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Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
You should absolutely be rooting for Brad Marchand to win another Stanley Cup, even in a Panthers sweater
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Do the right thing. Hold your nose, swallow your pride, holster your hate, and pull for the Panthers. It's the magnanimous and mature route. For all he did here, our Lil' Ball of Hate deserves to cart the Cup around the ice one more time. Advertisement Renounce laundry logic and cheer on the guy who remains a Bruin to the core, no matter what sweater he's donning. That's what yours truly plans to do. Boston fans aren't always the best at resisting provincial interests and instincts. I covered the games when Adam Vinatieri, whose foot delivered two Super Bowls for the Patriots, and Johnny Damon, who slugged two home runs in the Red Sox cathartic Game 7 victory over the Yankees in 2004, got booed upon returning with rivals. Advertisement Johnny Damon homered twice in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS, but was likened to Judas when he returned to Fenway Park as a member of the Yankees two years later. Jim Davis/Globe Staff Marchand looks like he's having the time of his hockey life. It's like breaking up with your ex and then seeing on Instagram that they're dating a billionaire. You wish them well, but not that well. It's hard to watch the last link to the Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup chasing hockey's Holy Grail with a rival. But it means so much to him at this stage of his career, an on-ice oeuvre that should land his No. 63 in the TD Garden rafters. 'I may never get back this late in the playoffs ever again in my career,' the 37-year-old said. 'To be one of the last teams standing and being part of a great group of guys, these are memories that I want to remember and enjoy.' The rascally Marchand has endeared himself to the players he spent the previous two postseasons battling. The Panthers are 8-2 this postseason when Marchand records a point. Instantly, Marchand fit in with the NHL's Rat Pack. Plastic rats are to the Panthers and their fans as octopi are to the Red Wings. It's a tradition that dates back 30 years to the 1995-96 Panthers, who reached the Stanley Cup Final. Now, The tradition moves on to the SCF... Panthers FIRING rats at Brad Marchand 😅🐀 — B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) We're a long way from Advertisement Pursuing Lord Stanley's cherished chalice makes for strange bedfellows. The recipe for sports rooting interests is loyalty, emotion, geography, and common objectives. But there are reasons to root for Marchand, the little guy who came up big for the Black and Gold; Marchand's five-goal heroics in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final endeared him to Hub hockey fans for a lifetime. Everybody's favorite agitator left his mark — with his wit, his hockey hijinks, and his production. Marchand ranks in the Bruins top five all-time in regular-season games (fourth, 1,090), goals (fourth, 422), and points (fifth, 976). The inimitable winger couldn't have been classier about his departure. Even in absentia , he helped the Bruins score, Undoubtedly, some will associate cheering for Marchand with echoes of one of the low points in 21st-century Boston sports — the celebration at City Hall Plaza for Bruins legend Ray Bourque after he won the Cup with the Avalanche in 2001. It was a desperate ploy by a city starved to attach itself to any sort of sports success, mere months before Tom Brady ushered in the titletown ethos. Advertisement Having not celebrated a title-winning team since the Celtics in 1986, more than 10,000 people showed up at City Hall Plaza on June 13, 2001, to congratulate Ray Bourque for winning the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche. JIM BOURG/REUTERS There also could be those withholding support because they hold it against Marchand that he couldn't deliver a second Cup here. Mad Brad was a big part of the Bruins falling apart on home ice in a gut-punch Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final. They never recovered — both in that game and as a franchise. This will be Marchand's fourth kick at the Cup. He has played in 20 Stanley Cup Final contests entering Game 1 Wednesday, notching seven goals and five assists. With a career 60-92—152 postseason line, Marchand is fourth among active players in playoff points, trailing Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Nikita Kucherov — heady company for an undersized pest from Nova Scotia. All of them have won multiple Cups. Here's hoping Marchand joins them on that list too, even if watching him do it with Florida hurts like a slapshot off the elbow. Christopher L. Gasper is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Johnny Damon Brings Championship-Level Hydration to Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket with A-GAME
