Phillies Magic Number and NL Postseason Seed Thread

[zambonir]

Well, for worse would be if they clinch at home! It's certainly not out of the question but I guess if they go 2-1 this weekend and 3-3 on the road that's also four Mets losses. Do worse in either Mets series and it may wait until the Cubs at home. But no problem with clinching it in Queens really.

[BostonRoss]

If we have a number 4, that one will be a challenge.

Eric Bruntlett!

[zambonir]

a true postseason legend

[EastFallowfield]

Yes, this is for the division.

Figure the magic number to finish ahead of the Braves is 8 since they have a tiebreaker. For the Mets, 9, cause we don't know who has the tiebreaker yet.

Guessing Phils might be in trouble in a 3 way tiebreaker since the choke scenario involves a bunch of losses so at least some to the Mets.

[LoneStarPhan]

4 always brings to mind Solly Hemus.

[MichaelJackSchmidt]

[EastFallowfield]

I tried to get 7 and 8 together, if you look on Nick's arm it seems one was found

[zambonir]

MJS getting busy.

During the Astros series I came out of the men's room in my old gray Franco t-shirt (bought in the flush of excitment of his 2019 hot start, but also I just hate red t-shirts) and this youngish guy (but college age) guy asked me who he was. Said I was obviously a real/big fan to be wearing the shirt of such an obscure player, haha.

[zambonir]

Gotta love the Dodgers-Braves series too.

[MichaelJackSchmidt]

The magic number thread is my favorite

[zambonir]

Well, you should pick up the spring training countdown mantle too! I feel like that is where the number thing was more common originally (but of course we also didn't have magic numbers for 10 years).

[bkeich]

14 games left, we are 89-59. Best record in baseball with a 1-2 game lead depending on outcomes tonight.

Can we win 11 and get to 100? Doubtful, but not impossible. I suspect if we get close to that we will start to throw lesser lineups out there because we have run away with things.

We must run the table (14 wins) to set a team record 103 wins. No chance.

It looks like no team will win 100 this year. (Possible but looking unlikely)

Do the Phillies even worry about lining up starters if it looks likely we get a bye. Do we load manage Wheeler, Nola, Suarez and Sanchez down the stretch. Maybe even sneak some of our best players on the IL?

It might make sense to call up a stretched out starter from AAA if we can for those last couple days??? (If things are going well)

Is Marchan recovered enough to catch a couple games?

[EastFallowfield]

Like when the magic number is half or less of the number of games remaining!

[bkeich]

Like when the magic number is half or less of the number of games remaining!

0% is my favorite.

[xogfog]

And the lead against the Dodgers is really three because the Phils own the tiebreaker.

[Florida_Sunshine]

I might be a little bit more worried about the Brewers.

[zambonir]

The Dodgers probably have to be worried about the Brewers!

[gmwannabe]

BK, do you think the phils might give Abel a start, as a stretched out starter?

[EastFallowfield]

Philliesnation has a post that is kind of updated with the various magic numbers each day and tiebreakers (at least one of those needs updating, Phils/Mets gm from yesterday not tallied in the tiebreakers section of the post)

A look at all 4 Phillies’ magic numbers – Phillies Nation

[zambonir]

That's kind of a fun idea and he does have to go on the 40 this off-season right? But I don't think you want the kid's major league debut to be in a meaningless game that could still put a bad punctuation mark on his somewhat turned-around season.

And who knows if there's actually going to be a meaningless game? Might not be until Sunday that both top seeds are locked even if the East is long over. Last year they were clinched and locked in with six games remaining but still used the regular rotation for four games. Then they used Nelson and Plassmeyer who were both on the 40. This year we'd probably just be looking at the return of Tyler Phillips or Kyle Tyler.

Right now Wheeler and Nola are lined up to go on 9/28 and 9/29 which would already put them both on six days rest for Games 1 and 2 off NLDS. Don't know that you want them to get 10 or 11 days. As it is Suarez and Sanchez will probably have to pitch sim games to stay sharp too.