oh yeah. this is not poopting on rob. hes pushed all the right buttons. this is a successful season. this game is predictable and likely water finding its level. last game was the heartbreaker.
- stayinthefnnet

The reality is that the better team is going to win this series. They have better pitching and better situational hitting. The Phillies are a home run swinging team. They don't manufacturer runs. Don't use the whole field and hit the other way. The entire team tries to pull the ball for power.

The reality is that the better team is going to win this series. They have better pitching and better situational hitting. The Phillies are a home run swinging team. They don't manufacturer runs. Don't use the whole field and hit the other way. The entire team tries to pull the ball for power.
- MJL

The reality is that the Phils have adopted the 3 outcome philosophy that has taken over much of baseball (home runs, strikeouts, and fly outs). The small ball, situational hitting philosophy is not in-style…teams figure it’s better to swing for the fences than try to string together multiple hits. I generally don’t like this new outlook and think there’s absolutely a need to manufacture runs, but what they’re doing isn’t outside the mainstream of baseball right now.

The reality is that the better team is going to win this series. They have better pitching and better situational hitting. The Phillies are a home run swinging team. They don't manufacturer runs. Don't use the whole field and hit the other way. The entire team tries to pull the ball for power.
- MJL

all of this man. so agreed. it sucks becuase in the beginning of the playoffs they were base hitters.

but yeah. this houston team is so much better top to bottom. still sucks to lose but i am overall proud of this bunch. game five will always haunt me though.

The reality is that the Phils have adopted the 3 outcome philosophy that has taken overmuch of baseball (home runs, strikeouts, and fly outs). The small ball, situational hitting is not in-style…teams figure it’s better to swing for the fences than try to string together multiple hits. I generally don’t like this new outlook and there’s absolutely a need to manufacture runs, but what they’re doing isn’t outside the mainstream of baseball right now.
- Sublime55

It's outside of what Houston has done this series. When facing the kind of pitching that Houston has. You have to adjust. Hit the other way. Shorten swings with two strikes. Work counts and get baserunners. Houston has done the better job.

The reality is that the Phils have adopted the 3 outcome philosophy that has taken overmuch of baseball (home runs, strikeouts, and fly outs). The small ball, situational hitting is not in-style…teams figure it’s better to swing for the fences than try to string together multiple hits. I generally don’t like this new outlook and there’s absolutely a need to manufacture runs, but what they’re doing isn’t outside the mainstream of baseball right now.
- Sublime55

I’m not a baseball guy but I do know that good pitching isn’t going to give you a whole lot. Solo home runs are nice but usually don’t win you games.
Sometimes you have to take what the pitcher gives and put the ball in play.
Hit the mistakes.

It's outside of what Houston has done this series. When facing the kind of pitching that Houston has. You have to adjust. Hit the other way. Shorten swings with two strikes. Work counts and get baserunners. Houston has done the better job.
- MJL

They no doubt have…I just wonder if they decided they’re going to play the way that got them there, regardless of the opponent.

It's outside of what Houston has done this series. When facing the kind of pitching that Houston has. You have to adjust. Hit the other way. Shorten swings with two strikes. Work counts and get baserunners. Houston has done the better job.
- MJL

this. and its just not in their DNA. too many automatic outs in the lineup. nick is an abortion. hoskins needs to move on for a better contract lord willing somehwere else

(frank) was that schwarber

this. and its just not in their DNA. too many automatic outs in the lineup. nick is an abortion. hoskins needs to move on for a better contract lord willing somehwere else
- stayinthefnnet

I agree with Smoltz. Castellanos will rebound next year. Bohm will get even better. They really need more starting pitching and a better bull pen. Hoskins has had a few big hits but he angers me most of the time.

I agree with Smoltz. Castellanos will rebound next year. Bohm will get even better. They really need more starting pitching and a better bull pen. Hoskins has had a few big hits but he angers me most of the time.
- MJL

I could definitely see them letting Jean walk in favor of Trea Turner. I know the rumors of the Phils being the most likely landing spot for him are are already out there.

I agree with Smoltz. Castellanos will rebound next year. Bohm will get even better. They really need more starting pitching and a better bull pen. Hoskins has had a few big hits but he angers me most of the time.
- MJL

i dont know what castellanos' deal has been. its wild to see such an accomplished hitter reduced to whatever laughable husk hes been. bohm will improve.

of course they need more pitching. i dont know where they get it from.

hoskins enrages me. ive come to terms with him though. him on such a cheap deal, hes been a good solider though crap home grown years. its hard to hate him or feel short changed. but for his next big money deal, go anywhere the (frank) else. hell get a decent deal because his counting stats are decent, but i cannot abide his poop anymore. hes a below average player at a power position when you grade it all out. good bye.

I could definitely see them letting Jean walk in favor of Trea Turner. I know the rumors of the Phils being the most likely landing spot for him are are already out there.
- Sublime55

Smoltz does a good job in the booth. I hated Atlanta in their prime. He knows the game.

I could definitely see them letting Jean walk in favor of Trea Turner. I know the rumors of the Phils being the most likely landing spot for him are are already out there.
- Sublime55

Another big bat would help.