ORLANDO, Fla., March 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A-GAME Beverages Inc. ('A-GAME') has reached a deal with Southeastern Grocers, LLC (SEG), parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie, to carry A-GAME sports drinks in its grocery stores across Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Founded by former MLB champion Johnny Damon and backed by legends like Bo Jackson, A-GAME is a better-for-you sports drink that keeps athletes performing their best. 'We're thrilled to be expanding our presence throughout the Southeast and providing more opportunities to help athletes bring their 'A-game' every day,' said Damon, A-GAME founder and CEO. 'Florida has always been home to me and was a huge inspiration for starting A-GAME. Winn-Dixie is well-loved in my home state, as well as across the Southeast, and I'm proud our drink will be on their shelves.' Damon was originally inspired to get into the beverage industry after hearing news of multiple high school athletes in Florida passing away from dehydration and overexertion while practicing in high temperatures. Damon worked for years consulting with experts to develop the A-GAME formula to help athletes stay hydrated naturally. A-GAME boasts natural ingredients like honey and sea salt, contains no artificial colorants, and is equipped with eight vital vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. 'We are delighted to expand our hydration beverage options to include A-GAME and give our customers even more variety as they shop with us," said Dewayne Rabon, Southeastern Grocers chief merchandising officer. 'A-GAME's dedication to excellence aligns perfectly with our commitment to offer innovative, high-quality products. We eagerly anticipate the arrival of A-GAME's vibrant lineup on our shelves and are confident it will be a refreshing new favorite." A-GAME comes in six bold flavors: Dragon Fruit Plum, Concord Grape, Strawberry Lemonade, Tropical, Citrus and Black Cherry Pomegranate. Each flavor also comes in a zero-sugar option. Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie will stock a minimum of two flavors in every store, with most locations offering up to four. For media inquiries, please reach out to: PR Contact: Adam Romeroadam@ About A-GAME Beverages, by All-Star athletes and partners Johnny Damon, Major League Baseball Champion, Chairman and Co-Founder of A-GAME Beverages, Inc.; Bo Jackson, Major League Baseball All-Star and NFL All-Pro, A-GAME Board of Directors member and arguably one of the greatest athletes of all time; Scott Conant, American celebrity chef, restaurateur, TV personality and cookbook author, American country music singer, songwriter and record producer; Tracy Lawrence; and Tim Hardaway Sr., a former American professional basketball player, among others. A-GAME is on a mission to equip athletes of all levels with the highest quality hydration beverages so you can always #BringYourAGAME. To learn more about A-GAME, visit About Southeastern GrocersSoutheastern Grocers, LLC (SEG), parent company and home of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is an omnichannel retailer serving customers in brick-and-mortar grocery stores and liquor stores, as well as online with convenient grocery delivery and curbside pickup throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie are well-known and well-respected regional brands with deep heritages, strong neighborhood ties, proud histories of giving back, talented and caring associates and a strong commitment to providing the best possible quality and value to customers. For more information, visit and SAFE HARBOR ACT: Forward-looking statements are included within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding the Company's expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations or listing on an exchange — including words such as "anticipate," "if," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will" and other similar expressions — are forward-looking statements and involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company's control and may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance or achievements. The Company is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No information in this press release should be construed in any manner whatsoever as an indication of the future performance of the Company's revenues or results of operation or stock value.
