Yahoo Sports Senior MLB Analyst Jordan Shusterman and Senior MLB Analyst Jake Mintz discuss how the Phillies’ winning record is likely due to a lack of strength in their lineup so far this season. Listen to the full conversation on the “Baseball Bar-B-Cast” podcast — and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Video transcript
Nationals, uh, being swept by the Phillies, the Phillies, which, so you mentioned this last week talking about trying to write about this, talking about the Braves, how about the Phillies and the Braves?
And so how, okay, do we think the Phillies actually have a real chance to win the division?
And you stated that the Phillies’ power schedule has been terrible and that was completely fair.
You said that’s why they’ve gotten to this point and even though the Braves have been a little disappointing but still very good and the Phillies have been amazing, that’s one reason.
And I said, you know what, I think that’s fair, but I haven’t really looked into it.
Then I realized not that I didn’t believe you, but the, the, the basic stat here, which is kind of shocking, like maybe I hadn’t been paying attention, honestly, I normally don’t pay that much attention to the record against 500 teams or so.
As if that wasn’t a statistic I particularly looked at closely during the major league regular season.
However, this is really surprising.
Okay, the Phillies played now.
That’s a statistic that changes, right?
Because it’s not when you play, it’s constantly adjusting and that’s relevant.
It’s whatever you say, the statistics, right?
OK.
The Phillies against 500 or more teams this year are four and two and three of those wins are a win against the 500 San Diego Padres.
So consider that they haven’t played any games or, sorry, three games after a serious loss in the season-opening series against the Braves.
These are the only games they have played against a team that is currently over 500.
This is quite shocking as it is almost June.
It’s hilarious.
I believe their opponents’ strength of schedule is around 450-something and the next closest team is around 480-something.
It’s shocking how bad his schedule has been.
They won the games, they needed to not take anything away from the Phillies.
They’ve accumulated the Ws, they’ve given themselves the cushion they have, they have it, and they deserve it.
However, the schedule has been poor.
I also think NL is bad.
I think that’s a big part of it.
It’s a very soft middle infielder for the National League and the Phillies have only played three games against the Braves.
They didn’t play the Cubs, they didn’t play the Brewers, they didn’t play the Dodgers.
Right.
And those are the good teams.
Everyone else in the National League isn’t that good and hasn’t played any of the good teams in the American League yet.
And that’s where we are.
Now, that, that, that’s why we’re here.
