Slow-starting NL East providing the Phillies with some much needed *time*

Despite some heroic performances on the mound from the likes of Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, and some MVP-level hitting from both Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto, the Philadelphia Phillies find themselves under .500 four weeks into the 2021 season.

For the most part, the Phillies have gotten All-Star caliber play from the players that they expected to receive it from. Both Harper and Realmuto are playing like two of the best players in baseball at the moment, and the partnership of Nola and Wheeler at the top of the Phillies rotation has been a productive one.

However, despite all the greatness that we’ve been witnessing from some of the Phillies’ most popular players, the team’s overall depth and supplementary talent has been put to the test early and often this year – and they’ve collectively failed to rise to the occasion.

Both CF and LF are major areas of weakness, Didi Gregorius might be regressing, Alec Bohm’s batting average is under .200, Jean Segura is injured, Rhys Hoskins is leading the MLB in home runs – but is still a very streaky hitter at the plate, the bullpen can’t stay healthy, and the team’s 4th and 5th starters are amongst the worst in baseball.

More from Section 215

• 4 Eagles on the Bubble Who Have Clinched Their 53-Man Roster Spots
• Best Pennsylvania Sportsbook Promos: Win $650 GUARANTEED Bonus PLUS $100 off NFL Sunday Ticket
• 3 Punters the Eagles Must Target to Replace Arryn Siposs
• Cowboys Trey Lance Trade Proves How Screwed They Are With Dak Prescott
• Devon Allen Took Britain Covey’s Job on Eagles

While that all sounds fairly “doom and gloom”, the reality of the situation is that these trends likely won’t continue forever, especially when talking about the team’s offense – an offense that ranked towards the top of baseball in almost every major statistical category last season. With 140+ games still left to be played, one can only assume that these same players will find their rhythm as the summer progresses

Weak division play in the NL East is giving the Phillies some much needed time to sort out their issues.

Outside of acquiring some external help via free agency or the trade market, what this Phillies team needs the most right now is time, time to get their hitters back on track and their pitching staff in a serviceable state. Someone like Bohm is bound to break out of his slump eventually, and guys like Archie Bradley and the before mentioned Segura shouldn’t be shelved on the IL too much longer.

In a few weeks time, there’s a half decent chance that this Phillies team could be looking a whole lot more complete and well-rounded. Throw in some midseason trade acquisitions, and their odds of finishing above 82 wins for the first time since 2011 dramatically rise.

As unbearably optimistic as that all may sound, the main reason the Phillies even have the option of “waiting for things to get better” is due to the lack of winning baseball around them in the NL East. A division that many thought would be the pinnacle of MLB play this year, every single team currently sits below .500 – except for the Mets, who are 9-9.

If things had gone a tad differently here in April, and a team like the Braves had gotten off to a hypothetical 18-5 start, then it’s fair to say that some serious alarm bells would have been going off in Dave Dombrowski’s office. While a lackluster division doesn’t take away from the fact that the Phillies haven’t looked like a good baseball team thus far, it does give the team’s front office a little more breathing room when it comes to adjusting things.

Moves are already being made, too. Spencer Howard is going to be stretched out as a starter here in the near future, and Jose Alvarado just recently returned from the IL. Archie Bradley and Howard should be back with the main roster sooner rather than later, and one can only assume some sort of CF transaction is on the horizon.