(Philadelphia) Bryce Harper reflected on how much more he could have done to guide the Phillies to the World Series. How he let his team down. How he let Philadelphia down.
Harper took responsibility after a heartbreaking elimination and added that the team management must continue to invest and develop its players to allow the Phillies to remain competitive for many years to come.
“I want you to know that we will be back,” Harper said.
But know this: The Phillies squandered a World Series opportunity following one of the most spectacular collapses in the franchise’s 141-year history.
They led 2-0 in the National League Championship Series. Then they led 3-2 and were back at home for Game 6 with ace Aaron Nola on the mound.
Then they collapsed. It was ultimately the Arizona Diamondbacks who conquered Cizitens Bank Park and eliminated Harper and a US$241 million offense that turned into a damp squib.
The day after was difficult in Philadelphia. Whether on the radio, on social networks or in the newspapers, the Phillies collapsed under the pressure. The cruel truth, in this case, hurts.
And the worst part of all this is that the Phillies have often started a slow descent into hell after defeats that are difficult to swallow.
There was 1964, when the Phillies lost 10 straight games to squander a six-and-a-half-game lead with 12 games remaining before slipping away from the National League title. Their next appearance in the playoffs was in 1976.
Then there was 1993, when Mitch Williams was the victim of Joe Carter’s famous game-winning home run in the World Series. The Phillies didn’t have another winning season until 2001. And there was 2011, when Ryan Howard found himself grounded after a late swing in a division series loss, heralding another lean decade.
The members of the Phillies may say that they will quickly return to the playoffs, that the defeat in seven games against the Diamondbacks will not leave a scar on the next generation, the fact remains that history suggests the opposite.
The new series format, however, works in their favor. The Phillies won just 87 games last season and reached the World Series. The Diamondbacks have won just 84 this year and will play for the top honors against the Texas Rangers.
The Phillies can win 80-90 games again if the offense continues to hit home runs at a good rate. But the challenge for them will be to continue to rack up victories even when their offense falls flat.
Sometimes a series is won on small games that make the difference. It could be a stolen goal. Or a good or bad decision by a manager – certainly, Rob Thomson made a few blunders.
However, the most important numbers are those in the win and loss column.
Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos and Harper were 5-for-53 (.094) with 11 walks, 22 strikeouts and two RBIs in the Phillies’ four championship series losses. Facing the six Diamondbacks pitchers who marched on the mound during the final game, the Phillies quartet was 1-for-15 (.067) with five strikeouts and no RBI.
“You work hard all season to experience moments like these. We didn’t have the killer instinct,” Harper said.
Rather, it was the Dbacks who had it. So, can the Phillies get back up and have another deep playoff run in 2024?
