That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies: Five reasons to be excited about the stretch run

By Sean Resch

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 5: Asdrubal Cabrera #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with Nick Williams #5 after hitting a two run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on August 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Marlins 5-3. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 5: Asdrubal Cabrera #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with Nick Williams #5 after hitting a two run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on August 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Marlins 5-3. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
Phillies
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 30: A general view of Citizens Bank Park in the top of the seventh inning during the game between the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies on June 30, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Nationals 3-2. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

The ballpark

The Phillies have been lights out at Citizen’s Bank Park this season, sporting a National League-best home record of 38-18.  That is a reason to get very excited, because they will play 25 of the final 46 games of the season at home.  If the Phils can maintain a pace close to that, their chances of winning the NL East will vastly improve.

There are still 33 remaining divisional games for the Phillies to close out the year, so the division is wide open.  The Nationals sit just 5.5 games back, so they remain firmly within striking distance, and the Braves are on a roll.  Luckily for the red and white pinstripes, 20 of those 33 games will be played at Citizen’s Bank Park.

Advantage: Phillies.

I truly believe that this team would thrive with the backing of the city.  Rhys Hoskins agrees.

The home field advantage of the last squad to consistently make runs in Philadelphia has returned, but now we need fans to embrace it.  With a team in the fight to win the division and return to the postseason for the first time in six years, the hope is that the attendance will rise.

It appears that people have begun to come out to the ballpark and the average attendance is up from 24,714 through June 25 to 33,782 per game.  That is an encouraging increase that should continue down the playoff stretch.  They’re, however, 11th among the 15 National League teams in attendance with 1,556,264 fans entering the gates this season.

dark. Next. Ranking Every Player for the 2008 World Series

Either way, it is time to get out to the ballpark and help propel your Phillies into the postseason.

Home/Phillies News