ESPN writer explains why Phillies should be ‘worried’ headed into trade deadline season

Though an extra-inning victory against the Chicago Cubs on Monday provided some much-needed momentum, the last few weeks have not been kind to the Philadelphia Phillies. 

Prior to last night, the Phillies had dropped nine of their previous ten contests, including a pair of sweeps at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers and the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates. The stretch has dropped them four games behind the first-place New York Mets in the National League East and into a tie with the San Francisco Giants for the first Wild Card spot. 

Though even the best of teams should be expected to go through tough stretches during the course of a 162-game season, the Phillies brutal performance over the last two weeks has exposed some serious flaws, specifically with their offense. With Bryce Harper playing just three games since June 3 and ultimately landing on the injured list with a wrist injury, the Phillies scored more than three runs just three times in that ten-game stretch, including scoring exactly one run four times. Six different everyday players have an OPS below .700, while Kyle Schwarber is the only hitter with over 10 home runs. 

The Phillies’ offensive struggles have put the spotlight back on one of their league’s worst defenses, which ranks 23rd in Major League Baseball with -7 Outs Above Average, as well as a creaky bullpen that is clearly missing the suspended Jose Alvarado. And while the starting rotation continues to be the strength of the team, offseason acquisition Jesús Luzardo has come crashing back down to earth after a strong start, allowing 20 runs over his last two starts amid questions of pitch tipping.

All told, it’s no wonder why ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle says the Phillies should be worrying in the leadup to the trade deadline. 

“The Phillies’ league-average offense has been carried by Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and Bryce Harper, even as Harper has struggled through wrist issues that have him back on the IL,” Doolittle wrote. “The position group once again rates as one of baseball’s poorest defenses, so those guys — not just the star trio noted above — need to hit.”

Given their recent track record, which includes three straight postseason appearances and a National League pennant, the Phillies should still be given the benefit of the doubt that they will turn things around. That doesn’t mean, however, that this team shouldn’t be active at the deadline, as general manager Dave Dombrowski will have to live up to his ‘Dealer Dave’ nickname in order to plug some of his team’s glaring holes. 

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