USA Today
03-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Fantasy baseball relief pitcher rankings: Yankees' Devin Williams adds to AL stability
Fantasy baseball relief pitcher rankings: Yankees' Devin Williams adds to AL stability Show Caption Hide Caption Johnny Damon talks all things Yankees and Red Sox Johnny Damon stops by to break down the upcoming MLB season and discusses his new partnership with A-Game sports drink. Sports Seriously Bullpens can be extremely volatile, so having a locked-in closer is a huge advantage in fantasy baseball. That's particularly true in the National League, where Edwin Diaz, Ryan Helsley and Raisel Iglesias are the only certainties among the 15 teams. Elsewhere, you may have to do what managers often do: rely on your gut. Ryan Walker was great last season, but only closed for the final two months. Meanwhile, new NL arrivals Jordan Romano, Ryan Pressly and Kirby Yates don't outweigh the losses. The biggest closer move of this offseason was the Yankees' acquisition of Devin Williams. He would be this season's top target if not for the consistent excellence of Emmanuel Clase, who posted an incredible 0.61 ERA and led the league with 47 saves. The American League has some impressive depth compared to the NL. With the signings of free agents Jeff Hoffman (Blue Jays), Kenley Jansen (Angels) and Carlos Estevez (Royals), all but a couple teams' closer jobs appear set. 2025 fantasy baseball relief pitcher rankings Rank Player Team League 1 Emmanuel Clase Cle AL1 2 Devin Williams NYY AL2 3 Edwin Diaz NYM NL1 4 Josh Hader Hou AL3 5 Ryan Helsley StL NL2 6 Mason Miller Oak AL4 7 Felix Bautista Bal AL5 8 Raisel Iglesias Atl NL3 9 Robert Suarez SD NL4 10 Andres Muñoz Sea AL6 11 Ryan Walker SF NL5 12 Jhoan Duran Min AL7 13 Trevor Megill Mil NL6 14 Tanner Scott LAD NL7 15 Jeff Hoffman Tor AL8 16 Ryan Pressly ChC NL8 17 Kirby Yates LAD NL9 18 Kenley Jansen LAA AL9 19 Justin Martinez Ari NL10 20 Liam Hendriks Bos AL10 21 Alexis Diaz Cin NL11 22 Pete Fairbanks TB AL11 23 Jordan Romano Phi NL12 24 Kyle Finnegan Was NL13 25 David Bednar Pit NL14 26 Carlos Estevez KC AL12 27 Lucas Erceg KC AL13 28 Ben Joyce LAA AL14 29 Jason Foley Det AL15 30 Aroldis Chapman Bos AL16 The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
USA Today
02-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Athletics hyped for their Sacramento era, finally able to 'focus on baseball'
Athletics hyped for their Sacramento era, finally able to 'focus on baseball' Show Caption Hide Caption Johnny Damon says Dodgers will win World Series again in 2025 Johnny Damon explains why he thinks the Dodgers and Yankees are bound for a rematch, but why the former is an easy choice to win again. Sports Seriously MESA, Ariz. — They no longer are the pawns in a war involving Oakland government officials, failed stadium developments, Major League Baseball and Athletics owner John Fisher. The players don't have to walk past fan boycotts in the Oakland Coliseum, listen to fans chanting 'Sell the Team,'' while playing in front of a sea of empty seats night after night and a tarp covering the upper deck. They don't have to answer questions about raw sewage in the clubhouse, rats in the broadcast booth, dead mice in the soda machine or their paltry payroll. 'I think there's a lot more focus on baseball now," A's pitcher J.P. Sears told USA TODAY Sports, 'and less than the optics around us. We're just like any other team now. 'Our goal is obviously changing year by year, but this year, it's definitely about making the playoffs and making a name for ourselves." The Athletics still will be unique. They will spending the next several seasons in West Sacramento. But please don't call them the Sacramento A's. They want to be known only as the Athletics. They will play the next three years at Sutter Health Park, a renovated Triple-A ballpark used by the Sacramento River Cats, a San Francisco Giants affiliate. Their permanent new home will be in Las Vegas beginning in 2028, although a shovel still has not been put into the ground. No matter, for the first time since these players have joined the A's organization, there will finally be a semblance of normalcy. They'll be playing in front of sold-out crowds, albeit in a stadium that seats just 13,800 fans, which is still larger than the average A's crowd of 11,386 last season. 'The distractions are still there, it's not like they've gone away," A's reliever T.J. McFarland said. 'We're going to Sacramento, and it's going to be kind of like a big deal. But at the end of the day, the transition kind of brought us closer together. 