Apr 23, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) scores the game winning run against Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) on a walkoff single by designated hitter Starling Marte (not pictured) during the tenth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Bryce Harper doesn't want to hear it.
No more talk of it just being April and that there's 137 games still to play.
Those things may ultimately true, but it's not the words that are needed in the Phillies clubhouse right now.
Not after losing in extra innings 4-3 on Thursday. Not after getting swept by the New Yor Mets. Not after dropping their fourth straight game.
Not after another day of not being able to score enough runners in scoring position - which is crazy because the Phillies were 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position and scored all of three runs, leaving a dozen runners on base.
It doesn't matter. None of the stats matter right now except one - the fact that the Phillies are 13-12 after 25 games and are chasing a scorching hot Mets team who keeps finding ways to win games much like the Phillies are finding ways to lose them.
"you guys say it's a little early, but I don't like that," Harper said. You should be wanting to play good baseball all year long, from April all the way to November. Obviously that's not going to happen. You're going to go through ups and downs and you try to stay as even keel as you can, but we're a good team in here and we expect to win."
For a team that expects to win, they're doing their share of losing. It's not just four straight. It's 10 of 16.
And there's a separation forming in the standings between them and the Mets. Even if they don't believe there's much of a separation at all between the teams talent-wise.
"No," manager Rob Thomson said when asked if there was a gap between his team and the Mets.
And why does he think that way?
"Because we're a good team," he said. Short and not so sweet answers are the product of frustration.
Just ask Jordan Romano, who took it on the chin again.
Pitching in the 10th inning and trying to protect a one-run lead, he threw an 0-2 slider to Pete Alonso that was belted the opposite way for a double to tie the game.
I think it's impossible to love Pete Alonso more than I do.pic.twitter.com/F0dcCrRXVR
Then, after an intentional walk, a broken bat blooper by Starling Marte drove in the winning run.
STARLING MARTE WALK-OFF WINNER!!
THE METS HAVE SWEPT THE PHILLIES!! pic.twitter.com/yif1Azk1mr
Romano feels like his stuff is there and he's throwing better pitches than he did earlier in the season, but that the results aren't there and that not getting results when everything feels right is the hardest thing to get past.
"It's extremely difficult," Romano said. "But that's the tough thing about baseball. You just got to grind through it. It feels like my stuff is good and the results aren't there."
As for the lack of offense, the Phillies had 11 hits Thursday, all of them were singles. The lack of slug is really hurting them right now. The Phillies had just three extra base hits in the three game series with the Mets.
The team has been uber focused at getting on base, and they are - 15 more times on Thursday in 44 plate appearances - but they aren't scoring. Are they possibly caught in between?
"I don't don't think so," Thomson said. "I think we're going through a little bit of a run where we're not driving the ball here, but it will come."
It would have done the Phillies wonders if it would have came on Thursday.
In the top of the second, the Phillies had bases loaded and one out and didn't score. Johan Rojas hit a shallow fly ball to left field, forcing Alec Bohm to hold at third base and then Trea Turner bounced into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
In the fourth inning, the Phillies scored a pair of runs, but Harper left a pair of runners on base when he grounded out to first base.
In the eighth inning, the Phillies actually got a clutch two-out hit from Max Kepler, only to see it erased by Juan Soto throwing out Nick Castellanos at home plate.
Juan Soto cuts down the go-ahead run at the plate! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/owmDxTcR78
And in the 10th inning, the Phillies loaded the bases again only this time it was Stott hitting the shallow fly ball, keeping Castellanos at third, and then Kepler flying out to right to end the inning.
And it's soured the mood in the clubhouse. There's a real lack of fun around the Phillies right now - and has been for a bit. Thomson said it's frustration because they players are expecting a good outcome and aren't getting it.
Harper said there's only one cure for the blahs.
"We just got to win," he said. "I mean, it takes care of everything, right? It takes care of the mindset. It takes care of what you are feeling. It doesn't matter if one guy is struggling or not. You come in to win and winning takes care of it all. So, as a team, we just have to be better."
If it were only that simple, Bryce.
