I was surprised when the Diamondbacks came from behind to defeat the Phillies last year in the NLCS. I am not at all surprised to see the Mets take them out one series earlier in 2024. The Phillies were dominant for the first half of the season, but they've been pretty mediocre for most of August and September. This was not a team that was firing on all cylinders. It was a team with an exhausted bullpen, a complacent lineup without a leader to hold anyone accountable since the departure of Rhys Hoskins, and a manager who has been exposed as in over his head.
The Phillies starting rotation held up their end of the bargain, but the Mets outclassed the Phillies in every other aspect of the game. They were better at the plate, in the field, and on the basepaths. Their bullpen was much better, and their manager was unquestionably superior to ours in using their bullpen. This wasn't even close. The Mets were clearly the better team. They deserved to win.
The question this winter is whether John Middleton and Dave Dombrowski are going to be satisfied to run the same complacent group of millionaires out in 2025. They've been a good enough team to get to the post-season every year since 2022, but not good enough to bring home the trophy, with an earlier exist from the playoffs every season in this window.
I don't think this team is one or two key moves away from going all the way. This collection of talent is exactly what they've shown us to be for the past three years: perennial contenders, but not champions. It would not make me sad in the slightest to see a rebuild with any position player not named Bryce Harper available in a trade for blue chip prospects. Realmuto, Bohm, Marsh, Turner, Schwarber, and Castellanos have value and could bring back a solid return this winter, but their value as trade chips won't last forever. Ask Ruben Amaro who waited too long to move Rollins, Utley, and Hamels. Even if they have to eat some salary to get the pieces they want in return, the time has come to break up this group of talent.
As for myself, I'm thankful that the disappointment came early enough to enjoy the last three weeks of the drive-in season without constantly checking the phone to see this team roll over and die in late October for the third consecutive year.
