NEW YORK — In each of the last two seasons, clinching a postseason berth called for a wild celebration.
The first in 11 years back in 2022 broke a long drought and drove Rhys Hoskins and others to tears. Last year’s celebration followed a Johan Rojas walk-off hit and all but ensured the Phillies will start the postseason at home at Citizens Bank Park.
This year’s celebration was quieter. The players, instead of gathering around the mound and jumping with hands on each other’s shoulders, went through the usual high-five line after a victory. They put on blue “October Ready” t-shirts and had a toast in the clubhouse. Most players stuffed those shirts in their bags and headed for the showers all before the media gathered inside the clubhouse.
A typical Rob Thomson toast after a playoff clincher or a playoff series win includes a number. “Thirteen more wins and we’re world champions, OK,” Thomson famously said after the Phillies clinched a playoff spot in Houston two years ago.
This time, the number will probably be 11. They need only one more win to clinch their first National League East title since 2011 and a combination of four wins or Milwaukee Brewers losses to solidify a first-round bye to the National League Division Series.
The quiet nature of the celebration was a reflection of just how far they have come since that day in Houston. It will be the opposite of quiet when they wrap up a division title, which could happen as early as Saturday with a win against the Mets.
“These guys are tough and I just wanted to thank them,” Thomson said. “I wanted to thank our staff, whether it’s the trainers, strength and conditioning, massage, all the sports stuff. Our coaching staff, our front office, Dave [Dombrowski], Sam [Fuld] and John Middleton for allowing us to put this talented roster together. It’s filled with not only great athletes and great baseball players, but great people that really mesh together well.”
Thomson also mentioned in his speech the historic nature of the Phillies consistently playing in October. It’s only the third time in the 144-year history of the Phillies franchise that a team has made the postseason three years in a row.
The NL playoff field expanding from five to six two years ago has helped, but it’s a good way to contextualize the franchise’s futile history and what the players are overcoming, even if they don’t fully understand it.
“I forget what year he said. I feel like it was the nineteen teens, something like that,”Alec Bohm said as he tried to recall Thomson’s speech. A reporter chimed in to say 2007-11 was the last time the Phillies made the postseason at least three years in a row.
“Maybe I misheard,” Bohm said. “I guess I should pay attention better.”
The Phillies’ rich history of losing, from the five consecutive 100-loss seasons in the late 30s to early 40s, to playing second fiddle to Connie Mack’s A’s up until the Whiz Kids won the pennant in 1950, to the 1964 collapse and to the dry spell from 1994 to 2006, will forever be a part of the lure.
But this group of Phillies, one that has already accomplished a lot more than the many others that preceded them, is already well on their way to being an important part of team history.
This year, it starts and ends with pitching. Thomson will head into October with undoubtedly the best staff in the tournament, with a strong top four of Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez starting and a bullpen that goes at least five deep. All four starters have at least 10 wins and ERAs under 3.55 and four out of the five top relievers have ERAs under 2.40.
A new weapon the Phillies have this year to improve their odds to win a title is a greater version of Sánchez. Despite walking a career-high five batters, Sánchez battled on Friday to give the Phillies five innings after allowing two in the first.
He’ll likely start either Game 2 or Game 3 of the NLDS. He’s better than most Game 1 starters the Phillies could see in October.
“This has been a special year,” Sánchez said through a team interpreter. “I prepare myself for these moments.”
Once all the magic numbers are finally zero, the focus will fully be on getting those 11 wins. Getting there is worth recognizing.
“Not everyone gets a chance to play for the World Series every year,” Bohm said. “As much as maybe people in this room feel like this is where we should be, it’s still an accomplishment.”
“We have bigger goals and things like that, but this is a great moment,” Bryce Harper said.
For Thomson, the team’s bench coach for four years without postseason baseball before taking over as manager and making it every year since, the sweetness lies in the normalcy of excellence.
“The goal, now it’s firmly entrenched that it’s to win the World Series,” Thomson said. “And that’s it. That’s good to feel. It really is. Because it’s difficult to come into a season where you just want to get better. You just want to get to .500 or you just want to get to the postseason. The goal now is to win it all.”
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