The Philadelphia Phillies entered the 2024 MLB season as a World Series contender following disappointing postseason journeys deep into October over the last two years. The Phillies swept the reigning World Champion Texas Rangers for their 7th complete series sweep in 2024.
This start to a baseball campaign is unfathomable to Philadelphia fans, who are used to a century of baseball disappointment. The unfamiliar sound of winning fireworks and excited fans streaming out of the baseball cathedral known as Citizen’s Bank Park in the early months of the season is confusing in Philly. The sports talk radio hosts sit confused the next day as they receive positive calls back-to-back saluting the efforts of a Philadelphia Phillies team that the city fell deeply in love with over the last two autumn failures.
If the Phillies can sustain this historic heater, and most importantly avoid the injury bug, Philadelphia will be a team to be reckoned with on the National League road to the World Series.
Philadelphia Phillies Partying Like It’s 1892
The Phillies are finally armed with a healthy Bryce Harper (pun intended) manning first base; Philadelphia has started strong with a 37-14 record. The 29-6 record over the last 35 games ties the best stretch in team history, only equaled by that 1892 Philadelphia Phillies we all know so well! Right, y’all? …..hello?
MLB has not seen a start like this for a club in 20+ years over the first 50 games. You have to go back to the 116-win 2001 Seattle Mariners that tied the MLB record for wins in a regular season. Phillies skipper Rob Thompson is well aware of what happened to that Mariners squad that lost 4-games-to-1 in the American League Championship Series to the New York Yankees:
“What did they do at the end?” manager Rob Thomson said. “You’ve got to keep going. You just got to keep grinding, keep pushing all the way through.”
Only 26% (11-of-42) of the teams who started the season as Pinstripe-Red hot as the Philadelphia Phillies over the first 50 games have reached the World Series. There is way more work to be done on Citizens Bank Way.
Harper Making Dreams Come True All Year Long
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Philadelphia Phillies first baseman, Bryce Harper, specializes in making dreams come true. Whether it is smashing iconic October homers or making prom dreams become reality, Harper has been nothing but a pleasure to cover since singing his $300+ million contract with the Phillies in 2019.
This season, Harper leads the way with 12 home runs while placing second on the Phillies in RBIs with 37. He trails only Alec Bohm in that category, but we will get to him in a moment.
Bryce Harper is reaching base in 39% of his plate appearances, with fellow infielder friends Bohm (38%) and Bryson Stott (37%) close behind. Insanely, six Philadelphia Phillies hitters are reaching base in at least 30% of their plate appearances this season. Joining Harper and Co. on the list are Kyle Schwarber (35%), J.T. Realmuto (33%) and Brandon Marsh (32%).
With batting percentages of that nature, pitchers are left scratching their heads about where to find outs in the Philadelphia Phillies lineup in the early portion of 2024.
Bohm, Alec Bohm Smashing Baseball Like They Are Bad Guys
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Alec Bohm, the #3 overall pick from 2018, has exceeded expectations in his fourth full MLB season. The Wichita State product has only missed one game.
Bohm has 47 RBIs and an MLB-leading 20 doubles on the season, leading Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (17) and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher/DH Shohei Ohtani (17).
Alec Bohm’s 61 total hits are twelve hits clear of Bryce Harper’s second-place mark (48) on the team to punctuate just how elite his hitting skills have been early this season.
If the 27-year-old third baseman can keep smashing baseballs in June, we should see him at the MLB’s annual summer All-Star celebrations for the first time.
About The Author
Christopher Babos is a genuine sports & entertainment journalist with diverse credentials in writing, broadcasting, and digital media. With a varied professional background that includes an M.B.A. in Sports Management from Tiffin University, Chris can speak with authority on the subject matters that he covers. Additional insightful sports articles are located here. He can be located on X for real-time takes (@CBabosWrites)
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