Putting the 2022 Philadelphia Phillies season into perspective

The magical Phillies season ended Saturday with their Game 6 World Series loss.

The 2022 season ended abruptly for the Philadelphia Phillies, as they dropped Game 6 of the World Series, 4-1. While the season ended in disappointment, there were many positive things that fans saw.

Going into the 2022 campaign, the Phillies had some question marks. One was how would third baseman Alec Bohm bounce back after a lackluster 2021 season. Another was what to do about center field. The club was also curious to see if they could finally put together a reliable bullpen.

As the season progressed, some questions were answered, while others remained murky. One certain thing is that the club overcame many of the issues that were presented before the season — and even the ones that arose midway.

Bohm struggled at first, offensively and defensively. The young third baseman put in the work, however, and ended the season and postseason playing respectable defense and finished with a .280 batting average.

After the first two months, it became apparent that a change was needed — as the Phillies went 10-18 in May. The front office recognized the need for change and dismissed manager Joe Girardi and gave Rob Thomson the reins of the club. The change proved to be successful, as the Phillies went 65-46 under Thomson — who led the club to its first postseason berth in 11 years.

The centerfield question was answered when the team traded for Brandon Marsh at the deadline. While Marsh may have struggled from time to time, it is important to note that he was a huge defensive upgrade in center field — and he hit .288 since joining the club. Marsh is also just 24 years old and is under team control for the next few seasons.

Injuries became another hurdle. Bryce Harper missed significant time with a broken thumb. Meanwhile, Zack Wheeler was sidelined down the stretch with a shoulder injury, and the Phillies lost reliever Corey Knebel for the season. In each case, the Phillies had one or more players step up to help keep them on track.

By the end, it became clear the Phillies had a bullpen that could be trusted. Bullpens often see much turnover throughout a season. Whether it comes from injuries, demotions, and promotions, there are always moving parts. The Phillies had some tough losses at the hands of the bullpen this season — a few blown leads that will not be brought up — but they also were reliable in many cases. The resurgence of Seranthony Domínguez was integral to their success.

If one thing can be said about 2022, it is that the Phillies were resilient. The team overcame a managerial change and multiple injuries to key players. It had contributions from just about every player on the roster. At the beginning of June, it may have seemed like a dream to think about the Phillies making the postseason. However, here we sit in November — with the season just ending.

The Phillies may not have achieved the ultimate goal of winning a World Series, but they did capture the attention of the city of Philadelphia and gave fans an extra month of exciting, inspiring, and incredible baseball. The 2022 season was a success, and the team will look to build on that success entering the 2023 campaign.