Joe Girardi managed a Phillies team that included the reigning NL MVP and five 2021 All-Stars. The payroll was $225 million or more, which helped the team surpass the luxury tax, and fulfilled the expectations of ending the longest National League playoff drought.
The former World Series-winning manager for the New York Yankees was replaced by a Phillies team that had a sagging bullpen and defensive deficiencies, as well as slumbering starts by a few high-priced veterans. Add in Girardi’s poor bullpen management, late-game collapses and injuries to Jean Segura, and the Phillies are back in the division race. Girardi is out of a job.
Girardi, who was buried deep in the NL East standings on Friday, became the first major league manager this season to be fired after failing to transform a team with a record-setting payroll into a contender for the playoffs.
Rob Thomson, bench coach, was appointed interim manager.
The Phillies are expected to contend for the division title. They are currently 22-29 and 12 games ahead of the New York Mets, who are in first place. Philadelphia was 5 1/2 games behind the second NL wild card spot on Friday.
“Oh, I believe we can make it to the playoffs. I believe we are in a position to fight back and do that. “I do believe that,” Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations, stated.
This belief is not shared by many Philly sports fans.
It’s a good thing. With just one game remaining in the three-game series against Los Angeles Angels, the Phillies have lost 12 out of 17 games.
Harper stated, “There’s also blame on us,” Joe is not the only one to blame. We have not played to our best ability. We have not done the things that we should to be the best team.
Harper was the Phillies’ choice — Harper, the NL MVP, had a slow season due to right arm problems that required him to be the designated hitter. Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and All-Star catcher J.T. were the NL Cy Young Award runner ups. Realmuto, free-agent sluggers Nick Castellanos (left) and Kyle Schwarber will help the Phillies reach the playoffs for first time since 2011. Schwarber is currently hitting just.192. Segura is out for three months with a broken finger and third baseman Alec Bohm and first baseman Rhys Hoskins have been defensive liabilities. Corner outfielders Castellanos, Schwarber and Schwarber are also struggling to hit.
Dombrowski will need to search the trade market for a wild-card spot, as the Phillies do not have much help in the minor leagues.
He can begin by strengthening the bullpen. Under Girardi, the Phillies lost 51 save opportunities and suffered a series of shocking defeats. They lost 8-7 to the New York Mets in May 5, after they fell behind by six runs in the ninth. The Mets had lost the previous 325 times they were trailed by six runs at the ninth.
