The Wide World of Dirt

Well, it’s finally time that I write this article.

The Philadelphia Phillies improbable season is over after a Game 6 loss to the now-World Series Champion Houston Astros.

I’m not going to lie to you: this hurt…a lot.

Even now, a few days later, I am still catching myself thinking “if only.” If truth be told, I figured the season was over after Game 5 where we lost at home.

The lucky and crazy plays that went our way since Game 1 in the Wild Card against St. Louis weren’t going our way anymore. They definitely were going for Houston.

I think this loss hurts even more because Houston wasn’t particularly dominant in the series. Yes, they are the best team in baseball, but they definitely felt beatable.

The Phillies had their chances, and they couldn’t capitalize.

It sucks even more because this playoff run truly had “Team of Destiny” vibes to it, so the fact we were two wins away hurts all that much more. It almost makes me feel like a sweep would have been better lol.

The 2022 Phillies will always have a special place in my heart. Again, while I still am very much in the five stages of grief (as a Philly sports fan, this is my constant state of mind all year), I know that I will look back on this team and smile. 

Flashback to Opening Day. The Phillies were home against the Oakland Athletics.

After dispatching the top of the A’s lineup, the Phillies offense was ready to be seen by everyone. Kyle Schwarber smacked the first of 52 home runs this season (46 in the regular season and 6 in the postseason). Every hitter in that game would go on to record a hit or drive in a run in a 9-5 victory. 

Two days later, after digging themselves into a 4-0 hole against their rival the New York Mets, a crushing loss seemed imminent.

Add in three errors from third baseman Alec Bohm who was caught saying “I [expletive] hate this place” things were looking bleak.

However, in what may have been a precursor of things to come, the Phillies rallied and battled back to win 5-4.

Flash forward to June 3rd.

The Phillies have struggled mightily, carrying a 22-29 record. Their dream of ending the 11-year postseason drought was just that, a dream.

This was the first time the Phillies went over the luxury tax in team history. They carried one of the highest payrolls in baseball, yet outside of an impressive series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, the Phillies looked lifeless.

A change was needed. President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski, a respected baseball executive, fired highly-respected manager Joe Girardi.

Girardi was hired with the hope his World Series-winning experience could rub off on his players and finally get them to end their playoff drought.

It was anything but.

Girardi’s Phillies tenure was nothing short of agonizing. Bullpen mistakes, lineup issues, lack of fire, unlikability, etc. 

Enter Rob Thomson. The man who changed the Phillies’ fortunes.

The Phillies would go on to win Thomson’s first eight games as a manager (and actually carry a 9-game win streak as they won Girardi’s last game as manager). Those were some special wins that I won’t forget either.

On June 5th, they rallied from a 5-0 deficit against the Angels, and thanks to a game-tying grand slam by Bryce Harper and a walk-off 3-run home run by Bryson Stott, the Phillies rallied to a 9-7 win.

The very next game, against the Milwaukee Brewers facing one of, if not, the best closer in baseball in Josh Hader, the Phillies were down 2-1.

Bohm, who was beginning to turn his season and career in Philly around, smacked a game-tying home run.

The very next at-bat, Matt Vierling would hit the go-ahead and later, game-winning home run. The Phillies won 3-2 with two of those runs coming against the formidable Hader. The Phillies were showing fight.

After a series win against the Diamondbacks, Thomson’s win streak was over.

Enter the Miami Marlins.

For years, whatever the reason, the Fish had the Phillies’ number. They struggled mightily against them. If they truly were to turn their fortunes around, they needed to exorcize their demons.

Entering the series finale, they split 1-1 and found themselves staring at a 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the 9th with 2 outs.

Up to bat came Garret Stubbs, the backup catcher.

Stubbs had two runners on base. All he needed was a single, and the game would be tied. You know the story.

Instead he smacked the game-winning home run, and the Phillies walked it off 3-1. This Phillies team was looking different. They were finally playing with some fight.

A few weeks later, on June 25th the Phillies were playing against the Padres when all of a sudden, a potential death blow to the Phillies was dealt.

Bryce Harper. The face of the franchise, last season’s MVP, was nailed on the hand by a fastball by Padres’ pitcher Blake Snell. He would miss considerable time.

It was crushing because Harper was already dealing with an elbow injury that forced him to strictly bat as the DH.

