Game 152 - Thursday Night, September 20th in Atlanta
Record - 78-74, 2nd place, 6 1/2 games behind the Braves
One Sentence Summary: A four-run eighth inning doomed the Phillies and hastened their now inevitable elimination from the postseason.
What It Means: I'm ready for the offseason. It's tough to watch these games and the joy experienced when watching (some) games earlier in the season has all but evaporated. And I can't help but wonder how many more games Pete Mackanin would have won with this same flawed roster.
What Happened: Jorge Alfaro singled in the 3rd to score Asdrubal Cabrera and tie up the game at 3-3. The game stayed tied until the 7th when Tommy Hunter allowed back-to-back doubles to Dansby Swanson and Lucas Duda, giving the Braves a 4-3 lead. Luis Garcia entered in the 8th, did not retire a batter, and allowed four more runs to score.
Featured Card: Jesse Biddle was the beneficiary of the win for the Braves, as he had recorded the final two outs in the top of the 7th. I'm sincerely glad to see Biddle finding success, but I just wish he had found it while wearing red pinstripes.
"I can't help but wonder how many more games Pete Mackanin would have won with this same flawed roster."
ReplyDeleteAfter years of rebuilding the roster (unofficially, of course!), they are now also rebuilding the front office and coaching staff, using unproven noobs.
Meanwhile, other teams repeatedly create success from nothing. If only the Phillies would take a lesson from the successful teams, and not act like they are the smartest bunch in the room. (Years of watching Andy Reid and Sam Hinkie may be to blame.)