Can he do it - Philly Sports Now
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In this episode of Philly Sports Now, hosts Zach and Andrew discuss the Phillies' 3-3 start to the 2026 season, dismissing panic despite early struggles from key players like Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. They emphasize that six games into a 162-game season is too early to judge, highlighting the team’s resilience and depth, particularly from rookie outfielder Justin Crawford and pitcher Andrew Painter, both of whom made strong debuts. The hosts praise the young players’ confidence, fun demeanor, and clutch performances, suggesting they’re injecting much-needed energy into the team. While acknowledging Harper’s underwhelming start—exacerbated by his performance in the World Baseball Classic—they argue the criticism is amplified by fan fatigue and high expectations, not just on-field performance. They conclude that the road trip to Colorado and San Francisco may provide a much-needed reset, and express cautious optimism as the team’s pitching core, including returning stars like Zach Wheeler and Ryan Kirschen, begins to stabilize. Overall, the tone is balanced: concerned but not alarmed, hopeful but grounded.
Six games into a 162-game season is too early to panic, even with a 3-3 record.
Rookies Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter are delivering strong early performances, providing depth and energy.
Harper’s slow start is real but not alarming—context like the World Baseball Classic and high expectations amplify the criticism.
The team’s young players are injecting fun and confidence, which may help re-energize veteran players.
The upcoming road trip could be beneficial for mental reset and performance improvement.
…and 1 more takeaway available in PodZeus
The 3-3 Start: No Panic Yet
The hosts open with the Phillies' 3-3 record after six games, firmly rejecting panic despite early struggles. They emphasize that this is just the beginning of a long season and that the team is still at 500, which is acceptable.
Rising Stars: Crawford and Painter Shine
“It's not having him be a leadoff hitter. It's not having him hit in the middle of the order and having to, you know, outperform himself as a rookie. It's him coming in as a nine hitter, able to let everyone else do their job.”
The Harper Conundrum: Rust or Regression?
“I think the World Baseball Classic kind of hurt that form because it has escalated everything, and now everyone is viewing it as – well, he's not struggling through six games. He's struggling through 15 games.”
Team Culture and Young Energy
“It's not like Crawford is a pivotal piece. I understand he is a rookie in that, you know, the pivotal pieces remain your veterans. But I think it's important to get that fresh mindset in there almost to kind of like... shake it up and remind them what they're playing for.”
Road Trip as a Reset
The hosts suggest that the upcoming road trip to Colorado and San Francisco could be beneficial, allowing the team to breathe and recalibrate after a tense start at home with loud fan reactions.
“I think the World Baseball Classic kind of hurt that form because it has escalated everything, and now everyone is viewing it as – well, he's not struggling through six games. He's struggling through 15 games.”
“It's not having him be a leadoff hitter. It's not having him hit in the middle of the order and having to, you know, outperform himself as a rookie. It's him coming in as a nine hitter, able to let everyone else do their job.”
“It's not like Crawford is a pivotal piece. I understand he is a rookie in that, you know, the pivotal pieces remain your veterans. But I think it's important to get that fresh mindset in there almost to kind of like... shake it up and remind them what they're playing for.”
Hosts
Phillies
other
Philadelphia Phillies
other
Andrew
person
Zach
person
Bryce Harper
person
Justin Crawford
person
Andrew Painter
person
Kyle Schwarber
person
World Baseball Classic
other
Brandon Marsh
person
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