After three straight losing seasons, a regime change and a few position changes, the rebuilding Phillies were expected to be doormats for the league this season. But so far, they’ve been a surprising team. The surprising and fightin’ Phils are off to the best start of the season since 2011, the year the team won a franchise-record 102 games and the last time they were in the playoffs.
So what did they do to turn things around?
For his first season in Philadelphia, General Manager Matt Klentak’s team is off to a nice start. The team is fun to watch, producing wins and showing fans why they should love them all over again.
In year two of the rebuild, the club is taking the field with spunk and confidence that is needed to win games, and that’s just what they’re doing. Winning. Halfway through May, the Phillies are 22-15, showing moxie when playing in high-pressure situations, winning a league-high 13 one-run games.
But that’s just the beginning for the team.
It’s a matter of run prevention, a run producing offense and a young and talented rotation. Allowing just 3.92 runs per game, the fifth-lowest in the league, the defense is showing its strength. But if the offense didn't help out, they wouldn’t be where they were. Having been outscored by 16 runs, 98-82, the fightin’ Phils haven’t given up just yet. In fact, they are sizzling along in one-run games this season, winning 13 one-run games. For the first time in years, the Phillies sit above .500. That's right: the Phillies have a winning record this season.
The Phils are sitting nicely in the midst of the NL East. And by nicely I mean in second place, just one game behind the NL East leaders, the Nationals. As of right now, the Fightin' Phils are one game back, the team who wasn't supposed to win anything. The strength of the team is in its young talent, but the latest move for the Phils added to that, bringing Tommy Joseph up from Lehigh Valley. The young rotation helps out.
That’s right, there’s a gang of youngsters in the NL East who are playing for a team who just last season lost 99 games, and they’re helping turn things around for the Phillies.
It’s still early, but the strength is in the arms, causing the Phils to exceed expectations. This season our rotation meets a lot of new guys and young talent.
We start with Vincent Velasquez, who is 4-1 this season. After being acquired this winter from the Astros, he’s produced for the FIghtin’ Phils. The 23-year-old RHP owns a 2.7 ERA. He’s surrendered 30 hits and 13 earned runs over 43.1 innings. He has 49 strikeouts thus far. In his second game he made franchise history as he pitched a complete-game shutout.
Then there’s 25-year-old Jerad Eickhoff, who was acquired in the trade of Cole Hamels to the Rangers. Some fans might have thought giving up a talented vet was the wrong move, but Eickhoff seems to be adjusting alright. He’s not the best the Phils have, but he’s adapting well and producing for the team. He has a 4.43 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 40.2 innings. He doesn’t overpower his opponents with heat, but he throws a plus curve.
There’s also the talent gun, 22-year-old Aaron Nola. The top pick for the Phillies in 2014 is proving to be a great choice. Nola has given up only 17 earned runs in 53 innings. Sitting with a 3-2 record, Nola has compiled an impressive 58 strikeouts. He owns a 2.89 ERA.
Lastly, rounding out the arms on the mound is Jeremy Helickson, who owns a 4.12 ERA and 3-2 record. After 43.2 innings pitched, Helickson has 44 hits and 20 earned runs. He has 46 strikeouts.
While the season is still young, the Phillies are on fire. They’ve won five of their last seven games, squeezing out quite a few one-run games. They sit among the top five in the league for the best records in the baseball.
The Fightin’ Phils are surprising everyone this season, but there’s so much more to play. As they say, it ain’t over until the fat lady sings.
Play ball!
