NLCS: How the Phillies Decided to Travel Home Early in Game 2
How exactly the Phillies are playing this game remains to be seen. Game 2 of the National League Championship Series pits us against the Washington Nationals.
How are the Phillies going to get back in this game after losing the series opener? (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The Phillies are not playing this baseball with the intention of winning every game. They need to figure out a way to win games when they need to. For Game 2 the Phillies have a tough decision to make. They can travel home early or play catchup in Philadelphia.
To go into this series with the Phillies without winning a game is not something any other team would choose. The Phillies have been struggling. They’ve lost a lot of games that they should have won. To go into this series sitting at the second spot in the division and still having the division lead would be unacceptable.
Here’s the decision for the Phillies. They are going to travel home early to take advantage of their ballpark. They will play catchup on Washington on the road. If they play to their potential, they’ll be in the series. But, if they don’t, they are going to play catchup.
But how will this happen? The Phillies have been playing catchup all season. It’s why the Phillies could lose any game they played and still stay in a playoff spot. They had an opportunity to turn things around early and it didn’t happen.
They are fortunate to have a manager who is a veteran who has managed in difficult weather every year. Carlos Ruiz won 11 games for the Phillies in 2012. He has played every game the Phillies have had under Jim Frawley or Andy MacPhail in the past two seasons. Ruiz has an incredible track record to go along with his ability to get the ball in the right place.
When the Phillies are at their best, they’ve been good. They were good before the beginning of 2013 and in 2014. They have the ability to be good again and they need to be. Their offense has to be great enough to carry them throughout the season. Their pitching staff must be solid enough to hold down