In an unexpected turn of events, the Philadelphia Phillies have experienced a major setback. Their most consistent reliever, as the New York Times put it, Jose Alvarado, who was one of the reasons behind their World Series aspirations, has been suspended for 80 games following a PED scandal. More concerning was that the incident happened a day prior to their seven-game trip against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Now that the news has become the talk of the town, Alvarado’s surprising reaction to his teammates following the suspension has perplexed the fans all over. What might be the reason behind that?

Alvarado was doing quite well in the 2025 season, as he went 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA, 20 G, 20.0 IP and made 25 strikeouts at a 1.200 WHIP. He has been one of the most successful closers this year; however, with his ban due to testing positive for a banned substance, exogenous testosterone, the Phillies have landed in a big problem. His suspension is immediate and without pay. Should the Phillies reach the postseason, Alvarado will not be eligible to participate. But what’s more concerning is Alvarado’s response to it, which has literally shocked the fans.

As per a post made by DrunkPhilsFans, “It has been reported that when Alvarado found out he was being suspended, he said nothing to teammates and just cleared his locker and left Philly. That is a weasel move if correct. #DPF #Phillies.” He might be upset about being suspended. But this response, if true, was surprising. 

Even though the circumstances around them have evolved, the Philadelphia Phillies’ objective remains unchanged: to win the World Series, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2008. And for that, Phillies manager Rob Thomson does not want other relievers to alter their strategy in light of Jose Alvarado’s absence.

Stressing the incident, Thomson said, “Just do your thing and try not to do more than who you are, because I truly believe we have enough stuff in our pen. We do. Just don’t try to do too much. Throw strikes. Just be yourselves, and we’ll get it done.”

The fact that Alvarado violated MLB’s drug policy not only resulted in his suspension at a crucial time for the Phillies, but it has now also raised many concerns about the dynamics of the team’s bullpen going forward. Amid the unfolding drama, MLB analyst John Kruk didn’t hold back from saying, “If I were a teammate of Jose Alvarado, I would consider it a very selfish move on his part. If I’m a player on his team right now, I don’t think I’d be really happy with him.”

He’s got a point, though. Alvarado’s absence must have made the Philadelphia Phillies even more desperate to acquire a reliever to bolster the bullpen, as they were already looking to add one. In addition, Alvarado’s response has ignited social media as fans’ differing opinions are flooding in.

Jose Alvarado’s reaction sparks outrage among the fans on social media

As the news reverberated through social media, fans came up with different reactions. One of the fans, visibly frustrated with the scenario, commented, “If true, Alvarado has thrown his last pitch for the Phillies.” That may have been a premature prediction, but Jose Alvarado’s suspension has undoubtedly affected the entire organization. Even though no one has commented on it yet, the harm has been done, and the Phillies might have to pay a high price and possibly lose him in the future.

Pointed out at the DrunkPhilsFans post, a comment came: “If and that’s a big IF, this is true, Jose Alvarado’s reputation and respect just plummeted big time in that locker room.” That was a direct dig at Alvarado. But then came a little bit of support for him: “Shame is a brutal emotion. Go easy on him,” another fan wrote. The fan was not justifying Alvarado’s mistake, but he appeared to be somewhat sympathetic.

It’s the embarrassment Alvarado might be experiencing for disappointing his team and the supporters worldwide. He has been playing in the league for a while and has been performing admirably. After being caught for using performance-enhancing drugs, he might be looking to avoid any sort of argument with his teammates and that’s probably the reason why without uttering a word, he just left the premises.

A sensible reaction came from another X user, who echoed a similar statement, writing, “If true, I see two sides of this. On one side, he didn’t want to face the backlash the team would/should give him. The other, he didn’t want the team to feel the embarrassment of having him around and saved the fights and arguments before they began.”

The final comment came from a fan who wanted all the drama to stop. “Oh no, please don’t tell me the media is starting with ‘locker room drama” for the Phillies now, too.”

It will be interesting to see how the Phillies manage their bullpen in the absence of Alvarado. As they navigate their difficulties, the upcoming games will put their patience and true mettle to test.