5 Bold predictions for the 2022 Phillies

Predicting what will happen to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022

With the MLB offseason stalled due to the lockout, it’s hard to envision the 2022 season. There’s so much we don’t know; will it start on time, will there be a Universal DH, what new rules will Rob Manfred make? The possibilities are endless!

But the good news is that with the future so murky and up in the air, the predictions about what might happen can be bolder than ever.

Here are five bold predictions for the 2022 Philadelphia Phillies…

1. The Phillies will end their playoff drought… as a Wild Card team

In 2021, the Phillies cemented a decade without postseason play. And across the division, the Atlanta Braves won the World Series, further rubbing the decade of frustration in the Phillies’ faces.

Being bold isn’t being unrealistic; it’s hard to see them toppling the defending champions in 2022, but they could very well go toe-to-toe with the recently-upgraded New York Mets for their very first Wild Card berth.

The Phillies have never earned a Wild Card spot in its original or expanded play-in game form, but if Dave Dombrowski comes out of the lockout spending like there’s no tomorrow, he could build yet another postseason team.

2. Ranger Suárez will be a Cy Young contender

Bryce Harper thought that Ranger Suárez should’ve been the NL Comeback Player of the Year this year, and the pitcher certainly wasn’t talked about enough. He was virtually flawless from start to finish, or rather, from finish to start, as he made a stunning transition from the bullpen to the rotation midway through the season.

Suárez had a 1.12 ERA over 27 relief appearances when Joe Girardi moved him to the starting rotation for the first time since his rookie season in 2018. It was a huge gamble, but Suárez rose to the occasion, making 12 starts between August 2 and the end of the season. He posted a 1.51 ERA over 65 2/3 innings as a starter, going deeper into games with every start, until he pitched a complete-game shutout in his penultimate start on September 25.

Almost no one was talking about the incredible 2021 Suárez had, which could be an advantage to him going into 2022. With Zach Eflin rehabbing from surgery and starting pitching not on the front office’s shopping list, Suárez likely going to stay in the rotation this coming season. If he continues to pitch as well as he did last year, he’s going to finally garner the attention he deserves.

3. Alec Bohm will have a major bounce-back season

New Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long comes to the organization with the distinction of totally transforming Kyle Schwarber’s swing last year.

Schwarber had arguably the best season of his career, and his performance (including 16 home runs in18 games in June) is something the Phillies are definitely hoping Long can do for struggling hitters, especially Alec Bohm.

Bohm was the NL Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2020 but struggled immensely in 2021. By the second half of the season, he was benched and sent to Triple-A.

But there are a few signs that Bohm will turn things around in 2022. Bohm had a higher percentage of hard-hit balls in his sophomore season, up to 49.8% from 46.8%. His hits had a higher exit velocity, too, up to 92 mph from 90.2.

There’s a lot of room for improvement, but there’s also reason to believe Bohm can be a major contributor to the team in 2022.

4. Joe Girardi will get his 2023 option picked up

So much of what’s gone wrong with the Phillies over the last two years isn’t Joe Girardi’s fault. Many of the Phillies’ problems predate Girardi, and there’s a lot beyond his control; after all, he can only do his best with the players he’s given by the front office.

But with a revamped coaching staff, new bullpen arms in Kent Emanuel and Corey Knebel, and hopefully, many more signings after the lockout ends, the Phillies could have a chance to surprise everyone in 2022. If Girardi leads them to another winning season – 2021 was their first since 2011 – the Phillies might see fit to pick up his option for 2023.

Of course, Dave Dombrowski might just be running out the clock on Girardi’s contract so that he can hire a manager of his choosing after next season.