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Dave Dombrowski Teases Return to Red Sox Blueprint to Revive Bullpen-Starved Phillies’ World Series Hopes

Philadelphia Phillies executive Dave Dombrowski pondered returning to a familiar strategy that won him a World Series. Like a recipe, key ingredients, in the right amounts, will lead to success. Baseball follows the same pattern. As the trade deadline approaches, executives look at their roster to see what they still need.

Dombrowski knows that change must happen in the next five weeks for Philadelphia to win a title.

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Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski Sees Worth in Revisiting Boston Playbook

Pitching in baseball remains the most critical aspect of the game. Similarly, the bullpen’s role in the postseason stands as the most essential part of the staff. With runs at a premium, you cannot understate how turning the game over to relievers will shut the metaphorical door on the opponent.

Runs in the playoffs arrive at a premium. As a result, protecting slim leads is the difference between playing another day and cleaning out the locker room. Dombrowski, owner of two World Series rings (1997, 2018), built teams in various ways that succeeded. However, as he relayed to the “Starkville” podcast, what worked with the 2018 Boston Red Sox could serve as the Phillies’ postseason template.

“The postseason bullpen is a lot different than the regular-season bullpen,” he said, “Because in the National League this year, if you advance past the Wild Card round, you play five games (in the next round, the NLDS). Well, the way the schedule is (with an extra off day), you only need three starting pitchers during that time period.

“A good example is ’18, when I was in Boston. Alex Cora was our manager, and he did a masterful job of working our starters into our bullpen and using some of them at times in the ’pen.”

That year, Boston’s starting pitchers pitched in 11 playoff games that they did not start in. For example, starter Chris Sale stepped into the setup role in Game 4 to close out the New York Yankees. Similarly, to clinch the pennant, Nathan Eovaldi pitched 1.1 innings to preserve the lead for closer Kimbrel to end Houston’s season. When they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the World Series, Sale recorded the final three outs.

Dombrowski can effectively use the starters to do the same in Philadelphia without spending prospect capital on bringing a high-priced reliever into the fold. You can see that at work right now. Righthander Taijuan Walker last started on May 30. Since then, he has solely seen mound time out of the bullpen. Down the stretch, you can see him evolving into a setup, especially since lefties bat .224 against him.

While nothing flashy or fancy, Dombrowski offers a simple approach to a common problem for playoff teams. With arms on the roster who will not start postseason games, why not use them, allowing them to throw their best stuff in the middle innings? With Philadelphia holding a half-game lead over the New York Mets, will Dombrowski’s gamble pay off once again?

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