'Within the clubhouse, we've all kind of turned into a family and been able to turn the outside noise off." The A's finally are acting like a real big-league team, signing free-agent starter Luis Severino to a three-year, $67 million contract this winter, the largest in franchise history. Severino made his spring-training debut Thursday, showing signs why he was a two-time All-Star and won 19 games in 2018 for the Yankees. He pitched two dominant innings against the San Diego Padres, with manager Mark Kotsay raving about how easy the ball comes out of his hand. 'Every time he steps on the mound," starter J.P. Sears said, 'he brings that passion, a lot of energy. He almost has that Dave Stewart look, that fierce, mean, I'm coming at you. And then there's that Sevvy roar, yelling so loud." Severino, 31, promises to bring that energy when real games begin, and already is letting everyone know that simply competing isn't good enough. He came here to win. He has already been to the postseason six times in his career, and didn't sign with the Athletics as a retirement package. 'Nobody's expecting us to come out and make the playoffs," Severino said. 'I think a lot people think that we are far away from making the playoffs. That's not true. 'We have a good team here. We're here to win. We have a lot of young guys, a lot of talent." In it to win it? The A's didn't just stop with Severino. They signed All-Star outfielder Brent Rooker to a five-year, $60 million extension. They signed veteran infielder Gio Urshela and relievers Jose Leclerc and McFarland. They traded for Tampa Bay Rays starter Jeffrey Springs, taking on his $10.5 million annual salary the next two seasons. Sure, they jacked up their payroll only after the players union threatened them with a grievance, but at least they spent, going from a major-league low $61.3 million up to $90 million. They actually out-spent 18 teams in free agency this winter. 'This reminds me a lot of Tampa," Springs said. 'Great people, great coaching staff. Everything has been first class. That's all you can ask for. We have great potential here to win a lot of ballgames." The Athletics may not have a city on their uniform or next to their name in the standings, but the capital of California is ready to embrace them. 'Oakland stepped up," McFarland said. 'Oops, I keep saying Oakland. The Athletics have stepped up. It forecasts what we're going to do the next three years, which is to compete and win." The good folks of Sacramento, located 86 miles northeast of Oakland, are ready to have a real baseball team too. They would love for the Las Vegas deal to fall apart and have the team stay in the region, or at the very least make such a strong impression that MLB's will consider them as a potential expansion franchise. The Athletics, for the first time, have a waiting list to buy season tickets. There were more than 75,000 requests for home opener tickets against the Chicago Cubs on March 31. They've got A's fever in Sacramento. 'They're going to love us there, and I think we're going to love them, too," McFarland said. 'It's going to be hyped. It's going to be fun. Guys are excited to get out there and just see a new city has to offer, and it's not that far away from where our original fans were." Don't get the A's wrong. They're going to miss Oakland. They loved their small, but loyal fanbase. They enjoyed living in the East Bay Area. The Coliseum may have been a dump, but they found it charming. 'Obviously, there's that sadness of leaving Oakland, and feeling for those fans," A's catcher Shea Langeliers said. 'But at the same time, there is an excitement in Sacramento. The fans are excited to have us there. 'It's going to be different playing in a Triple-A park, but at the end of the day, it's our park. Our mindset is it is what it is. It's going to be good energy, and it's going to make other teams uncomfortable." The A's, who visited Sacramento in January, were treated like Hollywood celebrities, provided courtside seats to see the Sacramento Kings play the Miami Heat in January. They were given a thunderous ovation when introduced during the game, and warmly greeted at restaurants and coffee shops around town. 'Everyone we met,'' Sears said, 'they were just super, super grateful to have a team come in there.'' Said Rooker: 'They made it very evident that the city of Sacramento is passionate about their sports. We're looking forward to feeling that energy." Rooker, who hit .293 with 39 homers and 112 RBI, became the first player to officially commit to the A's when they'll be playing in Las Vegas. He brings automatic stability to a franchise in constant transition, keeping him with manager Mark Kotsay, who signed an extension through 2029. And it all started with the signing of Severino, who stunned the baseball industry by believing in the A's future. 'That was awesome," Rooker said. 