A new rule that was passed in the off-season brought the DH to the National League. He was having another stellar season, worthy of legitimate MVP praise, and just like that, it was all for naught.

The Phillies of old would have withered without their superstar.

In Harper’s tenure, the Phillies’ teams have been way too top-heavy. They had talent, but no depth that could help them.

If it was any other year, Harper’s injury would have been the death blow to the Phillies’ potential playoff hopes. 

But, this wasn’t the Phillies of old.

They kept fighting. It wasn’t always easy. There were some dark times. But, the Phillies showed that they weren’t done yet.

On Monday October 3rd the Phillies needed 1 more win to clinch the final NL Wild Card. The only problem? They had to win against the Houston Astros (ironic, isn’t it?)

It seemed improbable, yet they did. After a masterful 3-0 win led by a masterclass in pitching by Aaron Nola, they won and punched their ticket to the Wild Card.

In years past, the Phillies would not be where they were.

The rules to add an extra wild card team in each conference and the DH to the National League were the biggest and best possible outcomes for the Phillies. 

Yet, all that mattered was they were finally in the postseason again. 

And they had a manager that was competent. Rob Thomson engineered this team to a 65-46 record under him. Doing so gave him the managerial job permanently. No more “interim” manager. Topper is here to stay. 

Little did I know that entering October 7th, I was about to watch a truly historic Phillies run. Truth be told, all I wanted was a home playoff game at Citizens Bank Park. What I got was something more. Much, much more.

Going down 2-0 entering the 9th against the Cardinals, the team that sent the Phillies to their 11-year drought back in 2011, the Phillies had to battle.

Jean Segura, who was the player in the MLB with the longest innings played without a postseason berth, hit a clutch single to give the Phillies the lead.

They went on to win 6-2, and then 2-0 the next day to advance to the NLDS. The first of many more moments.

Game 3 of the NLDS, Rhys Hoskins, a much maligned player during his tenure in Philly, hit an epic 3-run home run in the first playoff game in Citizens Bank Park in 11 seasons. He capped it off with an epic bat spike. 

Game 4, JT Realmuto hits an incredible inside-the-park HR. The Phillies beat the defending-champion Braves, another team that has given them fits over the years.

Game 1 of the NLCS against the San Diego Padres in San Diego, Kyle Schwarber hits a 488-foot moonshot to give the Phillies the lead.

Later that same game, Nick Castellanos, who has struggled in his first year in Philly and a career below-average defender, makes an incredible grab to keep the Phillies series and season alive.

Game 4, Rhys Hoskins doesn’t hit one, but two 2-run home runs to help the Phillies win 10-6 in an incredible offensive showing. 

Game 5, down 3-2 with a runner on in the bottom of the 8th, Bryce Harper steps up to the plate.

This was the exact moment Phillies fans everywhere imagined when Harper signed to play for the Phillies back in 2019.

A superstar player ready to send his team to the playoffs. What occurred? The swing of his life. A home run that had me celebrating with my family like a madman.

A home run that I will never forget. A home run that I will tell my grandkids about. A moment where a superstar player did superstar things, and he was ours.

That was the peak.

Of course in the World Series, we stole Game 1. Coming back from a 5-0 deficit, we won 6-5 with a JT Realmuto home run in the 10th.

Then Game 3 the Phillies had an historic offensive day with a 7-0 bludgeoning of the Astros, and then it was over, no more moments.

It ended without the trophy, but it created memories I truly will never forget. 

Bryce Harper is a Philadelphia Phillie. Just writing that makes me smile.

Kyle Schwarber, when it all is said and done, will be one of my favorite players ever. He is an incredible leader, and I am happy he is here.

Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola are as good as a 1-2 punch as you can have in your rotation, and they are Phillies. Ranger Suarez isn’t that bad either. 

JT Realmuto is the best catcher in baseball.

Rob Thomson, Topper, Philly Rob, whatever you want to call him, lead us to something I haven’t had since I was 11. 

Rhys and Jean, I don’t know what their future holds, but if this is the end, they gave me memories and moments I will cherish forever. I will never have a bad thing to say about them. 

The 2022 Phillies had an incredible year. I have been writing this with tears in my eyes the whole time. I can’t express what this season, and this last month of playoff baseball has meant to me. It still stings how it ended, but I know when the time comes I will look at them with the moments rather than the end result.

I love this team. They made me proud to be a Phillies fan.