Pretty sure the suits were dreaming of a Dodges/Yankees WS. Thought the Dodgers were vulnerable being 20 games up in June. Their pitching was good but after the top 3 hitters they didn’t look impressive. I can’t stand the Astros or Yankees. The Phillies were a formidable foe. The Astros just have too much.

i dont know what castellanos' deal has been. its wild to see such an accomplished hitter reduced to whatever laughable husk hes been. bohm will improve.

of course they need more pitching. i dont know where they get it from.

hoskins enrages me. ive come to terms with him though. him on such a cheap deal, hes been a good solider though crap home grown years. its hard to hate him or feel short changed. but for his next big money deal, go anywhere the (frank) else. hell get a decent deal because his counting stats are decent, but i cannot abide his poop anymore. hes a below average player at a power position when you grade it all out. good bye.
- stayinthefnnet

Castellanos has been in a funk. But last couple of games, at least I see the guy battling, trying to work the count. (Opposite of his reputation). Unlike everyone not named Harper.

Phillies going to lose and Flyers win. Awful sports night.
- StepfordSam

And btw, I know no one here cares, but the Union lost in the MLS cup final today in heart breaking fashion (first time they ever made it to there, and gave up tying goal with 90 seconds to go).

So 2 Philly teams lost national championships today and the another one continues to shoot itself in the foot by winning meaningless games.

no bedard for the flyers no ws for the phillies (frank) this

Sucks, but thanks Phillies for a tremendous ride. A season to truly remember. Come back strong for next season.

Sucks, but thanks Phillies for a tremendous ride. A season to truly remember. Come back strong for next season.
- Sublime55

they need another legit starting pitcher and someone that can actually hit harper in

they need another legit starting pitcher and someone that can actually hit harper in
- 2Real

Dumbrowski isn’t the type to sit idly by. He’ll most certainly be aggressive this off-season.

It’s just so funny to me listening to the old guys talking about how the game has changed and just completely rejecting the Flyers history of the passed and calling anyone who still enjoys fights and hits a bunch of dinosaurs. Being a tough hard nosed team is what the Flyers are known for. It’s a stigma that’s never going away. I think anyone is right that believes the broad street bullies are dead but I think you’re wrong if you believe a team has to be all skill. Hockey is a tough sport played by men. Watch any podcast talking about hockey or the Flyers. The players don’t wanna give up on hockey being a tough sport. The best stories told even today is when a fight breaks out or a couple good chirps.

It’s just so funny to me listening to the old guys talking about how the game has changed and just completely rejecting the Flyers history of the passed and calling anyone who still enjoys fights and hits a bunch of dinosaurs. Being a tough hard nosed team is what the Flyers are known for. It’s a stigma that’s never going away. I think anyone is right that believes the broad street bullies are dead but I think you’re wrong if you believe a team has to be all skill. Hockey is a tough sport played by men. Watch any podcast talking about hockey or the Flyers. The players don’t wanna give up on hockey being a tough sport. The best stories told even today is when a fight breaks out or a couple good chirps.
- SuperSchennBros

Physicality is still a nice thing to have come naturally to a team. Add skill to that and a team can be harder to play against. I'm not opposed to fights as long as they are spontaneous and not some orchestrated dance off a face off or something. Teams in this era wont win without skill. They also would have a hard time winning the cup without being able to play a physical game.

And btw, I know no one here cares, but the Union lost in the MLS cup final today in heart breaking fashion (first time they ever made it to there, and gave up tying goal with 90 seconds to go).

So 2 Philly teams lost national championships today and the another one continues to shoot itself in the foot by winning meaningless games.
- PT21

And LA was playing a man down due to a red card. Simply inexcusable goal to let up when you are that close to winning it all.

No interest as far as I know. Considering that Bettman just publicly said the player remains banned from entering the NHL and there's no chance of imminently allowing him to do so, I don't think there'd be teams lining up after Boston.
- bmeltzer

And several Bruins, including Bergeron, have made statements admonishing Sweeny for this signing. Sweeny and Neely have been getting killed in the local media also. Not only was this a bad singing by Sweeny, but the way he went about it, i.e. Not getting any input from his head coach or veteran players, not getting permission from Bettman or the league, and not even acknowledging the seriousness of the proven accusations against Miller but only calling them an incident, is absolutely disgusting IMO! Sweeny should be fired right away by Boston because its only getting worse for him as more news comes out about it.

For an org to be horrible at draft, the entire league would have to be considering scouts leaguewide ranked the Flyers at or near the top of farm system pools in the late 2010s to the start of the 2020s. But very few of these kids have developed. Injuries have been one factor but they don't explain everything. Too many players have entered the pro level right where you'd want them to be two years after they were drafted and then stagnated or went backward (in some cases after showing additional promise in portions of their first pro year).
- bmeltzer

I think the head coach makes the difference for these players. First the Flyers' younger players coming up had a college coach with no NHL experience to work with, then they AV who is exactly good at it, and then you had Yeo. Only 11 games in and I already see a big difference with how younger players are being treated and how they are contributing since Tort's has arrived.