Philadelphia Phillies 2024 Season: The Ups and Downs

Oct. 18, 2024
by Alison Whyte

Like most seasons in the always unpredictable game of baseball, the 2024 Philadelphia Phillies truly mirrored the high drama found within the sport. From their domination early in the season to a record that hinted at a historical finish, the stark turnaround in the latter half set up an emotional exit from the MLB playoffs...



Regular Season Review

The 2024 version of the Philadelphia Phillies embarked on their big league crusade with the behemoth shadows of their past glories and almost wins looming over them. Fueled by an entire city that breathes baseball with fervent aspirations, this team wasn't built just to compete but to dominate and to write a story of redemption and conquest into the annals of MLB history. From the very beginning, the Phillies showed an excellence that marked them, right away, as the most likely bet in the NL East. The tone was set with their season opener, and then they continued in this brilliant form, building up a 45-19 record by early June.


Such a commanding start was not only an advertisement of their strength but also invited the feeling that this might have been one of those record-winning runs that projected an incredible pace, which could have been good for an unprecedented 114 wins in the season.


As the games rolled out, certain players rose as the keystones in the Phillies lineup, each with a unique mixture of skill and leadership that propels them onward. Trea Turner, with a batting average of .295, has emerged not only as a reliable hitter but also as a strategic player who guides the team through difficult moments with resilience and visionary decisions. In many of the wins of the team, either his ability to be on base or his slugging ability was pivotal, underpinning his role as a catalyst in the Phillies' offensive machinery. Running parallel was the season of Kyle Schwarber, one based on formidable power-hitting. With 38 home runs and 104 RBIs, Schwarber was the linchpin of the Phillies' batting order, delivering crucial runs and not changing the complexion of the game with his swings. His .248 average, while not indicative of a high-consistency player, underlined the impact of a hit that was not converted into significant MLB player props.


On the mound, Zach Wheeler was the anchor in the rotation for the Phillies, striking fear into the bats of men with his precision and power. A 2.57 ERA coupled with 16 wins proved Wheeler's arm to be decisive for many of the Phillies' successes. His 224 strikeouts during the season didn't show just his ability to dismiss the batters but also implicated him in tight games where every single pitch could swing the fate of the game.



Postseason Analysis

But, unfortunately, Phillie's flight to glory had its share of turbulence as it entered the postseason. The transition of gears was not as smoothly executed as was predicted, and their showdown against the New York Mets in the National League Division Series brought to light the weaknesses of the team. The Phillies fared pretty poorly, losing three out of four games. That narrow 7-6 victory was their only win and showed, at once, their potential to come back from the jaws of defeat but also underlined an inconsistency that placed them in a perilous position when it mattered most. The defeat crushed their aspirations for the World Series title.


The postseason was really cruel to the Phillies offense, which seemed to fold under pressure, posting a miserable .186 batting average and a .597 OPS throughout the series. That was quite a far cry from their regular season form, where they were amongst the top-scoring clubs. Even the bullpen, which was supposed to be one of the better qualities on this roster, proved especially leaky at an 11.37 ERA, a huge juxtaposition of this team's unexpected collapse into postseason pressure.


The 2024 Phillies experienced some remarkable highs and some disappointing lows. It merely typified the fact that this baseball is a very, very unpredictable game, where brilliance in strategy and spirited performance makes champions. Thus, while they go back to regroup for the next season, many reflection and refinement strategies will be required by the Phillies as they chalk out an action plan that should enable them to leverage the core strengths and overcome the weaknesses that have cost them dear in their attempt toward postseason success.



Conclusion

The 2024 season proved that in the game of baseball, the highs are pretty well equaled by the lows. The Phillies were a talented team that could have been fully dominating the league, but the latter half of the regular season and the playoffs truly showed weaknesses that could have been masked by the successes of the earlier part of the year. Now they have to go into the next offseason knowing what needs to be taken care of restructuring and addressing these potential problems. They have to consider retaining the core while reassessing strategies to ensure they not only compete but excel whenever that matters.


The Phillies have a bright future, with just the right mix of talent and experience while strategic adjustments and focused improvements make them ready to once again chase the pinnacle of baseball success: the World Series Championship.