Podcast Episode
#54 | Grading the 2026 Phillies After Another Postseason Exit
About this episode
Nearly a week removed from the Phillies’ early playoff defeat, it’s time to take a step back and evaluate where the team stands heading into a pivotal offseason.In this episode, Josh Liddick and Austin Myers hand out end-of-season grades for the Phillies’ offense, defense, bench, starting rotation, bullpen, and coaching staff. They also revisit some of their preseason and midseason projections to see what they got right — and what they got very wrong.Then, the conversation turns toward the offseason ahead. With the MLB CBA set to expire in December, what should be at the top of the Phillies’ priority list? Could the team move on from Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, or Brandon Marsh? How important is adding an infielder or multiple outfielders? And what should the Phillies do at manager?With Alex Cora no longer expected to manage in 2027 and reports from Matt Gelb and Jayson Stark that the Phillies are considering retaining Don Mattingly, the guys discuss whether Mattingly has done enough to earn another season — or whether it’s time for a new voice.Finally, Josh and Austin look around the MLB postseason, breaking down the NLDS and ALDS matchups and discussing which teams have stood out as the LCS picture begins to take shape.Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and iHeartRadio, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (Red Pinstripe Press) and Austin Myers (Phillies Perspective) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. The podcast is also streaming weekly on the Catchin' Phils YouTube channel.Follow Catchin’ Phils on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X for more content.Episode timestamps:00:20 Offseason Reflections on the Phillies13:14 Analyzing the Phillies' Performance24:15 Future Prospects and Team Development30:58 Evaluating Player Performance: Strengths and Weaknesses33:40 Defensive Versatility and Adaptability36:06 Bench Improvement: A Closer Look40:06 Rotation Strength: Key Pitchers and Their Impact49:13 Bullpen Struggles: Analyzing the Weak Links54:37 Managing Changes: Don Mattingly's Impact and Future