So, another Wednesday night rolls past, and the Phillies find themselves with a modest 10-8 record through the first 18 games of the MLB season. For fans in Philly, that record might feel like a lukewarm coffee—comforting to some, but not quite providing that morning jolt others crave.
Sure, being a game behind the Mets might not have you jumping for joy, but let's pump the brakes on that panic button. The Phillies' current situation isn't as dire as it seems, especially when you consider the long arc of baseball history.
The Big Picture of 2025 Baseball
The concern going around right now is that six teams in the National League are sporting better records than the Phillies, which understandably has some fans hitting refresh on their standing apps a bit too frequently. But let’s not forget: Baseball is a marathon, not a sprint. Out of those six teams, it's almost a guarantee that at least one will hit a snag over the grueling 162-game schedule.
A whopping four of those higher-ranked squads hail from the NL West: the Padres at a fiery 15-4, the Giants with a commendable 13-5, and both the Dodgers and Diamondbacks trailing closely at 14-6 and 11-7, respectively. Thanks to the playoff format since the 2022 expansion, rarely do more than three teams from one division make it to the postseason show. It's a safe bet that at least one of these NL West powerhouses will find themselves watching October baseball from their couch.
Now, let’s dive into some team metrics that might bring a smile to your face. The Phillies boast the eighth-best On-Base Percentage (.329) in the majors, with a knack for patience at the plate, racking up the second-most walks (79). And if you’re a fan of pitching prowess, their starters are dealing with authority—tied for the second-most quality starts (7) and striking out batters at a rate unmatched by any team in baseball, totaling 115 strikeouts.
Learning from Phillies’ History
A 10-8 start might not scream "World Series contender," but hey, let's take a walk down memory lane. Historically, slow starts haven’t deterred the Phillies from making deep playoff runs. In fact, in their last six World Series appearances, a fast start was more the exception than the rule:
- 2022 Phillies: 8–10
- 2009 Phillies: 10–8
- 2008 Phillies: 8–10
- 1993 Phillies: 14–4
- 1983 Phillies: 11–7
- 1980 Phillies: 9–9
Only during the 1993 campaign did the team truly charge out of the gate. Look to the new millennium, and you'll find five more playoff teams:
- 2024 Phillies: 10–8
- 2023 Phillies: 7–11
- 2011 Phillies: 12–6
- 2010 Phillies: 11–7
- 2007 Phillies: 7–11
Again, a pattern emerges. Only once did they soar to a quick start, and yet, postseason baseball was still in their future.
So next time you're clutching your foam finger and watching the Phillies in April, trying to make sense of the standings, take solace in their storied history. The numbers and the narrative both have a way of showing us that patience is not just a virtue—it's a valuable ally.
