The Phillies season is finally over after six grueling months. They finished with an 81-81 record, avoiding a losing season for the first time since 2012.
While the Phillies started the 2019 season with a bang, they ended it with a whimper as they lost their final game of the season to the Marlins, 4-3. There was a chance they ended the season with a losing record yet again, but they avoided that fate and finished the year with an 81-81 record.
This is Philadelphia’s best record since 2012 when they also finished with a .500 record. That season was the beginning of the end for the Phillies, but the hope is that 2019 is the start of something great.
The 2018 squad finished with an 80-82 record. At the beginning of the year, that record would seem acceptable considering they were 66-96 the year before. However, it was viewed as a disappointment considering they were 15 games above .500 in early August.
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This year’s record is once again viewed as a disappointment, although it was due to the preseason expectations set by the flurry of moves made during the offseason. A one-win improvement after adding Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura, and Daniel Robertson is understandably disappointing to all fans.
Now the focus is entirely on the offseason. The first and possibly biggest question to answer is whether or not Gabe Kapler will return as manager. The ax has already dropped for Chicago’s Joe Maddon, Pittsburgh’s Clint Hurdle, and San Diego’s Andy Green. Kapler will soon learn if he is to return to Philadelphia for his third season as manager.
Next, the team will have to address their utter lack of consistent starting pitching. Aaron Nola was the only starter who put up good results this season and managed to stay healthy. More starters will surely be brought in either via free agency or trade.
Hopefully, when next season starts on March 26, this Phillies squad will be much improved and ready to take on the new decade.