Once 2-1 Favorites to Win the NL East, Phillies Have Now Dropped to 6-1
- The Philadelphia Phillies have lost seven of their last 10 games
- They are now 5.5 games behind in the NL East
- Their odds of winning the NL East have lengthened from +140 on June 14th to +610 on June 26th
The Philadelphia Phillies have followed their best month of the season with their worst month of the season.
Entering Thursday’s game against the New York Mets, Philadelphia was 9-14 in the month of June.
The Phillies went 17-13 during the month of May.
Losers of seven of their last 10, Philadelphia’s NL East odds have also gone into free fall. The Phillies’ chances of winning the division have lengthened from +140 on June 14th to +610 on June 26th.
2019 NL East Odds
| Team | 2019 NL East Odds |
|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves | -600 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +625 |
| Washington Nationals | +800 |
| New York Mets | +2500 |
| Miami Marlins | +100000 |
*Odds taken on 06/27/19
Philadelphia began the month of June atop the NL, nine games above .500 at 33-24 and two games out in front. Today, the Phillies are 42-38 and 5.5 games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves.
Phillies Slide Comes Early
Last year on August 11th, the Phillies held a one-game lead atop the NL East. From that point onward, they embarked on a downward spiral. Philadelphia lost 31 of its last 46 games to finish 80-82 and third in the division.
This month’s downturn included losing two of three games to the Braves in mid-June. As the Phillies hit the official midseason mark in terms of games, there’s not much reason for optimism that this is a team about to turn it around and get back into the race.
Following completion of their series with the struggling Mets, Philadelphia gets three at Miami against the pitiful Marlins. Then July begins with a three-game set in Atlanta against the first-place Braves.
Historically, teams not occupying or near a division lead by July 4th are doomed to failure.
A negative outcome there could find Philadelphia just about out of the division race by the unofficial baseball day of assessment. Historically, teams not occupying or near a division lead by July 4 are doomed to failure.
Harper’s Bizarre Campaign
Last Februray, the Phillies invested $330 million to get 2015 NL MVP Bryce Harper’s name on a 13-year contract. It turns out that 13, at least for starters, is proving to be an unlucky number.
https://twitter.com/JoshHubama/status/1144021017867800577
Harper is hitting .251, with a .365 on-base percentage, and a slugging percentage of .467. He’s on pace to finish with 26 homers and 188 strikeouts.
Not exactly MVP-like totals.
Don’t Throw Good Money After Bad
Philadelphia certainly seemed to be a wise investment to capture the NL East flag at the start of the season. Today, to put any money on the Phillies at all would be a foolish venture. This isn’t a team that is slumping. It’s a ball club that is fractured.
Team is struggling pic.twitter.com/fMynEo4yra
— Ed Drennen (@EdDrennen1) June 21, 2019
They mope around. They don’t hustle. Both Harper and supposed Cy Young Award contender Aaron Nola are underachieving.
If it wasn’t for the tire fire that is the Mets, everyone would be talking about what a disappointment the Phillies are this season.
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
