The Philadelphia Phillies are finally gaining the recognition they deserve from baseball writers and national media outlets who have started to include them at the top of a growing list of weekly power rankings. With a record of 34-14, the Phillies hold a 5.5-game lead over the rival Atlanta Braves for sole possession of first place in the NL East.
The Phillies are on a historic pace through 48 games. Following an 11-5 bludgeoning of the Washington Nationals on Sunday, they remain tied with the 1976 and 1993 teams for the best record in team history through the same number of games. We could see this edition of the Phillies enter historic territory if the winning ways continue well into June.
While Phillies fans continue to celebrate a team that’s shown a knack for beating teams in a variety of different ways, some critics feel the Phillies’ recent run of success is a product of a weak schedule. While no one will claim with a straight face that the Phillies have faced the best teams that MLB can offer, it’s clear many of these detractors are failing to recognize that the Phillies have one of the most balanced rosters in the league.
This season, Braves fans think the Phillies’ success is a product of a weak schedule and that this team is not as good as the power rankings and sole possession of first place currently suggest.
And it might come as little shock that many of them have taken their gripes to social media to blow off a little steam. So much for Southern hospitality.
Phillies’ success predictably sends angry Braves fans into mindless meltdown
It’s a tough time to be a Braves fan. We all know how the last two Octobers have played out for a team that has won the NL East division six seasons in a row and has only one World Series to show for it. To add insult to injury, the Braves lost ace pitcher Spencer Strider for the season. To make matters worse, third baseman Austin Riley has been sidelined since May 12, while 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. and first baseman Matt Olson are scuffling at the plate.
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