Project this season's pace over 162 games and you get 100 or 99 wins.
Bob Shryock One season ago, the Phillies were the laughingstock of major league baseball. It required a stretch run in late September to avoid a 100-plus-loss season. And as it stood, the Phils' 99 losses were the most in either league.
Their Hall of Famer turn manager, Ryne Sandberg, was so distraught by the inability of his inherited zillionaires to produce he up and quit the sinking ship in midstream. Now you know why he struggled in Triple-A. He forgot this was 2015, not 1985; today's players aren't too keen on proper execution of fundamentals.
Injuries depleted the starting pitching corps, otherwise known as the Four Aces. The bullpen couldn't get anybody out. The established nucleus from the championship '08 club stopped producing, it seemed, at the same time. Ryan Howard would go hitless against a Tri-County Conference lefty.
As a result of these collective foibles, the club's reliable fan base soured in a hurry. The fans, who were spoiled by an organization that captured five consecutive division titles, became disenchanted by the sudden free-fall into oblivion, and began curbing their support. That's par in baseball, but somewhat of a surprise in loyal Philly.
I can't think of one sports journalist who gave the Phils even a fighting chance to avoid disaster in 2016. They seemed destined to fail. A season with losses exceeding the 99 logged in 2015 was highly likely. In the NL East, best-case scenario for the Phils seemed, at best, fifth place behind either the Miami Marlins or, as it has turned out to date, the sad sack Atlanta Braves. Now Atlanta's the worst team in baseball.
So what happened? It would take a prognosticator with quite a fibbing skill-set to claim they predicted this one.
As of Wednesday, May 18, the Phils stood 24-and-17 at the one-quarter mark of the season, which represents an amazing about-face from last year's 99 setbacks, they're on pace to nab 100 wins.
Prior to Friday's game, they were a half-game out of the divisional lead, a full game up on the Mets, and had the fifth-best record in baseball-land. Not bad for the worst team in baseball.
Ryan Howard is still here, but hitting well under the Mendoza line, a shocker, and Carlos Ruiz is having a decent year. But the nucleus of the club is mostly guys you never heard of. It seems every night one of them is bashing his first big league home run. Name three staff pitchers and you win lunch with PA voice Dan Baker.
But above all else, this is a team - a TEAM! - that wins together and doesn't point fingers. It's a team devoid of superstars and egomaniacs. Everyone contributes. Everyone cares.
That probably isn't gonna happen.
But how does worst-to-first sound? Go Phils.
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The Shryock kiss of death was apparent over the weekend as the Phils lost a series to the aforementioned Braves. So stay tuned.