There are some super teams in the major leagues this season. The Philadelphia Phillies' record after the London Series is 45-20, making this squad one of them.
The Phillies' .692 winning percentage (after games played through June 9) is a testament to their potential. Comparing it to other successful Phillies' seasons or those of 100-plus win teams, it's clear that crossing this threshold would almost certainly secure a playoff berth and potentially a National League Division pennant.
But in the still-early part of June, the Phillies' playoff hopes are only in doubt if they experience an epic collapse that would likely be driven by many injuries after the Trade Deadline.
Instead, the enticing possibility of playing .500 ball for most of the season and still winning 100 games is a real possibility. This could occur during this month if the Phillies maintain a near-.700 winning percentage for a matter of weeks, and then play no more than average baseball through the end of the regular season.
John Middleton, Dave Dombrowski, Rob Thompson, his coach staff, and the returning players from last season (along with those who remain from the 2022 World Series appearance) are focused on flexing regular season muscle and having fun. This organization is determined to finish the story and win its third trophy.
Everyone knows that no team in MLB is anywhere near statistically clinching a playoff berth. But the Phillies and other plus-.600 teams are all, in effect, playoff pre-qualifiers. That's remarkable and also speaks to the unbalance that the 2024 season represents.
