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Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes — not that we’re counting.
Something happened Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park during the Phillies’ disheartening 8-4 loss to the Miami Marlins, a loss that occurred 24 hours after the boys chased the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, Sandy Alcantara, after 4+ innings in a 15-3 rout.
Perhaps expecting more of the same, the rowdy crowd at CBP began celebrating Dollar Dog Night by taking those Dollar Dogs and chucking them around the stadium. While not possessing the sheer firepower of the Phanatic’s hot dog gun, a number of those heated meat rod sandwiches reached the field.
The Phillies are clearly breaking fans with their frustrating defense of their NL pennant.
Things are better since their disappointing season opening sweep at the hands of the Texas Rangers, but it’s clear Rob Thomson’s crew is having a hard time getting on a roll. They desperately need even a small winning streak to get people feeling better, but that’s tough to do when only once has a starting pitcher gone at least six innings, taxing the bullpen beyond what should be expected of them.
Without Bryce Harper (whose return could be much sooner than we’d anticipated), the rest of the offense must do better than their 1-for-10 effort with runners in scoring position. And players cannot continue to get thrown out on the basepaths, as Bryson Stott did Tuesday, killing a potential rally and comeback.
On the latest edition of Hittin’ Season, I was joined by senior baseball writer for Fangraphs and big Phillies fan Michael Baumann, as we recapped the first two games of the Jekyl and Hyde Phils’ series against the Marlins, discussing, among other things:
- Aaron Nola’s middle inning implosions continue and whether they’ll ever stop (please!)
- Missing Rhys Hoskins
- Which of Brandon Marsh, Alec Bohm or Bryson Stott has had the more impressive start
- Bryce Harper’s seemingly rapid rehab from off-season Tommy John surgery
- How baseball’s new rules are impacting the 2023 season
- The craziest minor league game of the season so far
Also, an impassioned plea from me for fans to embrace the NL Championship Ring Ceremony (no, it’s not a consolation prize!) and why throwing hot dogs at a professional sporting event is, generally speaking, a not-so-hot idea.
Listen above or download the episode here.
