A 162-game schedule spread across six months is the longest marathon any professional sport can ask a player to endure. The Major League schedule begins with snow still falling in some cities, transitions to oppressive heat for months at a stretch, and finishes with thoughts of Thanksgiving not far off.
For a team to navigate their 162-game slog and capture one of each league’s six playoff spots is a remarkable accomplishment, one the Phillies will begin on Thursday afternoon in the nation’s capitol. The front office, coaches and players all rightfully celebrate those moments, because they are few and far between, especially in Philadelphia.