The Philadelphia Phillies stumbled out of the gate in their pursuit of a World Series title this year, dropping their playoff opener to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Key players struggled at the plate, and the bullpen faltered, allowing the Dodgers to capitalize and notch their third consecutive postseason victory.
While the Phillies still have an opportunity to turn the series around and stay in the title hunt, the initial loss has raised concerns about an early exit — one that could mark the end of this current core. Veterans like Kyle Schwarber, JT Realmuto, and Ranger Suarez are set to hit free agency after the season, and the rest of the roster is aging.
Should the Phillies fall short against the Dodgers, majority owner John Middleton may be forced to consider major changes — potentially reshaping the roster, reevaluating the coaching staff, and even looking at front office adjustments.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has been given free rein to make decisions up to this point and Middleton explained his relationship with the team executives in a response to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
“I can’t sit with Dave,” Middleton said, per Nightengale. “He and his staff don’t need me in the room. Frankly, I don’t think they want me in the room.”
The Phillies have had one of Major League Baseball’s highest payrolls for several years in a row and, if Middleton is staying out of roster decisions, he should feel that Dombrowski has had significant freedom to construct the team. He’s been successful in the regular season, but another playoff exit might raise some internal questions about whether Dombrowski is the right person to lead Middleton’s quest for a World Series championship.
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