Phillies Front Office Decisions Under Fire: Fans Weigh In with Reader Poll
The Philadelphia Phillies have been navigating a treacherous offseason, as they attempt to continue their quest for a World Series championship and find ways to improve their postseason performance. Following the team's heartbreaking NLDS loss to the Dodgers, fans were invited to share their opinions on who should be retained and who should be let go.
According to a recent reader poll, Phillies manager Rob Thomson has faced significant criticism from fans, with 54% of respondents believing that his decision-making was a major factor in the team's disappointing performance. In contrast, President Dave Dombrowski has received widespread support, with an impressive 76.4% of voters backing his leadership.
One player who may be on thin ice is designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. Despite his impressive 56 home runs and strong season, only 57.5% of fans want him to return, largely due to the significant salary tag associated with his $30 million per year contract.
The team's decision to sign free agent Ranger Suárez has received near-unanimous support from fans, with a staggering 71% of respondents backing his retention. Meanwhile, catcher J.T. Realmuto has also garnered a high level of approval, with 73% of voters supporting his return.
On the other hand, outfielder Nick Castellanos is largely seen as an expendable asset, with 93% of fans calling for him to be released from his $20 million contract. Offseason acquisition Harrison Bader, however, has won over a significant portion of fans with 79% backing his retention via mutual option or free agency.
The Phillies' decision on third baseman Alec Bohm is a closer split, but ultimately, fans are trending towards releasing him and finding a new player for the position. Perhaps most surprisingly, outfielder Max Kepler has received more support than Castellanos, despite being viewed as a potential target for release.
Pitchers Walker Buehler and Taijuan Walker have also been subject to fan scrutiny, with 75% of voters wanting Buehler brought back and 78% calling for Walker's departure.
The team's bullpen has received mixed results in the poll, with Jose Alvarado receiving significant support but other relievers like David Robertson and Joe Ross struggling to gain traction. The bench also saw varying levels of fan approval, with players like Edmundo Sosa and Rafael Marchán receiving widespread backing while others, such as Garrett Stubbs and Johan Rojas, were largely seen as expendable assets.
As the Phillies look to navigate the challenging offseason ahead, it will be interesting to see how these poll results translate into on-field decisions.
				
			The Philadelphia Phillies have been navigating a treacherous offseason, as they attempt to continue their quest for a World Series championship and find ways to improve their postseason performance. Following the team's heartbreaking NLDS loss to the Dodgers, fans were invited to share their opinions on who should be retained and who should be let go.
According to a recent reader poll, Phillies manager Rob Thomson has faced significant criticism from fans, with 54% of respondents believing that his decision-making was a major factor in the team's disappointing performance. In contrast, President Dave Dombrowski has received widespread support, with an impressive 76.4% of voters backing his leadership.
One player who may be on thin ice is designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. Despite his impressive 56 home runs and strong season, only 57.5% of fans want him to return, largely due to the significant salary tag associated with his $30 million per year contract.
The team's decision to sign free agent Ranger Suárez has received near-unanimous support from fans, with a staggering 71% of respondents backing his retention. Meanwhile, catcher J.T. Realmuto has also garnered a high level of approval, with 73% of voters supporting his return.
On the other hand, outfielder Nick Castellanos is largely seen as an expendable asset, with 93% of fans calling for him to be released from his $20 million contract. Offseason acquisition Harrison Bader, however, has won over a significant portion of fans with 79% backing his retention via mutual option or free agency.
The Phillies' decision on third baseman Alec Bohm is a closer split, but ultimately, fans are trending towards releasing him and finding a new player for the position. Perhaps most surprisingly, outfielder Max Kepler has received more support than Castellanos, despite being viewed as a potential target for release.
Pitchers Walker Buehler and Taijuan Walker have also been subject to fan scrutiny, with 75% of voters wanting Buehler brought back and 78% calling for Walker's departure.
The team's bullpen has received mixed results in the poll, with Jose Alvarado receiving significant support but other relievers like David Robertson and Joe Ross struggling to gain traction. The bench also saw varying levels of fan approval, with players like Edmundo Sosa and Rafael Marchán receiving widespread backing while others, such as Garrett Stubbs and Johan Rojas, were largely seen as expendable assets.
As the Phillies look to navigate the challenging offseason ahead, it will be interesting to see how these poll results translate into on-field decisions.