It didn't end the way we wanted, but what a ride it was. The Phillies lost in six games to the Houston Astros, ending the season and crowning the Astros World Series Champs.
Nobody expected the team to go that far when looking back in the middle of spring as they sat several games under .500. They were underdogs in every round of the playoffs. But, turning the calendar to June, the team played as if it were one of the best teams, not in just the National League, but all of baseball. Rob Thomson had his interim tag removed, which was rightfully deserved, and had this team playing as it were a 96-97 win team once he took over. No, it would not have been enough to win the NL East, but, they were much more competitive after he took over. The players believed in him, the city rallied behind him and, despite a questionable decision in game 6, he is well qualified to lead the team going forward.
Now, the team will look different next season. Many players are going in to free agency. Will we see Jean Segura again? Will some of the pitchers that helped along the stretch run, Eflin, Syndergaard, Robertson et al., be back? Can NLCS MVP Bryce Harper get completely healthy and recapture the form he had before he went down with the injury? Will we get an encore from Silver Slugger winners Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto? Will J.T. be the best catcher in baseball again? Will Nick Castellanos build upon the elite defense he displayed during the playoffs if Harper can't go in the field yet? Will starting pitchers Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Ranger Suarez (who should have won a Gold Glove, requirements be damned) build on some of the successes they had during the season? Ranger especially since he was outstanding in his one outing in the World Series. Will players that were defensive liabilities (Alec Bohm, Rhys Hoskins) shore up their shortcomings. We don't know the answer to these questions and more right now. But, perhaps with most of the team experiencing playoff baseball for the first time, perhaps they will be motivated to return to that stage.
There are a lot of choices that Dave Dombrowski has to make over the winter before Spring Training picks up in March but, with the way the season went, he has something to work with and build on for sure.
It was a fun ride and now we can only hope that when the team steps on the field next spring, this team builds upon its success and finishes their season this time next year but not as a runner up, but as champions walking down Broad Street.
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