'Obviously that was the big splash, one of the big signings of the winter. It kind of signified the moving in a new direction, going out and getting some talent, spending some money to help improve out team. 'It brought a lot of optimism, a bunch of excitement to our clubhouse.'' In the words of outfielder Lawrence Butler, who's negotiating a potential contract extension: "It lets us know that we're here to win. We're not just here to play baseball.' The A's still have a few questions to solve before their season opener. They're trying to figure out who'll be their fifth starter, who wins the last bullpen spot, and identify their backup catcher. Otherwise, they are pretty much set. They have the young talent, only lacking experience. They went from 50 victories in 2023 to 69 last season. If they're going to make the playoffs, they're going to need at least another 15-game improvement. 'Last year I don't think there was a level of expectation to go out and really have the realistic opportunity to complete for the division,'' said Kotsay, a former outfielder with the A's. 'I think this group is confident. They have that expectation for themselves, which is great. 'We know what we have to do in front of us is not going to be easy." The A's, the league's doormat for the past three seasons with 307 losses, say the days are over acting like a farm club for big markets. Now they insist they will keep their best players and are convinced they'll be back in the playoffs – and perhaps become an AL West power – by the time they move to Las Vegas. They finished with a 69-93 record last season, but went 39-37 after July 1, tied for the third-best record in the AL, giving them hope. 'We're going to use that momentum we built to improve and see where that takes us," Rooker said, 'but we definitely feel like we're really, really close to being very competitive. 'And we think that could happen this year." (Temporary) home-field advantage The Athletics believe they could have one of the finest home-field advantages in baseball in Sacramento. When teams come in, they're going to moan and groan about playing in a minor-league ballpark, in rotten mood from when they land at Sacramento International Airport right until until departure. 'When they come to play us," McFarland said. 'It will be like, 'Oh, why are we here in Sacramento?' They're going to get caught up in the distractions where we won't be." Said reliever J.T. Ginn, laughing: 'I'm sure it's not going to be team's most looked-forward trip by any means. But with the way we are, being gritty, it kind of fits our style." And just wait until opponents see the visiting clubhouse. It's going to make the visiting clubhouses at Wrigley Field and Fenway Park look like the Taj Mahal. It's the smallest in baseball, and it's not even close. "Every team that comes in is going to complain about it being a Triple A ballpark, '' Athletics GM David Forst said. "And if we sort of make it our own, and don't worry about what we can't control, I think there's a huge advantage there." It's not as if the A's won't have their own inconveniences. Their renovated two-story clubhouse will have a new gym, full kitchen and plenty of the amenities found in other clubhouses, but it also happens to be in left-center field. The only way to access is walking through the outfield, which means that if there's a sudden urge to use the bathroom, you've got no choice but to wait until between innings. The A's will also be curious to see how their ballpark plays. It could be a wake-up call for pitchers. Those foul pop-ups that were routinely caught in the Coliseum with their vast foul territory, now may fall helplessly in the stands. And when the temperature hits triple-figures in the summer, the ball could fly. It may also be a little rough for the infielders. There will be 153 games played on the Sutter Health Park field between the A's and Sacramento River Cats. Originally, they were going to play artificial turf, but with the summer heat, the players association intervened and requested they play on natural grass. The new sod was placed on Saturday, with plans to change it only once during the season, which could lead to a whole lot of bad-hop singles. 'There's definitely a long history of challenging environment in Oakland for hitters," Kotsay said. 'It's just a fact. You hit .300 in Oakland, you had an unbelievable season.'' The last time the A's had a .300 hitter in a full season was Josh Donaldson in 2013. No A's player has had consecutive .300 seasons since Jason Giambi in 2000-2001. Still, the Athletics will miss their former home. The club is heartbroken about the way it ended, but now has a new temporary home and a bright future. 'We loved Oakland," A's outfielder J.J. Bleday said. 