating waves of frustration and hope until the very end.

Sabin 2021-07-30 00:30:32 UTC #162

Oh, so that's what that feeling is...

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zambonir 2021-07-30 00:58:51 UTC #163

To me this message board is like a bar, and I may have had a few (not literally). Don't know why you expect me to be consistent! : )

Especially when what I want, what I think and what I think the team might want or think are four different things.

But I do think whatever they were going to do two weeks ago shouldn't have necessarily changed now. The quality of the team is the same, the position in the standings is the same, the stakes (maybe they can win the NL, maybe they can win the NLDS, that's probably all) are the same. I'm not even sure a team like the Phillies actually has the scouting manpower- and certainly not the brainpower - to pivot from buyers to sellers that easily (or do both).

I think on both July 1 and July 15 the plan was probably to buy a few little things unless they were 7-8 games out or four-five games over .500, and that didn't happen. Would they have exceeded the CBT if things had shifted more in the positive direction? I doubt it, but it suits Dombrowski to be able to imply it.

Sabin 2021-07-30 23:43:16 UTC #164

Not having had a few while bellying up the bar during the course of this season may actually be a notable accomplishment.

Seriously though, your point on the team now versus two weeks ago is valid. I didn't mean to suggest that a major shift had occurred over that time, just that I could understand someone waiting until closer to the deadline before giving a yay or nay . Personally, I've felt I was more negative than usual (or at least faster) this season, for whatever reason. I wanted the club to do well, just had trouble seeing the Bohm regression, the back of rotation and bullpen issues, and the hole in center all working themselves out (or able to be carried).

Of course, the division itself is weaker than projected going into the season, so it's provided them a chance to hang around just in case they figure some things out over the next two months. I feel a little better now that the deadline has passed - no huge additions, but no huge losses either, and they remain viable the rest of the way while adding an interesting prospect as well. Plus they leave the option open to still acquire Hamels.

One could argue the Mets with Baez, and the Braves with Pederson, et al, added more, and I wouldn't necessarily argue back. But I kinda like where the Phils are sitting at this point all the same.