TRENTON-It has been a momentous season for the Reading Fightin Phils, and we are only in July. The Fightin Phils come into Sunday's series finale with the Thunder at 65-28, and hold a nine-game lead over Trenton for first place in the Eastern Division standings. With a staggering run of form in June (23-5, including a 15-1 start to...
TRENTON-It has been a momentous season for the Reading Fightin Phils, and we are only in July.
The Fightin Phils come into Sunday's series finale with the Thunder at 65-28, and hold a nine-game lead over Trenton for first place in the Eastern Division standings. With a staggering run of form in June (23-5, including a 15-1 start to the month), Reading has given itself a shot at breaking the all-time Eastern League record for wins in a season (1953 Reading Indians, 101-47). As it stands, the Fightin Phils are on pace to go 101-41.
Many things can happen over the final two months of a minor league season, but here are five reasons why the Fightin Phils can make history.
1. Rhys Hoskins, 1B- The reigning EL Player of the Month, Hoskins has put up incredible numbers for a team that is leading almost every offensive category as a team. The big first baseman is hitting .279, with 25 HR, 83 RBI, 65 runs, and has an OPS of .904.
His month of June was even better. Hoskins batted .351 (39-for-111) with nine doubles, 13 home runs, 33 RBIs, 26 runs scored, and a .784 slugging percentage in 27 games.
"I had a month like June last year, I think in May," Hoskins said. "But not with those power numbers. It is just kind of one of those zones that you get in. You always hear guys say the ball gets bigger, and everything just happens slower. The game just gets simple."
"I think we definitely knew, coming into the season, that we had a team that could win a lot of games," Hoskins said. "Like a lot of games. With some of the guys we have on this team, especially the hitters, I kind of feel bad for the pitchers we have to face."
"Trenton has done a really good job with us," Hoskins said. "They have some good arms. But the depth of our lineup, it starts at the top, and they don't really get a break. With the lineup we have, we are going to score runs. I think everyone in the clubhouse knows that."
"Especially if we get down early, there is no panic in the dugout," Hoskins said. "No panic. As long as or bullpen keeps us in the game, and they have been great, we are going to have a shot to win in the end."
2. Dylan Cozens, OF- Cozens won the May award for EL Player of the Month, and his numbers are as scary as Hoskins'. At .282, with 24 HR, 75 RBI, 78 runs, 28 2B, and an OPS of .949, the two Fightin Phils look to be in a two-way race for MVP honors.
"We are going game-to-game right now," Cozens said. "We are going out there every day and trying to get a win. You start getting in trouble when you start looking ahead too much."
With a lineup as powerful as the Fightin Phils have, that can score runs in bunches, they are never out of a ball game, which should help them in their assault on the Eastern League record books.
"It is big for any team," Cozens said. "I think power is a big key to success, and a big part of winning ball games. To be able to be down by one, then get a guy on base and hit a home run, you take the lead. It is huge. We have a lot of guys that can drive the ball out of the ball park, or in the gap for doubles."
3. Hoby Milner and the bullpen- Milner (4-2, 1.60 ERA, 50 K's in 45 innings) has been a devastating weapon out of the pen. The lefty throws out of the three-quarter slot, and is one of a slew of relievers (Miguel Nunez, Joely Rodriguez) that have done a great job keeping the Fightin Phils in games.
"Whenever you are pitching with a lead, it is great," Milner said. "You can pitch to contact, get quicker outs, and it plays to you advantage."
"Then, when you are pitching in tie ball games, as a reliever, you have a really good chance to get a win with this team," Milner said. "Even if you are down one or two, and you can go out there and throw up a zero, you have a pretty good chance of winning."
MONTGOMERY LEADS THUNDER PLAYOFF CHARGE
4. Reading's remaining schedule- The Fightin Phils do not need any more help, but they should get it down the stretch over the final 48 games of the season. Reading plays 25 of the 48 games left at home, where it is 36-10. The Fightin Phils are not shabby on the road, either, with a 29-18 record heading into Sunday.
But what may be a bigger factor is the teams they play. Reading plays 36 of the 48 remaining contests against teams with an under .500 record as of Sunday. This lineup could feast on those teams, and cruise towards 100-plus wins.
5. They have not won a title in a long time- The last Eastern League crown won by Reading was 2001, when it shared the title with New Britain as co-champs due to a stoppage of play. You have to go back to 1995 to find the last title the franchise won on the field, as it knocked off New Haven in a thrilling series, three games to two.
This team is hungry to bring a title back to Reading, and has to keep the foot on the gas, because the Eastern Division could be wrapped up in August.
Reading left Trenton with a road split, after a 4-0 win by the Thunder on Sunday. The Fightin Phils are eight games up in the standings.
Contact Sean Miller at seanmillertrentontimes@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @TheProdigalSean