7 Philadelphia Phillies with something to prove in 2022

Joe Girardi

Joe Girardi guided the 2009 Yankees to their most recent championship, but his first two seasons in Philadelphia haven’t been nearly as successful. In fairness, he began his current management stint during a global pandemic, with several players on the roster falling ill with COVID throughout the last two years.

In addition to the pandemic, the Phillies have also had a lot of injury problems and unlucky signings. Their 2021 bullpen was one of the worst in recent MLB history.

However, they also have the NL Cy Young runner-up and reigning NL MVP in Zack Wheeler and Bryce Harper, as well as star catcher J.T. Realmuto and unexpected hero, Ranger Suárez. Girardi will either be able to make it work, or he won’t.

Dave Dombrowski

Before getting hired by the Phillies in December 2020, Dave Dombrowski‘s last job had been at the helm of the Boston Red Sox. They gave him access to a bumper crop of prospects and a blank checkbook, and he built a team that won three consecutive AL East division titles, and a franchise-record 108 regular-season wins and World Series in 2018.

But in September 2019, Dombrowski was unceremoniously fired during a Sunday Night Baseball game at Fenway Park. He left the Red Sox’ farm system in ruins, and the team struggled in his wake.

Getting hired by the Phillies, Dombrowski entered a different kind of franchise. Whereas the Red Sox allowed him to exceed the luxury tax threshold to win big, the Phillies have never exceeded it. The Sox had a high-ranked farm system teeming with talent; the Phillies’ farm has ranked terribly every year and yields next-to-nothing.

Dombrowski needs to prove he can win without emptying the coffers and rebuild a desolate farm system. This is his first full offseason running the Phillies, and all eyes are on him.