By David Weinberg
The Phillies are in the midst of what is shaping up to be a special season.
Last Sunday’s 11-5 victory over the Nationals left them 20 games over .500 at 34-14. It matched the best start in franchise history set by the 1976 Phils and matched by the 1993 squad.
Don’t order those championship t-shirts just yet, however, for neither of those previous Phils teams won the World Series. The 1976 Phils won 101 games, but were run over by the “Big Red Machine” of Cincinnati in the NLCS. And everyone under 50 remembers where they were when Toronto’s Joe Carter ruined the Phils’ dream in ’93.
Just for fun, let’s compare the ’76 and ’93 teams with the current team. Here’s one opinion of how they stack up.
CATCHER – Bob Boone (’76), Darren Daulton (’93), J.T. Realmuto (’24): Boone was an all-star and was a master at handling the pitching staff. Realmuto is also off to a good start, but “Dutch” was the reason they won in ’93. EDGE: Daulton.
FIRST BASE – Dick Allen (’76), John Kruk (’93), Bryce Harper (’24). Allen was the best of the bunch but was at the end of his career. Kruk batted .316. Harper has worked to become a good first baseman to go with his outstanding hitting. EDGE: Harper.
SECOND BASE – Dave Cash (’76), Micky Morandini (’93), Bryson Stott (’24). Cash made the all-star team that year and was the best second baseman not named Joe Morgan. EDGE: Cash.
SHORTSTOP – Larry Bowa (’76), Kevin Stocker (’93), Trea Turner (’24). Turner is the most talented player, but Bowa was the sparkplug of that ’76 team. EDGE: Bowa.
THIRD BASE – Mike Schmidt (’76), Dave Hollins (’93), Alec Bohm (’24). Be serious. EDGE: Schmidt.
LEFT FIELD – Greg Luzinski (’76), Milt Thompson (’93), Brandon Marsh/Kyle Schwarber (’24). You mess with “The Bull,” you get the horns. EDGE: Luzinski.
CENTER FIELD – Garry Maddox (’76), Lenny Dykstra (’93), Johan Rojas (’24). Two-thirds of the world was covered by water. The other third by Garry Maddox. EDGE: Maddox.
RIGHT FIELD – Jay Johnston (’76), Jim Eisenreich (’93), Nick Castellanos (’24). Eisenreich was in his first season with the Phils after playing with Kansas City. He filled a huge void in the field and in the clubhouse. EDGE: Eisenreich.
STARTING PITCHING: Steve Carlton, Jim Kaat, Jim Lonborg, Larry Christianson, Tommy Underwood (’76); Curt Schilling, Danny Jackson, Tommy Greene, Ben Rivera (’93); Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, Cristopher Sanchez, Taijuan Walker, Spencer Turnbull (’24). You know you have a deep rotation when you’re No. 3 starter (Suarez) is a Cy Young candidate. But no one touches “Lefty.” EDGE: 1976.
BULLPEN: Tug McGraw, Gene Garber, Ron Reed (’76); Mitch Williams, David West, Larry Anderson, Roger Mason (’93); Jose Alvarado, Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm, etc. (’24). With apologies to “Tugger,” Williams registered 43 saves and also gets bonus points for managing the Atlantic City Surf. EDGE: 1993.
MANAGER: Danny Ozark (’76), Jim Fregosi (’93), Rob Thomson (’24). Ozark pushed all the right buttons in ’76 and won 101 games. Fregosi doesn’t get enough credit for overseeing his rowdy bunch. I’m just not sure yet about Thomson. EDGE: Fregosi.
Eagles poised for
Super Bowl run
The Eagles have known for months who they will be playing this season.
Now they know when the games will take place.
The Birds will open the season against the Packers in Sao Paolo, Brazil on Friday, September 6th in the NFL’s first-ever game played in that country.
Given the price of travel to Brazil, I’ll be going wild in my living room on September 6, but there are a few road trips – Tampa, Los Angeles and New Orleans are all awesome cities – on the schedule that I might consider.
Here’s one way too early prediction as to how the regular season will play out. Barring injuries, the Eagles have the talent to make a strong playoff run.
Friday, Sept. 6, 8:15 p.m. – Eagles-Packers in Sao Paulo: Packers WR Bo Melton (Cedar Creek High School) catches two TD passes as the Pack waxes the Birds. LOSS
Monday, Sept. 16, 8:15 p.m. – Falcons at Eagles: Philly welcomes back former center Jason Kelce as an ESPN analyst. Eagles try to convince him to unretire at halftime. WIN
Sunday, Sept. 22, 1 p.m. – Eagles at Saints: Birds put the Easy in “The Big Easy.” A.J. Brown burns Saints rookie CB Kool-Aid McKinstry for three TDs. WIN
Sunday, Sept. 29, 1 p.m. – Eagles at Buccaneers: Birds never win in Tampa, especially in September. Baker Mayfield and company show that playoff game last season was no fluke. LOSS
Bye
Sunday, Oct. 13, 1 p.m. – Browns at Eagles: Props to Browns for using legendary Pro Bowler Pete Weber to announce their schedule. But the Eagles will bowl them over. WIN
Sunday, Oct. 20, 1 p.m. – Eagles at Giants: Saquon Barkley enjoys his return to the Meadowlands by rushing for 150 yards. WIN
Sunday, Oct. 27, 4:25 p.m. – Eagles at Bengals: Birds feast on some Skyline Chili beforehand, then feast on Bengals QB Joe Burrow. WIN
Sunday, Nov. 3, 8:20 p.m. Jaguars at Eagles: Dougie P. outcoaches Nick Sirianni with Jacksonville’s version of “Philly Special.” LOSS
Sunday, Nov. 10, 4:25 p.m. – Eagles at Cowboys: Cowboys S Markquese Bell (Bridgeton) returns an interception for a touchdown. LOSS
Thursday, Nov. 14, 8:15 p.m. – Commanders at Eagles: Brandon Graham gets two sacks against rookie QB Jayden Daniels. WIN
Sunday, Nov. 24, 8:20 p.m. – Eagles at Rams: Eagles secondary can’t stop Rams WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. LOSS
Sunday, Dec. 1, 4:25 p.m. – Eagles at Ravens: Ravens rookie edge rusher Yvondy Rigby (Egg Harbor Township) gets two sacks. LOSS
Sunday, Dec. 8, 1 p.m. – Panthers at Eagles: Growing pains continue for QB Bryce Young and the Panthers. WIN
Sunday, Dec. 15, 4:25 p.m. – Steelers at Eagles: Jalen Hurts outduels Russell Wilson to give the Eagles state bragging rights. WIN
Sunday, Dec. 22, 1 p.m. – Eagles at Commanders: At least they’re not playing on Christmas Day. Commanders play them tough with division race on the line. LOSS
Sunday, Dec. 29, 4:25 p.m. – Cowboys at Eagles: Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott retires at halftime. WIN
TBD – Giants at Eagles: Eagles clinch NFC East and No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs with a victory. WIN
SEASON RECORD: 10-7, first place NFC East.
