Every season, from 2003-10, the Phillies ranked among the league’s top five in runs scored. And, in every one of those seasons, they featured a productive outfield. Only Colorado’s outfielders posted a higher OPS (.836) than the Phillies’ .829 over that nine-season span.
The Phillies used 40 different outfielders from 2012-16. They produced a .706 OPS; only Houston’s .687 clip was worse. There are myriad reasons for the Phillies’ descent, and outfield ineptitude is but one. That is why, in the final two months of this season, there may be no more fascinating unit than the current outfield.