For the Philadelphia Phillies, October is starting to feel like a Taylor Swift album—full of heartbreak, regrets, and of what-ifs on repeat. Once again, their postseason dreams are shattered. Orion Kerkering’s wild throw home sealed the Dodgers’ win in Game 4 of the NLDS. Time has passed, but the pain of the loss still stings. Yet, the real bite came after the game, when a player publicly called out the team.

Matt Strahm, their $15 million star, went on to publicly scrutinize the team’s prep, saying that the Phillies did not do PFP, mentioning the pitchers’ fielding practice. His comment drew large attention, given how Kerkering’s error had stemmed from a defensive play on the mound.

However, the Phillies front office challenged this claim. When talking to the media, President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski directly pushed back on Strahm’s comments. “Well, we did plenty… And actually, as it turns out, we did do PFP during the postseason. He (Strahm) didn’t do them, but we did them.”

This is something even Rob Thomson mentioned. He also noted that it is impossible to simulate the playoff pressure, especially with thousands of fans screaming. The team ran through the situational fielding drills, the pitching coverage, and all the other defensive plays that needed to be done before the series with the Dodgers.

As for what PFP means, it is pitcher fielding practice—a routine that covers the bunts, the ground balls, the pick-offs, and other things like covering home or backing up bases. It is basically designed to prep the pitchers for the very moment that unfolded in that fateful 11th inning.

This is when Kerkering’s error came after a ground ball hit off his glove. And then instead of going to first, he threw over J.T. Realmuto’s head, allowing Hyeseong Kim to score the winning run, which was IT for the Phillies.

What’s frustrating is that this is the fourth straight time the Philadelphia Phillies are falling short, including the 2022 WS loss and last year’s NLDS loss to the New York Mets.

Now, the cracks seem to be not just in the games but also in the organization. And it’s not just one player, who might not be under Dave’s radar, to bid goodbye to the org!

Dave Dombrowski on Nick Castellanos’ future with the Philadelphia Phillies 

The Phillies’ outfield this season honestly looked like a revolving door. Firstly, it all seemed a mess, but then they found the rhythm, yet that was not without drama.

Brandon Marsh went from being an eyesore to a dominant player. Harrison Bader took over in center field and became an unexpected star. Max Kepler started slow for sure, but he found himself. And then there is Nick Castellanos, who once sure was a staple, is now the talk of the town, with trade rumors and clubhouse tension.

Castellanos has been frustrated over his reduced playing time, and it’s no secret. But his stats have been concerning.

He has hit just .250 with a .294 OBP, .400 slugging, and a .694 OPS this season, all career lows with the Phillies. And here is the deal: He is entering the final year of his $100 million contract with $20 million owed in 2026. And frankly, his production and his paycheck just don’t match.

Hence, when asked about his future with the Phillies, Dave Dombrowski said, “We’ll see what happens.” Four words, but they surely don’t spark confidence that Castellanos will hang in white and red next season. Not a sure-shot trade confirmation, but it sure is a sign. Plus, it’s not just his stats that are concerning.

Castellanos has also criticized the Phillies fans after the team dropped the first two NLDS games to the Dodgers. “When the game is going good, it’s wind at our back, but when the game is not going good, it’s wind in our face.”

This did not sit well with Philadelphia. So, when you combine that displeasure with poor gameplay, it’s easy to see why those four words came off Dombrowski, too.

Now, only time will say what awaits Casty and the Phillies…