For most teams, it’s way too early to really talk about or even pay attention to any given team’s position in the standings. Granted, no one is going to complain about being high in the standings and wins in May count the same as wins in September, but so much can and will change between now and the end of the season that it’s always smart to wait as long as possible before getting really invested in day-to-day standings movement. That’s not to say it doesn’t matter at all, and it’s not to say fans can’t be aware of what’s going on in their favorite team’s division. For example, Phillies fans are well aware of where the NL East stands, as well they should be. It’s not as if we wouldn’t know that the Phillies’ rebuilding is going very well without the standings, but they won’t complain about where things stand. For the first time since 2011, the Phillies find themselves all alone atop the NL Easy this late in the season.
The Phillies have officially emerged from their rebuild
Sunday morning’s Say Hey, Baseball includes the Phillies symbolically emerging from their rebuild, Russell Martin playing shortstop and Mike Trout being Mike Trout.
To be fair, this is not entirely out of nowhere. There was a point in this offseason in which Philadelphia had done just enough that it was clear they were ready to start going for it, and both fans and experts began picking them as a potential playoff team. So, this isn’t an example of a team shocking everyone with their start. Not that it makes it any less sweet for Phillies fans, and nor should it. Even better for Phillies fans is that this shouldn’t be expected to end any time soon. Philadelphia is getting by thanks to great pitching, and as long as Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta stay healthy, they should continue to get great pitching.
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All of that being said, for as good as the Phillies are there is certainly no guarantee their placement atop the NL East is going to last all that long. There’s a chance this is going to be the most exciting division in baseball for the rest of the year, and the upstart Phillies are only part of it. Another upstart team, and probably a more surprising one, in the Braves have already had their time atop the division. The Nationals were the heavy preseason favorites and are working their way back after an awful start to the season. The Mets are always a threat to Mets all over the place, but they also have the talent to stay around all year. The Phillies may or may not end up in the position they currently find themselves, but whether or not they actually win the division they’ve officially emerged from their rebuild. For today at least, they have the symbolism to prove it.
- Russell Martin has been wanting to play shortstop for a while now, and he finally got his chance on Sunday. It’s a fun story, particularly as Vlad Guerrero Jr. stays down in Double-A to....work on his defense.
- The Mariners traded for Denard Span earlier in the week, and Ben Gamel is likey to lose playing time over it. If that happens, he’s going out with a bang.
- The Mike Trout guy is pretty good, and he led the Angels to a blowout victory in Yankee Stadium on Saturday.
- Andrew Miller hasn’t quite looked like himself all year long, and he’s been placed on the disabled list for the second time in 2018.
- After recently losing Paul De Jong and finding themselves with a hole at shortstop, where can the Cardinals look to for help at the position?
- Most of his tenure with the Red Sox was bad on the field, but Hanley Ramirez still managed to make plenty of fans in Boston that are going to miss him.
- The Astros don’t really need any help in their lineup, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t look into potential upgrades. Should they consider Hanley?
- Gary Sanchez catches a lot of crticism from New York media, which is pretty wild since he’s, ya know, amazing.
- Unlike many other teams in similar positions, the Giants decided to push their chips further in heading into 2018. The playoff odds...well, if you’re a Giants fan you may want to skip this one.
- Despite a solid start to the year, the Rays have already started selling in a move that included sending their long-time closer to the Mariners. Alex Colomé was never a huge name, but he’s been a steady hand for Tampa Bay.
