The time it took for Bryce Harper's grand slam on Tuesday allowed for some thinking.
After defeating Cincinnati, there was hope for good weather to even the season record with Zack Wheeler pitching on Wednesday. Despite it only being the first homestand, given the previous disastrous Aprils, it was important to take stock after five games.
The first few games have been eventful, with two losses to Atlanta and a comeback win. The games against the Reds were up and down.
Despite it being early in the season, the initial findings would remain preliminary, but there were plenty of positive aspects in the opening stretch.
Initially, the starting pitchers have performed well.
Apart from Aaron Nola's struggle against Atlanta, the other four starters allowed five runs in 21 innings, with none failing to complete five innings. Wheeler's strong performance on Opening Day was not supported by the bullpen. Apart from that, the rotation's first turn has been promising as expected.
Manager Rob Thomson emphasized the importance of control. The four pitchers, apart from Nola, walked two and struck out 27 in 21 innings.
He said, "No walks." He also mentioned the importance of throwing strikes and getting early and soft contact, which they have been able to do. They've also been able to produce strikeouts when needed.
There aren't many noticeable weaknesses in the lineup at this point.
Kyle Schwarber is hitting well and running better than last year. Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, and Bryson Stott are hitting the ball and setting the tone for taking extra bases. Alec Bohm made a significant contribution to Sunday's game. Brandon Marsh is performing exceptionally well, aiming to shed the platoon label. Harper also bounced back from a tough start with a three-homer game on Saturday.
The lineup seems settled and cohesive as if they have played together for several years.
Everyone except Nick Castellanos appears to be getting into the swing of the season. Castellanos' tendency to be inconsistent means he could have a hot streak and carry the team for a week. Johan Rojas' ongoing lack of hits is a concern, but there is enough support, and Rojas is young enough that it won't disrupt an otherwise productive lineup.
The bullpen has been put under pressure, and the one weak element has been replaced with Connor Brogdon being reassigned on Tuesday. However, this resulted in a positive outcome, with Ricardo Pinto arriving from Rochester and delivering an impressive four innings to save the bullpen against Cincy.
According to Thomson, the most manageable aspect of the lineup so far is rest. The Phillies have two scheduled off days between the start of the Reds series and May 1. Thomson has been proactive in giving players rest before they appear to need it.
Wednesday was supposed to be Bohm’s first day off this year. Only Turner, Castellanos and Schwarber had played in all five games, although Schwarber had been the designated hitter each time.
“You have to respect their plans, but at the same time, you have to limit their playing time,” Thomson said. “Even though I haven’t been managing for long, I have been considering load management or similar strategies. Especially early in the year, you have to be cautious with playing consecutive days, time spent on bases, and other factors.”
The goal to achieve a .500 batting average is not just a technicality. The Phillies didn’t reach a balanced win-loss record until game No. 26 last year. They didn't consistently stay above that mark until game 69.
In 2022, they were 10-10 before a slump led to Joe Girardi losing his job. They didn't consistently have a winning record until a mid-June streak pushed them past 31-31.
A season is not defined in April, as the 2022 New York Mets can attest. But it can be ruined in the first month of the season.
The Phillies’ aspirations of winning the National League East haven’t survived the past two Aprils — and many more before that, if we want to be critical. For the past two years at least, the lackluster performance in the first month did not reflect the talent in the clubhouse, making it even more frustrating.
So far in 2024, the offseason goal of avoiding slow starts is heading in the right direction.
Contact Matthew De George at [email protected]m.
