Most people in these parts love autumn.
The air and the ocean are still warm enough to enjoy the beach, though it’s getting a tad tough to duck under waves without a wet suit.
Brilliant, vivid colors abound. Orange, gold and red are everywhere, whether it’s leaves, chrysanthemums or pumpkins.
Such is not the case for local Philadelphia sports fans, however.
This is not the “Red October” Phillies fans were hoping for this season. Eagles fans are looking green around the gills after watching the Birds lost two straight.
A Phillies team that was built to make deep playoff runs limped into the offseason after a first-round exit against the Atlanta Braves.
Phils general manager Dave Dombrowski gambled by keeping the team largely intact for another season, only to see Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto and company fall short once again.
A window that was once wide open now appears to be shut. According to The Athletic, the Phils haven’t won a post-season series in 1,086 days, since they beat the Braves in the National League Division Series (NLDS) in 2023.
Blowing a 3-1 lead to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS that year marked the start of a gradual slide. This season’s loss in the wildcard round was preceded by back-to-back defeats in the NLDS to the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively.
Dombrowski and company rolled the dice and it came up snake eyes.
The Phils have been through this before. After winning the World Series in 2008, the Phils’ brass kept the core intact for the next few years. Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, Carlos Ruiz and the crew faltered. Each year brought less success, losing in the World Series in 2009, the NLCS in 2010 and the NLDS in 2011.
Then came the dry spell. No playoff appearances for the next decade.
The Phils now face some tough decisions this offseason.
“Each year is different than the year before,” Harper said. “This was a brand new team, but obviously we had the guys that are part of that core group that we are. I’d imagine this team is going to look a lot different next year. The guys that are leaving this clubhouse. We’ll see.”
The Phils have more holes than the 27 at Union League National Golf Club in Swainton, but filling them will be tough.
Third baseman/first baseman Alec Bohm, second baseman Luis Arraez, utility player Edmundo Sosa and reliever Jose Alvarado are among the free agents.
If I was the GM, my first move would be to re-sign Bohm. He was their best player over the second half of the season and deserves to be back. I would also try to bring back Arraez, who finished one point behind Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno in the N.L batting race with a .310 average after winning three straight batting titles. The fact that he is so well-traveled – the Phillies were his fifth team in the last four seasons – makes me wonder if he’s the right fit in the clubhouse, however.
Turner and outfielder Brandon Marsh were among the team’s biggest disappointments.
Turner, last season’s N.L. batting champion with a .304 average, hit a whopping 62 points lower this season and was a liability at shortstop.
“Me, it’s that simple,” Turner said when asked to explain the Phillies’ offensive troubles this season. “This year is the biggest question mark for me offensively in a long time. I’ve got a lot of work to do this offseason.”
Marsh endured an historic slump. He made the All-Star team after batting as high as .333, then a woeful .182 – the worst in the majors – afterward.
Turner’s lofty contract means he will be back next season, but will probably be playing the outfield. Marsh is expected to be washing his hair between innings in a different dugout.
Contracts being what they are, Harper, Schwarber and Realmuto will all be back, but Schwarber would appear to be the only lock. Realmuto endured an 0-for-34 slump late in the season and seemed to regress defensively.
Harper is a tougher call. He’s still extremely talented, but his attitude and leadership appear to be lacking at times. He’s tied to the Phillies through 2031, but a trade is not out of the question.
Perhaps the biggest question is who will be the manager in 2027, assuming the owners and players can come to an agreement to avoid a lockout.
Don Mattingly righted the ship after Rob Thompson was dismissed and steered it into the playoffs. But an early playoff exit might prompt yet another change in the dugout.
As for the Eagles, they head to London this weekend to play the Jacksonville Jaguars with an injured list that’s longer than the Ocean City Boardwalk.
Running backs Saquon Barkley (hamstring) and Tank Bigsby (core muscle), guard/center Cam Jurgens (concussion), cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (knee) and linebacker Jonathan Greenyard (ankle) were all hurt in last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The team is already missing guard Landon Dickerson (knee), wide receiver Devonta Smith (hamstring), tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) and linebacker Zack Baun (concussion), among others.
In addition, new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion and head coach Nick Sirianni are feeling the heat for team’s lack of offensive production.
No wonder Philly sports fans are feeling blue.
Local NFL update
Jacksonville Jaguars running back LeQuint Allen (Millville) had one tackle on special teams in a 22-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday.
Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell (Bridgeton) had one tackle in a 34-30 victory over the Houston Texans.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver/kick returner Bo Melton (Cedar Creek) saw action on offense and special teams in a 17-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (Cedar Creek), Bo’s brother, had four tackles in a 36-24 loss to the New York Giants.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points. Send comments to weinbergd419@comcast.net.
