The Philadelphia Phillies are heading home for the second consecutive year after being eliminated in the NLDS.Matched up against the Dodgers in the second round, the Phillies simply didn’t play up to their usual standard — and the way the season ended was pure heartbreak. In extra innings, Orion Kerkering appeared to lose complete focus, leading to a disastrous play that sealed their fate.
“OH MY GOD THE DODGERS ARE GOING TO THE NLCS ON A DISASTROUS PLAY BY THE PHILLIES,” Ben Verlander posted.
During the playoffs, Bryce Harper struggled at the plate, and some believe the timing of his newborn son’s birth may have been a distraction. Becoming a new father just a week before the series, Harper was balancing family and postseason pressure.
“It’s an incredible thing. Being able to hold your son for the first time is something that, it’s one of the greatest moments of my life. I love my family. I love my kids. I love baseball. But at the end of the day my family means the most to me. I definitely miss them right now,” Harper said.
With the Phillies now eliminated, attention shifts to what could be a major offseason. ESPN’s SportsCenter anchor Kevin Negandhi believes significant changes are coming.
“I think this is the end of an era. I would anticipate some major changes ahead for the Phillies,” he posted.
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One of the biggest questions surrounds Kyle Schwarber, who could leave in free agency. Harper has already acknowledged how strange that would feel.
“I was talking to somebody the other day,” Harper told MLB.com. “And I was like, ‘Man, it would be weird not to have [Schwarber] in our clubhouse.’ He’s such a good leader. He’s such a good person in the community. Great family, great person. I think he’s a guy that obviously our team can build around. Obviously, he’s going to make a lot of money [as a free agent,” Harper said earlier in the year.
The Phillies now face a crucial offseason full of tough decisions. With speculation about a full roster overhaul, the only certainty is that changes are coming. Right now, the mood in Philadelphia is one of disappointment — and uncertainty.
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