GDT 7/31/22 Philadelphia Phillies (Nola) @ Pittsburgh Pirates (Brubaker)

[LoneStarPhan]

Gregorius made a very good play on a very well hit ball. He throws to second to start the DP from a sitting position. Well done. Familia gets a break as the ball was hit well but just in the wrong spot for the batter. Turned out to be the right spot for Familia and the Phillies. Another solid start from Nola and he gets the win. Cannot say enough about the two scoreless innings from Appel. Phillies turn out 18 hits with Bohm and Castellanos getting 4 each, JT 3. A fun game for the phans.

Phillies sweep in 4 game series in Pittsburgh for first time since 1968.

Phillies follow a good June with a pretty good July. This sweep tilts the balance for them and they end up 15-10. Sweeps on the road in Miami and Pittsburgh were highlights of July. Downers losing two in St. Louis after winning first two of the four there, losing the two in Toronto, and being swept at home by the Cubs.

[julio]

I see the Cubs sweep as the only real "downer" in the month. Splitting in St. Louis? The Cardinals are always tough, particularly at home - a ridiculously well-run franchise. And Toronto? Notwithstanding the pooh-poohing, having to leave players behind because of their vaccination status has to get into the players's heads a bit.

A .600 month is pretty enjoyable, overall... and without Harper. Without Segura. Some guys have stepped up.

[Patchmk88]

Let’s keep it going next week.

[Sabin]

This banter between Julio and Ed has been almost as entertaining as the game.

Thanks, but, get real. We have a bona fide blowout here - it's first-class entertainment. Our side show isn't in that ballpark, IMHO.

Actually, I was going to suggest your banter may be leading to said blowout - I mean, it is a Sunday on the cusp of a not a 3-, but a 4-game sweep, after all! So I think you're both dubbed the board's Sunday color analysts henceforth. Keep up the good results and you may get invited to host any playoff appearances as well.

[zambonir]

So I think you're both dubbed the board's Sunday color analysts henceforth

an upgrade on any # of existing radio/TV options!

I will say I don't see any evidence that Castellanos isn't working hard, or not working well with Long. Long has said as much, or at least, that he sees good things from his process, just not the results. But maybe they are coming. Sometimes it takes a while when you go to a new team, whereas if his issues are bigger than that they aren't necessarily fixable either.

and now we get to be all trade talk for 48 hours.

[julio]

and now we get to be all trade talk for 48 hours.

Well, largely trade talk. Some of us are still worrying over signing the last two draftees.

But yeah - off day tomorrow, so we're looking at the signing deadline tomorrow at 5, and the trade deadline Tuesday at 6, both before the Phils take the field again.

[Patchmk88]

San Diego and St. Louis both win today so no games gained in the standings.

[Florida_Sunshine]

Yes, without Harper, the league MVP, and Segura. They can certainly help when they return.

What a difference a few months makes with Bohm. He was on the verge of being run out of town. Now he makes for a part of our future core going forward. And home grown. Along with Stott and Vierling.

We need starting pitching.

[Lucky_Beagle]

IF I did the math correctly....60 games to go...I was very surprised to just read the Phillies have a better road record than home record (26-25). It seems more wins at home would help the playoff push!

[zambonir]

They are also 27-30 against teams over .500, which means they are 28-17 against the under .500 teams.

Dodgers are 27-17 and 41-16, which I guess means A) sure, the Phillies can do better against bad teams and B) the Dodgers don't have that strong a schedule?

[VoteForKalas]

Every time I want to complain about the Phillies, I give thanks I was not born in Pittsburgh and am a Pirates fan. What an absolute disgrace of a franchise.

[Lucky_Beagle]

How do the Pirates stack up compared to the Phillies in their history.

Pittsburgh Pirates
World Series titles (5) 1909 1925 1960 1971 1979
NL Pennants (9) 1901 1902 1903 1909 1925 1927 1960 1971 1979
NL Central Division titles (0) None
NL East Division titles (9) 1970 1971 1972 1974 1975 1979 1990 1991 1992

Philadelphia Phillies
Major league titles
World Series titles (2) 1980 2008
NL Pennants (7) 1915 1950 1980 1983 1993 2008 2009
East Division titles (11) 1976 1977 1978 1980 1983 1993 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Longest Active Playoff Appearance Drought
1. Seattle Mariners, 20 Seasons (2002-Present)
The Mariners own the longest postseason drought among all teams in the four major American sports leagues. In 2001, the Mariners set the American League record – and tied the MLB record – for most wins in a single season with 116. After beating Cleveland in five games in the division series, Seattle lost to the Yankees in the championship series and have not returned to the playoffs since.

1. Philadelphia Phillies, 10 Seasons (2012-Present)
   It’s almost hard to believe Philadelphia’s fall from grace. After winning the World Series in 2008 and returning to the Fall Classic in 2009, the Phillies claimed the best record in baseball in 2010 and 2011, only to falter in the playoffs both years. Since then, despite numerous attempts to spend money to regain control of the NL East, the Phillies have had just one season above .500 (2021).

T-3. Detroit Tigers, 7 Seasons (2015-Present)
T-3. Los Angeles Angels, 7 Seasons (2015-Present)

[zambonir]

Supposedly the Pirates have a bright future a la Cleveland in relatively recent years or the last Royals championship team. But KC aside, it's pretty hard to win as a small market team, especiallly sustainably. And even if you have good enough ownership or management to be like Oakland (in the Beane heyday) or Tampa you still don't get a parade.