'I think a lot of us have tremendous respect for that place and all of the staff who have been a part of it. I know I'm going to miss it. The Coliseum was a big part of our lives, and a big part of my career. I'm definitely going to miss all of the fans and how friendly they were. 'But this just a new step in that direction of Vegas and a new chapter that we've just go to deal with and work with. I think it's going to a good experience. I think we've got a chance to do some really special things.'' And yet, despite the A's finally knowing their future, one lingering question still hovers. If the A's make the playoffs in the next three years, would they actually play their home games in a ballpark that seats only 13,800 fans? The A's would love to find out, but for now, MLB has given them no answer. Stay tuned, there may still be some juicy drama that awaits. Follow Nightengale on X: @BNightengale
USA Today
27-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Philadelphia Phillies' bitter October exits have NL power 'playing for more'
Philadelphia Phillies' bitter October exits have NL power 'playing for more' Show Caption Hide Caption Johnny Damon says Dodgers will win World Series again in 2025 Johnny Damon explains why he thinks the Dodgers and Yankees are bound for a rematch, but why the former is an easy choice to win again. Sports Seriously CLEARWATER, Fla. — They are greatness on a treadmill, undeniably taking steps forward – from 87 to 90 to 95 wins – even as the forces of October seem to blow them back. Yes, digressing from World Series runner-up to NLCS loser to NLDS sucker-punch can create undeniable appearances of regression, at least externally. For the Philadelphia Phillies, though, channeling those increasingly early playoff failures into something, anything constructive come next autumn is imperative. 'You always gain knowledge from years past,' says Kyle Schwarber, their designated hitter and often leadoff man. 'And we've had a lot of really good things we can look back on and grab from that. 'And we can also look at the failure part and be very good self-evaluators and evaluate, 'OK, that didn't go right.' And pull from that and try to be better going forward. 'It's been the majority of the same group the last two or three years. All that experience now culminates in this year and seeing if we can perform, be healthy, find a way into the postseason format and see what we can do.' And suddenly, time could be running short. The raucous gang that's turned Citizens Bank Ballpark into the loudest postseason joint in the big leagues – punctuated by unmatched clubhouse bacchanalia when they prevail – is entering something of a collective walk year. Schwarber and catcher J.T. Realmuto are both entering the final year of their contracts, with Realmuto's five-year, $115 million deal potentially marking the end of a Philly run that began with a trade from Miami before the 2019 campaign. And it still seems like yesterday Schwarber, who turns 32 on March 5, parachuted into Clearwater in March 2022, shortly after the lockout-delayed spring training began, his four-year, $79 million deal soon followed by a $100 million outlay for Nick Castellanos to lengthen the Phillies' lineup. The investments have paid off tenfold. Those Phillies parlayed 87 wins into a wild-card berth and rode it all the way to Game 6 of the '22 World Series, where the Houston Astros finally turned them back. But the October backslides – beginning with blowing a 3-1 lead in the 2023 NLCS to the Arizona Diamondbacks and bottoming out with a 3-1 loss to the New York Mets in the '24 NLDS – take some of the starch out of the good. The Phillies enter this season as defending NL East champions for the first time since 2012. Yet that flag was won largely before the weather turned crisp. Cruel autumn It'd be trite to term the Phillies' season a 'tale of two halves,' but it would also be painfully accurate. They sent a franchise-record eight players to the All-Star Game, by which time they'd posted a 62-34 record and amassed an 8 ½ game division lead. And while that lead never dipped below five games, their performance went south in the 66 games after the break – in almost every respect. First half: A .756 OPS, .331 OBP, 113+ adjusted OPS. Second half: .741, .316, 107. On the pitching side? A first-half 3.42 ERA, .657 OPS against and 3.41 strikeout-walk ratio devolved to 4.49, .767 and 2.97. 'It's really hard, as good as we were in the first half, to replicate that in the second half,' says Realmuto. 