Posted by dahsdebater on 5/16/2016 9:42:00 PM (view original):
If "coaching and character will do that for you," the same teams would overperform relative to their Pythagorean win percentages on a regular basis. Especially in the pre-free-agency period. But it's never been true. Doesn't seem like anything but luck correlates to deviation from the Pythagorean win percentage.
Phillies started off 10-10 with a -25 run differential in their first 20 games. 4 of those loses were big loses. 10-6. 11-1. 9-1. 8-1.
Since then they've gone 12-6 with a -5 differential. Their pitching keeps them in games, and they do have timely hitting that has consistently been there.
All this despite the peripherals saying they are indeed lucky. That said, its still happening. They finish with the Marlins, and then get the sorry Braves and Tigers after. Then I guess we will really see what happens when they face the Cubs and Nats at the end of the month. You'd think they will probably go 1-5 or 2-6 against them.
But again, we'll see. I'm not drinkign the Kool Aide, but I certainly am enjoying the ride!