Imagine if someone told you, after the Phillies completed a four-game sweep of the Marlins on Aug. 5 and improved to 63-48, that they would have a .500 record only seven weeks later. As Richie Ashburn undoubtedly would’ve said, “Hard to believe, Harry.” Incomprehensible, actually.
But that’s the Phillies’ reality. After getting rocked by the Rockies, 10-1, last night at Coors Field, they are 78-78, back to .500 for the first time since they were 5-5. Matt Klentak and Gabe Kapler can keep saying that the Phillies exceeded spring-training expectations by contending for a division title into September, but a 15-30 free fall changes the narrative.