As
the Dodgers and Astros worked their way to the Fall Classic, it became
very clear that they were two of the best teams of the last twenty
years. These aren’t the
2011 Cardinals or the 2014 Giants – Wild Card teams that got hot at the
right time and rode that momentum to a title. These are complete teams
set up for long-term success, and much of the league, Phillies included, have a long way to go to catch them.
To put it in perspective, the Astros, who pair a dominant starting rotation led by Justin Verlander and Dallas Keuchel with a historically good offense that led the league in runs, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, are 5/4 underdogs against LA, according to mytopsportsbooks.com. (Click here for odds and essays on the 2017 World Series.) That’s just how good the 104-win Dodgers are.
Heading
into 2018, the hope from the Phillies front-office likely isn’t a World
Series appearance, or even a playoff berth next year. The team is coming off a
66-win season
and last-place finish in the National League East division. They have the financial assets to
go after big-name free agents, but this year’s FA group isn’t strong
enough to turn
a 66-win roster into a pennant-winner.
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| Jorge Alfaro, image- Jay Floyd |
If guys like Odubel
Herrera, Maikel Franco
and Tommy Joseph can rebound from developmentally stagnant years and
take steps in the right direction, the Phils’ offense could take a giant
leap forward,
which it desperately needs to do. Scoring 690 runs (fourth-worst in the
NL) is not going to cut it, even if Aaron Nola and Nick Pivetta turn
into a strong one-two punch at the front end of the pitching rotation.
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