Adolis Garcia, last season, batted .227, 19 home runs and 75 RBI. It was a go-figure after missing back-to-back World Series with Bruce Bochy.
Although, Garcia was a primed hitter once in his career and grew a huge impact in Texas. Garcia is now a Philadelphia Phillie and what is the main reason?
Less cash? Better defense? Hopes he outwits Nick Castellanos?
None of that matters. What does is his ability to play the everyday position or compete highly with prospect Justin Crawford. Crawford hit a record best .863 OPS in the minors last year.
Season odds are he will win out the position and finally put this distaste to a restful end in right field. He will have a chance to work with the 40-man roster in spring training to decide the outcome.
Kyle Schwarber agreed to a five year, $150 million deal on Tuesday and it took more than 30 days to cash in. Schwarber knew he wanted to be a Phillies player and got the job done.
Rather than sign for more money or opting for a home reunion in Cincinnati, he ensured Philadelphia was his No.1 destination to continue local sponsorships and raise his children.
My appreciation for Kyle Schwarber reaches far beyond the 300 level of the CBP right field wall. Schwarber has catapulted into an insisted clubhouse leader and due diligence to reinvigorate the Phillies, once more.
This opens the door for the Phillies to trade Bryce Harper and receive more value for their buck. The Phillies have a nice core of talent and they cannot fail in what they do.
Whether that means bringing back J.T. Realmuto or reintroducing the search for other young talent in free agency. the Phillies must not fail under a prized possession in the game of slugging percentage.
The stretch is coming to a close for the Philadelphia Phillies. They are the NL East division leaders and could not feel happier. Meanwhile, Zack Wheeler removed a blood clot that is crucial.
Christopher Sanchez talked about how much he values Wheeler as a teammate and that is not to say there is still sometime to change that philosophy from upside down. Sanchez is easily the man in charge now. Wheeler is 35 and there are no qualms after all the praise from manager Rob Thomson over the past three seasons that Sanchez should get the ace starting responsibility.
Rather than look after Wheeler, it is time for Sanchez to seize action and be the best ace going forward and into the postseason. Ranger Suarez, as predicted, has posted a 9-6 record with a 3.25 ERA. He is no good as well as Jesus Luzardo.
Which leaves to Aaron Nola, who when called upon originally, has been lights out. Despite his recent rehab stint back, I expect him to be the second go-to starter for the Philadelphia Phillies in a relief ditch effort of feasibly his last along other likes such as Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm, and Jhoan Duran.
The Phillies have paid for the graphics and music now. it is time to rest and phase in on the tremendous action Duran, Strahm, Kerkering, and Strahm can bring as Jose Alvarado will poorly be missed. Again, I do not think the bullpen has the makings of some NL West powerhouses such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski failed in that department by a tad but what the Phillies do have in favor is Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. Together, they make up 89 home runs and lead some of the NL in that category. Only, if it were down to postseason Harper, Citizens Bank Park would know what the Phillies are made of.
There could be some surprising stars or prospects on the horizon for the Philadelphia Phillies but all that is left is a possible ending chapter for the likes of Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, and more in red, proud, glorious, pinstripes.
Harry Caray and Ryne Sandberg were like any kids joy heart going to Wrigley Field in the 90’s. Caray squared back to his passionate heart for Chicago Cubs baseball who still yet overcome a World championship.
Sandberg would play second base and mow down the runners at first. He was a 9x Gold Glove winner and second all-time in that regard behind Roberto Alomar. He was a 1984 NL MVP and featured classically later in the Cubs galore. He just had that elegant smile that stood out from the rest and nifty feet.
Caray meanwhile was like standing up to Gorilla Moonsoon only he had the cooler glasses. He shocked the waves of Cubs fame and covering Sandberg as, “Holy Cow,” was undoubtedly his most famous call.
Holy cow them Cubs! The Cubs had maybe reached the playoffs a couple times and then Caray passed shortly. Sandberg became manager of the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs and ending in with despair this time.
There was no despair when it came to how the baseball World treated and respected Sandberg though. He tragically died on July 28, 2025 and will be heroically missed who met expectations of an absolute Cubs fan. He will be missed.
It is August 11. The summer is winding down. The Olympics is tuned at a high volume but meanwhile, Phillies baseball is in the Arizona desert, and is meant to be played with one objective. Do not get mortified but as it turns out on a 103-degree indoor afternoon, the fielders retreated extra ground and the opposing batters covered the price. The final score resulted in being Philadelphia 5 and Arizona 12.