'To have two halves that dominant. For me it's about playing our best baseball at the right time.' The team never played so poorly as to provoke panic, and the malaise could be at least partially attributed to the perpetually comfortable division cushion. Yet before they could flip a switch, the Mets flattened them, their once-stout bullpen suddenly unsteady and manager Rob Thomson juggling the lineup and benching All-Star third baseman Alec Bohm. With six players locked into nine-figure contracts, this winter was not the time for a revamp, not that one was necessarily needed. Instead, club president Dave Dombrowski made significant but not sweeping changes: Left fielder Max Kepler's bat will be a big improvement over Johan Rojas, closer Jordan Romano should backfill the ninth inning after Carlos Estévez and Jeff Hoffman departed, and the trade for lefty Jesús Luzardo is insurance against rotation regression, and a bridge to top prospect Andrew Painter's arrival. 'I'm really excited about the pieces that Dave and John did bring in and add to the group we had last year,' says Realmuto. 'If the core group of guys here just do our part and get a little better and continue to work, we're going to be in a good spot at the end of the year.' That core remains almost peerless. Ace Zack Wheeler nearly won the Cy Young Award, and he and Aaron Nola combined to throw 399 innings. Perpetual MVP threat Bryce Harper's .898 OPS ranked fourth in the NL, and he, Wheeler, second baseman Bryson Stott and outfielder Brandon Marsh were all Gold Glove finalists. Yet right fielder Nick Castellanos was simply league average in his production, and Bohm epitomized the club's softer second half numbers, with a .268 OBP and four homers in his final 37 games before a playoff benching. 'If you were to look at the team on paper, it's really good,' says Schwarber. 'We showed that at points last year, how great of a team we can be and are. We won the division and obviously had an early exit, right? 'It comes down to us to execute in the postseason. There's no surprises to our roster. People are going to look at our lineup, our starters and bullpen and know everyone. I think that's the beauty of it – it comes down to us to perform and figure out a way to be the last team standing.' Yet it's not like the club can simply set an egg timer for mid-September to ensure they roust themselves from the second-half doldrums, right? 'Definitely not. You gotta work,' says Realmuto. 'And by the time September hits, you gotta know what you're doing well and not doing well and capitalize on those things you're doing well. 'And the things you're not doing well, do those less often.' Always in it to win it The NL East stakes were raised with Juan Soto's $765 million deal with the Mets, who came tantalizingly close to a World Series trip. Yet in what figures to be a three-team race, the Phillies should offer greater pitching certainty than the Mets or Atlanta Braves. And should Painter be ready for a summer promotion, he could provide a second-half gust at their backs that was missing last year. That would be a welcome youth infusion for a club not getting any younger. Realmuto, who turns 34 in March, missed five weeks after undergoing meniscus repair on his right knee in June, and didn't have his legs under him for a while after. He'd welcome a return in 2026, better yet if it dovetails with the Phillies' prosperity. 'My mindset's kind of the same every year: If what I want happens, then everybody's happy at the end of the year,' says Realmuto, who re-signed on a five-year, $115.5 million deal two months after hitting free agency in 2021. 'If we win, if the Phillies win, win the division, win the World Series, the contract stuff will take care of itself. My free agency will all take care of itself.' Schwarber is in a similar situation. The Philles could be primed for a more significant reset after 2026, when Castellanos comes off the books and prospects like shortstop Aidan Miller and Justin Crawford are closer to contributing. Still, Schwarber's elite power and on-base ability – he's averaged 44 homers and a .344 OBP in his three seasons – bring plenty of upside, even as his positional limitations, particularly with Harper ensconced at first base, limit roster flexibility. Time flies when you're having fun. 'It's been a quick four years, going into the fourth year of it,' says Schwarber, who was non-tendered by the Chicago Cubs in 2020 and played for Washington and Boston in 2021. 'But it's been great. For me, it's kind of like I've got that first chance where you feel you can settle in, get to know a group and kind of keep blossoming into who you are as a person, a player. 'It's been such a great time and all you can ask for – walking into a spring training clubhouse and you've got an opportunity to win. That's been my biggest thing – I love being on winning teams. We're not playing to get through a 162-game season. We're playing for more.' And still well-positioned to finish the job. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
