Phillies 2018 Schedule

Philsmania 2017-09-12 16:48:34 UTC #1

The schedule was released today.

Some quirks:
*Phillies open with a Thursday to Saturday series in Atlanta then visit Atlanta again about three weeks later.
*Phillies home opener is on a Thursday followed by a day off on Friday.
*The All-Star break is a week later in July.
*Interleague play features two game home and home series against both the Orioles and Red Sox and three game home and homes against the Blue Jays while they host the Yankees for three and go on the road to Tampa Bay.

http://mlb.mlb.com/phi/downloads/y2018/schedule.pdf

allentown 2017-09-12 19:26:37 UTC #2

We're at a stage in Phillies history where it doesn't really matter, but with two wild card playoff berths, the unbalanced schedule is an unfair abomination. Things do change over time, but the AL East more often than not is a very strong division.

schillingfan 2017-09-12 20:01:28 UTC #3

So totally agree with that. I would also add that 19 games against your division is waaaay too many. I get rally bored seeing the same four teams over and over and over again. One series in such great places as Chicago, or San Francisco is just a shame. I want to see more players from more teams.

zambonir 2017-09-12 21:10:55 UTC #4

I like playing lots of division games, because that's the best path to a non-wild card playoff berth. I just wish Pittsburgh was in our division. And the novelty of interleague having worn off, combined with its expansion, plus the unbalanced schedule, makes it a drag all around. I'd certainly trade those games for more games against the Cubs and Giants.

The fact that MLB has two teams in so many states/markets also makes road trips mostly unappealing, unless you are ticking ballparks off your list. The unfairness of it aside I'd be happy if the Phillies only ever played the NL East, or only ever played NY and Baltimore for that matter. 'Cause I'm not ever gonna road trip to Anaheim or Kansas City or the Southside of Chicago over the NL options in those regions. Though I have had chances to see them close to where I've lived (in Texas and Seattle).

Now that they've ruined it though, they should really just go to DH in both leagues (inevitable) and maybe change the postseason format somehow too. The AL and NL pennant doesn't mean anything more than winning a conference in other sports (though they all maintain that separation too, often to fans' chagrin come playoff time).

bkox 2017-09-12 21:14:14 UTC #5

Living in Illinois, I hate when the Philies play Chicago teams or the Cards because MLB.tv makes me watch the local channels for those games.

The Phillies and the Pirates should play more games each year.

tom81 2017-09-12 22:27:00 UTC #6

I like it when they play the inter league games vs the AL east. The games all start at the same time zone and the local phans who work "normal" working hours can watch all the games. I rarely watch games on the west coast anymore.

The March/April schedule looks to be fairly easy. I'll probably get overly optimistic about their chances.

Dirk41 2017-09-12 23:46:02 UTC #7

Rumors we are playing the Mets in the Little League Classic next season on August 19. Should of been us this year, but should be awesome regardless.

zambonir 2017-09-13 03:35:22 UTC #8

yeah, that would be fun.

Philsmania 2017-09-13 16:23:11 UTC #9

Who gives up the home game? Updtate--looks like we would since we host the Mets on 8/19 and the time is listed as TBD.

Dirk41 2017-09-14 01:14:02 UTC #10

How do tickets for this work? Anyone know???

Philsmania 2017-09-14 01:29:53 UTC #11

From what I understand, only players in the LLWS and their families get tickets and they may be free.

Lucky_Beagle 2017-09-14 02:57:30 UTC #12

Also, residents of Lycoming county were able to email into a "random" drawing where they gave away supposedly at least 50 pair of tickets for free. I was able to help my parents and inlaws register. I didn't hear of anyone I know from the area who won tickets.

I am not sure why they need a "local" team to play in the event, other than it is easier for them to fly in for the day. It isn't like the LL teams from around the country and world are fans of the teams they bring into the event. As a matter of fact they would be more likely to hit upon a LL teams area if they brought in a team from Cal or Texas to play the Phillies (or other east coast team). They could even rotate the East coast team by having the Mets, Balt, Yankees etc take a turn as the Pirates did this season.

bkox 2017-09-14 15:26:15 UTC #13

This is exactly it. They want the players to be spending time with the little leaguers earlier in the day. If they have to play a game Saturday and then fly in early Sunday morning, the players will be tired etc. Plus the CBA may say something against the extra air travel etc.

zambonir 2017-09-14 16:27:57 UTC #14

Do they really even fly in from three hours away? I gather the teams use 757s as their charters, can one even land in Williamsport?

Lucky_Beagle 2017-09-14 20:56:06 UTC #15

The Pirates and Cardinals flew in from Pittsburgh. I imagine the teams would be pleased for an hour flight as opposed to a 3 hour bus ride. Of course it may depend on how long it takes them to get through security and onto a flight. They may have close to the same amount of time invested in getting to there.

zambonir 2017-09-14 21:32:19 UTC #16

Yeah, that was my thought, if they have to fly commercial on a regional jet, 3 hours on a nice private bus doesn't seem so bad and is only an extra hour really. The Phillies take Amtrak to DC or NY sometimes.

schillingfan 2017-09-15 21:20:39 UTC #17

I've been to William'sport. I don't know if the landing strip is long enough for 737s. The planes were propjets which would not be big enough to carry a whole baseball team. It's a small airport with very few flights, so security is walk-through and you just go from theterminal to the plane.

If the landing strip is long enough it would be easy Peary to take a private 737 and less than an hour from Philly or New York.

bkox 2017-09-15 23:26:06 UTC #18

I found this on wikipedia:

American Airlines operated by Piedmont Airlines operates de Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 aircraft with 37 seats out of the airport. But during the period of August 8 thru the 29 the de Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 with capacity of 50 seats is used for the boost in passenger numbers due to the Little League World Series.

zambonir 2017-09-16 01:25:19 UTC #19

Interesting stuff.

julio 2017-09-16 03:01:39 UTC #20

Per Wikipedia:

Williamsport Regional Airport's (IPT) Runway 9/27 is 6,825 feet long (it's the longer of two runways at IPT, at an elevation of 528 feet.

A Boeing 757-200 requires 6,800 feet for takeoff. No, that doesn't mean IPT's runway 9/27 is long enough. In a dire emergency, yeah, maybe. For routine operations, no way.

A 737-500 Basic configuration, per Boeing, requires 5,880 feet - that leave about a 1,000 foot margin, so this bird could probably operate out of IPT. This plane can carry about 110 people. However, a 737-500 has a range of only about 1,400 miles, so wouldn't work for club's needing longer ranger (that's not coast-to-coast mileage!). So a club could charter one for a flight to Williamsport, as long as that club was coming from somewhere east of the Mississippi... but that's not a standard MLB charter.