Dave Dombrowski is still haunted by last year’s National League Championship Series.
The Phillies president of baseball operations thought his club was destined for back-to-back World Series appearances after taking a 3-2 lead in the series against the 84-win Diamondbacks. But then came the collapse — two losses at Citizens Bank Park, Games 6 and 7 slipping away, along with the pennant.
“It’ll linger for the rest of my life,” Dombrowski said. “I’ve been part of other series where I felt we should’ve won, and this one is right up there. We just didn’t get it done. I told the guys last year, ‘You’ll remember this the rest of your lives.’”
Dombrowski shared this during a session with reporters at the Phillies’ workout day on Tuesday, reflecting on both the pain of missed opportunities and the randomness of October baseball.
Philadelphia earned the No. 2 seed in the National League and awaits the winner of the Mets-Brewers Wild Card Series. The NLDS begins Saturday at Citizens Bank Park with first pitch set for 4:08pm.
The sting of 2023 isn’t unique in Dombrowski’s career. Since becoming the Expos’ general manager in 1988 at age 31, he’s reached the World Series five times with four franchises, winning in 1997 with the Marlins and 2018 with the Red Sox. But he’s seen teams fall short, too — the Tigers in 2006 and 2012, the Red Sox before their historic 2004 run, and, of course, the Phillies last season.
“It shows how tough this game is,' Dombrowski said. "Sometimes the best teams don’t win. That’s why, when you do win, it feels even better.”
The 2024 Phillies, with three postseason appearances, an NL pennant, and now an NL East crown, are in the midst of one of the franchise’s great eras. But in baseball’s unpredictable postseason, success is never guaranteed. Dombrowski knows that better than anyone.
“Unfortunately, that’s just the way it is,” he said. “You do everything right, you prepare, but once the games start, anything can happen.”
This week, the Phillies are doing everything to stay sharp during the five-day layoff. The players rested Monday, hit the field Tuesday, and will play an intrasquad game on Wednesday. The club plans to pump in crowd noise, blast walk-up music, and simulate a game atmosphere to keep the intensity high.
Dombrowski emphasized that intensity to the team on Tuesday.
“I really think the intensity level aspect, the emphasis of it, is extremely important,” he noted at one point. “The constant message is, you really need to work with intensity. You can’t just show up. And everybody needs to know that. And I think the players, knowing them, realize they need to do that.”
It’s not an official event, but Wednesday’s intrasquad game at Citizens Bank Park is the Phillies’ answer to the long layoff. A draft was held for teams, and though the game won’t be open to media or fans, Dombrowski hinted at a little friendly competition.
“There’s a wager on the game,” Dombrowski said with a smile. “I don’t know the details, but there’s a lot of internal betting.”
Though the five-day break may help rest the Phillies, Dombrowski is wary of the potential for rust. The layoff, combined with the Phillies’ pedestrian 40-38 record after July 1, poses a challenge for maintaining momentum. It’s something Dombrowski stressed when discussing the importance of keeping intensity high.
“I really think the emphasis on intensity is crucial,” he said. “It’s not just about playing the games — it’s about playing them with purpose.”
As they prepare for the NLDS, Dombrowski and the Phillies know the stakes. They’re ready, but in October baseball, nothing is guaranteed.
