Phillies' Success Will Come Down To This Key Factor
As the Philadelphia Phillies enter the 2024 season, there are keys to success that could determine how their season ends.
Philadelphia's inability to stay healthy in the early part of the 2023 season played a part in its early season struggles, allowing the Atlanta Braves to jump out to a massive early division lead that proved insurmountable.
Injuries happen. Some were leftover from the 2022 World Series run. Bryce Harper had to continue his recovery from Tommy John surgery and it lingered into May. Rhys Hoskins tore his ACL last spring and it caused chaos at both corner infield positions until the All-Star break.
But controlling the controllable will be a significant part of the Phillies' success this season.
If there's one potential issue for Philadelphia this season, it's on the defensive side of the baseball. Todd Zolecki of MLB.com writes that the Phillies need to have an edge defensively and their numbers from last season back up the assertion.
The Phillies posted a -8 OAA last April and May, but a +12 OAA during the final four months of the season, according to Zolecki.
Yes, the injuries were an issue. But the players that filled in didn't produce and that's something the team can control.
Harper will now play first base full-time, and the coaching staff believes he's be a solid fielder at the position. Shortstop Trea Turner should be better defensively from the outset. But Nick Castellanos is considered one of the worst defensive outfielders in baseball and any improvement he can make this season is welcome.
Second baseman Bryson Stott was a finalist for a Gold Glove last year and all the Phillies need from him is to maintain that standard.
Philadelphia has built up its offense and pitching staff. But any improvement defensively can be a big help as they look to make another deep postseason push.
