The Phillies hit their midpoint with more questions than answers. A 47-34 record after Thursday’s loss could look solid on paper; however, a brutal sweep in Houston—scoring just one run in 27 innings—highlighted deeper issues brewing beneath the surface. The offense was lifeless, and the timing could not have been worse. It was not just the fans; frustration also began to bubble up inside the team.

That frustration reached a new level as the team returned from the Astros visibly deflated. While the standings say a competitive team, the environment tells a distinctive story. However, the issues came into focus when Trea Turner broke the silence. “I don’t think we’ve played our best baseball,” the star said—a comment that was less criticism and more a mirror held up to the Phillies, forcing everyone to take notice, including the man at the helm: Rob Thomson.

The Phillies’ manager did not go off with a fiery speech; however, Thomson’s message landed just as hard. “We just got to get back to basics. Get good pitches to hit, stay in the zone,” he said. In short statements, the manager diagnosed the deeper issue: the stars are pressing too hard and drifting away from what made them dangerous in the first place.

This challenge is backed by cold data. At the midpoint, the team is on pace for just 163 home runs, which is a steep dip from the 220 the Phillies hit in 2023. The offense that once thrived on power has sputtered. Kyle Schwarber remains the lone slugger with double-digit home runs at 24. Turner and Bryce Harper, both stuck at nine, are not delivering at the clip fans and coaches have come to expect.

“I think we definitely have more of that in there,” said Turner, who also has nine. “We’ll find ways to do it. I think it’s pretty obvious to us. We all want you know that OPS to be higher and slug to be higher and we do that pretty quickly with homers.”

To be fair, Harper’s absence through most of June has affected the team. However, Thomson is not pointing fingers and listing excuses. The manager’s focus is on approach, execution, and getting this lineup back to what it does best. That is specifically urgent now, with tough series against Atlanta, San Diego, the Reds, and the Giants looming large. Turner’s admission set the tone, Thomson’s reaction defined the standard, and the next few weeks will highlight whether the message truly hit home.

While Rob Thomson has taken charge inside the team, a distinctive storyline is playing out on the national stage.

Phillies snubbed from All-Star finalists as fan support vanishes

Despite having a powerful midseason record, not a single Phillies star made the list of All-Star Game finalists for 2025. It is the kind of league-wide snub that would normally cause an uproar. However, this time, it has mostly been met with a shrug. Harper, Schwarber, and Turner, all of whom were chosen last season, did not get enough fan votes to advance. The closest was J.T. Realmuto, who finished third among catchers with 744,698 votes.

It’s not that they are not deserving. Schwarber and Turner have solid numbers, and Harper’s leadership remains central to the team. However, the All-Star voting process is a popularity contest, and this season, the team’s stars just did not have the popularity push behind them. Instead, the finalist list is stacked with other teams like, Dodgers, Yankees, and other big-name brands. The transformation speaks volumes about national perception and fan engagement.

Interestingly, some fans took the snub as a blessing in disguise. One said, “Waste of time. Don’t want anyone in the All-Star game or HR Derby. These guys need to use the break to figure out how to hit.” This sentiment captures a growing priority: rest, reset, and return powerfully. After a frustrating offensive stretch, some think skipping the All-Star festivities could actually benefit the team in the long run.

The complete shutout is still jarring, specifically for a team with high postseason hopes. However, it could be that this is not related to individual awards. Could it be that this team, guided by Thomson’s no-nonsense approach, is more focused on what happens after July?

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