The Arizona Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald did throw more than 15 pitches and earned a successful team victory otherwise. (Arizona won 3 of 4 against Philadelphia.) The focus lies on the Philadelphia Phillies. They are 24-30 in their last 54 games and now possess a 69-49 overall record. If the summer were to start today so June 11, the Phillies would be at least 10 and 15 games ahead of where they are currently.
The Phillies must crush the Mets and Braves now. It is their only hope.
Bryce Harper said during the All-Star break that the Phillies are destined to compete for a World Series every year and denied the notion that they are World Series or bust considering the Phillies might need to think of changes.
For example, JT Realmuto was seen aching behind the plate during the recent Arizona game and he has been a backbone for Philadelphia. He suffered a right knee injury that required meniscectomy surgery.
Another example is the man himself, Harper. No full injury status has been given beyond notice but Harper is an instrumental part of any organization. Since his arrival, Harper has ranked in the top ten of MLB OPS and played most recently at first base begging the question if Harper is willingly built for outfield.
While Harper might be settled in terms of the Phillies faithful and confidence, it is not too hard to believe if his future is adjacent from ending in red pinstripes soon. The Phillies might be inclined to move forward without Harper to continue their chase at other high profile free agents including Juan Soto.
There is one sign for certain however and that is the Philadelphia Phillies have a World Series pennant to chase.
You could hear the late Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas rally a good portion of the crowd left in solidarity after celebrating Michael Lorenzen’s first career no hitter in only his second start with the ball club. It marked the first time a Phillies pitcher recorded a no-hitter since Cole Hamels in 2015 at Wrigley Field. And how ironic, Hamels had retired recently as of five days ago to the day Lorenzen sharpened an unforgettable performance at his debut start in Citizens Bank Park in front of mom, his wife, and child to be in the midst of a humbling experience later described by the right hander.
Lorenzen’s perfect game shall I add was first broken by an inevitable 3-1 count but not the no-no. The defense came alive early with spectacular plays by new MLB’er Weston Wilson ceasing control of a left field defensive play and hitting a towering home run off MacKenzie Gore (4.62). Wilson upheld in his major league debut but the bigger tests will be determined later.
Lorenzen also received support from Alec Bohm, Johan Rojas, Nick Castellanos, and even former Phillie Ryan Howard from the booth. It was a swell performance. Lorenzen tends to use his four-seam fastball but, at times, switched to the sweeper and earned a strike out away in the zone. Almost same happened in an instance to CJ Abrams.
Lorenzen fooled Abrams initially into swinging for a pop out to center high in the zone. Then, next at-bat, the bat got away from Abrams with a deceiving changeup down in the zone.
Lorenzen worked the zone until it sizzled on an August summer night in Philadelphia. The Phillies bats were hot with Wilson, Nick Castellano’s third inning home run, Trea Turner’s hit streak extension. Everything was firing on all cylinders and Lorenzen was displaying a classic.
My Uncle sat next to Jake Alu’s parents in the image above, and let’s just say Alu did not have his best night.
Nobody in turn, could hit off Lorenzen and the damage had been created from the first inning to the ninth. With one pitch to 124 counting, Lorenzen called the ninth inning the coolest moment of his career. Elaborating that he tries to quiet the mind but feel the electricity of the moment. He felt it.
Lorenzen is etched in Phillies history now with the likes of Tommy Greene, Kevin Millwood, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and many others. Lorenzen not only broke a curse but harped on a day that will eternalize a fraternal bond like no other in Philadelphia sports.
A good example is when the team celebrated around Lorenzen after the game and proceeded to splash water on his headset with Phillies play-by-play commentator Tom McCarthy. After replacing the headset and conveying a lengthy, righteous speech, the team camaraderie showed for in a swarming huddle of players including Craig Kimbrel, Brandon Marsh and others to name a few and it had not been more than 10 days Lorenzen has found time to settle for a type of housing in Philadelphia other than a hotel with mom, his wife, and baby.
Lorenzen raised his baby in the air like it was his swan song but the Phillies still as the former reliever from Detroit, Anaheim and Cincinnati. Weston, Joey Meneses and Lorenzen all traveled roads, collided, bounced around. Last night was a ceremony of all riches, this season is not over as the Phillies newest acquisition summed it best.
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