Philadelphia Phillies fans aren’t known for their patience. Even if this is a franchise that took an incredibly long time to win its first championship, keeping calm isn’t an attribute we normally think of when it comes to the Philadelphia sports fan.
That’s what makes everyone who cheers for the Phillies so wonderful. No one can say Phillies fans lack passion. Patience, on the other hand, is something thinner than the seats at the old Spectrum.
It’s okay if the Phillies are giving you heartburn. You’re not alone if any of these four players have already tested your patience and lost.
1) Phillies fans have already lost their patience with Taijuan Walker
Starting pitching was a major need for the Phillies this offseason. The big addition was Taijuan Walker, an arm the Phillies got to see regularly over the last two seasons where he represented the New York Mets. Philadelphia inked him to a four-year contract worth $72 million. Six starts into his tenure, fans are rightfully losing their patience.
Walker is 2-2 with a 6.91 ERA after 28.2 innings. In the absence of Ranger Suarez, they needed him to be a number three. He has been far worse.
The Phillies have already seen the ceiling and floor of what Walker can offer. His two wins were solid albeit against the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox. He went 6+ innings in each of them and didn’t give up more than 2 earned runs.
It’s the other four appearances where Walker has failed to get through five. His most recent appearance versus the Los Angeles Dodgers was the worst beating of all. Walker exited after 3.1 innings and 8 earned runs against him.
Patience for Walker has already run thin. There isn’t much the team can do other than improve the pitching staff around him.
Meanwhile, this other pitcher is looking like he’s already well on his way to a roster demotion as soon as they find a better option.