Cristopher Sanchez finishes second in NL Cy Young voting, Rob Thomson places third in Manager of the Year race. Are the Philadelphia Phillies destined to always be close but never champions?

Connor Thomas breaks down the painful pattern emerging for the Phillies—second-place Cy Young finishers in three of the last five seasons, consistently competitive but falling short when it matters most. The discussion covers Sanchez's remarkable evolution from minor league swing man to Cy Young runner-up, whether fans underrate Thomson despite his regular season success, and why his postseason struggles raise questions about the team's direction. Key analysis includes free agent starter Michael King's fit and durability concerns, plus the right-handed pitcher market dynamics that signal Ranger Suarez's likely departure from Philadelphia.

Will the Phillies take one step back to move two steps forward, or are they closer to a championship than frustrated fans believe?

0:00 Intro

0:31 Cristopher Sanchez finishes second in Cy Young voting

3:35 Paul Skeens deserved unanimous Cy Young win

6:41 Phillies always good but never good enough

10:46 Rob Thomson finishes third in Manager voting

15:22 Do we underrate Rob Thomson as manager

19:58 Learning from Nick Sirianni's coaching success

23:31 Michael King as potential free agent target

27:37 Right-handed starter market hurts Ranger Suarez chances

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