Philadelphia Phillies owner John Middleton says he’s always going to have a hard time getting over what happened last year in the NL Championship series.
The Philadelphia Phillies reached the playoffs for the second straight season, one year after reaching the World Series but losing to the Houston Astros.
Just as they did in 2022, the Phillies started from the Wild Card spot, this time as the No. 4 seed. The Phillies took care of the Miami Marlins in two games.
Then it was on to the NL Division Series where, for the second straight year, they met the Atlanta Braves, who ran away with the NL East Division.
Well, the Phillies did it to them again, just as they did in 2022, winning the series and then securing a trip to the NLCS.
The Arizona Diamondbacks ended up being Philly’s opponent. Arizona beat Milwaukee in the Wild Card and then the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series.
It was almost surreptitious for Philadelphia, which looked red hot at the time. They became the favorites in the series against the No. 6 seed in the playoffs. All Philly had to do was win four games.
After two games the Phillies were in great shape. They won both games at home. They did lose two out of three in Arizona, but they returned to Citizens Bank Park with a 3-2 series lead and two chances to send the Diamondbacks home and go to the World Series again.
And the Diamondbacks went home, but they went home with the NLCS trophy the Phillies were out to claim.
Arizona went on to the World Series and lost to the Texas Rangers in five games.
It still doesn’t sit well with Middleton, who reportedly gave a fiery speech to the team earlier this week at spring training in Clearwater, Fla.
His full quote appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“If you’re using the phrase, ‘Get over it,’ it’ll never happen,” Middleton told the Philadelphia Inquirer.. “I mean, ’09, ’10, and ’11 still hurt. You don’t get second chances to win that year. To be up 2-0 [in the series] and heading to a place [Arizona] where you took three out of four in August and lose two out of three, and then lose two at home, when you have your foot on your enemy’s throat, you kill ’em. And we didn’t do it.
“I’m angry. It’s a funny word to use, but when you lose like that, I get angry. And frankly, if people don’t get at least a little angry, I’m not sure you care enough.”
It sounds like Middleton isn’t getting over last season anytime soon. But a World Series title this season might help.
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