Ronald Acuña Jr. turned in a historic performance during the 2023 campaign. He became the first player ever to hit 40+ home runs and steal 70+ bases, which should almost certainly lead to his first NL MVP award.
However, I imagine Acuña would trade the records and individual accolades for another World Series ring. The Phillies ended the Braves season for the second year in a row, despite being 14.0 games worse than the Braves in the regular season. It was an all too familiar feeling for Braves Country, but I think I speak for everyone when I say it became a much easier pill to swallow after watching the Phillies collapse against the Diamondbacks.
Philadelphia was able to make it to the World Series a year ago, but they were eventually overmatched by the Astros. That had to sting, but most knowledgeable people would acknowledge Houston was a significantly better ball club than Philadelphia a year ago. The Phillies had nothing to hang their heads about.
This year was much different. The Diamondbacks are a scrappy bunch, but this is a team that finished just six games over .500 with a negative run differential. They also ended the season 10 games under .500 over the final three months. On paper, there is nothing the Diamondbacks do as well as the Phillies, but the game isn’t played on paper.
What made the loss even more tragic was that the Phillies came back home for Games 6 and 7, needing just one win to clinch the National League pennant for the second consecutive season. Prior to Game 6, they were a perfect 6-0 in the postseason at Citizens Bank Ballpark. But the snakes prevailed, as the Phillies’ dollar lineup disappeared when the stakes were the highest.
It was a stunning ending that left the entire city of Philadelphia in shambles, but it couldn’t have happened to a better fan base. Braves Country quickly took to Twitter to mock the Phillies for falling short once again, reminding them they haven’t won a World Series since people were walking around with first generation iPhones. Even Ronald Acuña Jr. got in on the action.
Ronald Acuña Jr. liked another tweet pic.twitter.com/OH3DzzIRsx
— Max Fried Enthusiast (@atlhoe12345) October 27, 2023
Acuña may not have had the postseason he would have liked, but that’s baseball. Of all the players who underperformed in the playoffs, he’s the least of the concerns. He’s shown in the past he can step up in the biggest situations, and his confidence is palpable, even in the face of adversity. Acuña brightest moments are ahead of him. I’m not so sure you can say the same about the Phillies roster, most of which may never know what a World Series ring feels like.
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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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