Let's get something straight - no matter what, going into their game Friday night, the Phillies will have the best record in baseball. In fact, since the Red Sox and Phillies are both idle today and the Red Sox stand 1.5 games behind the Phillies, the Phillies will also hold the best record in baseball going into play Saturday, no matter what.
Just how incredible has this team been this year? I decided to take a walk through the day-by-day overall MLB standings this year to figure that out. And, from this investigation, I have the following quiz for you. See how your impression of the Phillies matches with reality.
For all of these questions, the count starts on April 18, after the Phillies' 15th game of the season. I started there because I figured there's a lot of noise in the first 15 games as the teams get settled. Sure, it's an arbitrary number, but this exercise doesn't really lose its effect because of it. On that date, the Phillies were 10-5, sitting 1.5 games behind the Indians and Rockies and .5 games behind the Rangers in the overall MLB standings.
So, between that date and the end of play Wednesday there have been 93 days (not counting April 18). In that time period:
- How many days have the Phillies not had the best record in baseball?
- How many days have the Phillies not had sole possession of the best record in baseball?
- When was the last time the Phillies did not have the best record in baseball?
- What is the furthest back the Phillies have been from having the best record in baseball?
- How many days have the Phillies not had the best record in the NL?
- What is the furthest back the Phillies have been from having the best record in the NL?
- How many NL teams have had better records than the Phillies and for how long?
- How many days have the Phillies not had the best record in the NL East?
All the answers are after the jump.
- How many days have the Phillies not had the best record in baseball? 23. Thus, the Phillies have had the best record in baseball for 70 of the past 93 days.
- How many days have the Phillies not had sole possession of the best record in baseball? 38. The Phillies have had sole possession of the best record in baseball for 55 of the last 93 days.
- When was the last time the Phillies did not have the best record in baseball? June 9. On June 9, the Cardinals had a .5 game lead over the Phillies. Since then, for 41 days the Phillies have been alone with the best record in baseball . . . every single day.
- What is the furthest back the Phillies have been from having the best record in baseball? 2 games. On May 17, 22, 23, and 24, the Phillies were 2 games behind the Indians.
- How many days have the Phillies not had the best record in the NL? 8. The Phillies have had the best record in the NL for 85 of the last 93 days.
- What is the furthest back the Phillies have been from having the best record in the NL? 1.5. On April 19 and 20, the Phillies were 1.5 games behind the Rockies.
- How many NL teams have had better records than the Phillies and for how long? 3 - Cardinals for 2 days, Rockies for 6, Marlins for 1.
- How many days have the Phillies not had the best record in the NL East? 1. For only 1 single day over the last 93 days have the Phils not lead their division. On April 26, they were .5 games behind the Marlins.
To sum this up, this is complete and utter dominance over a long stretch of baseball. And, to repeat what I concluded with yesterday, if you've spent this season fretting over the offensive issues this team has or dreaming up Heyman-esque scenarios for the Phillies to acquire top-notch talent to fill their gaps, I feel sorry for you, because you've missed quite a sensational season.