Oct 5, 2024; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) hits a solo home run against the New York Mets in the first inning in game one of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
After the Phillies lost NLDS Game 1 to the New York Mets Saturday, both Nick Castellanos and Trea Turner expressed how difficult it was to pick up the ball through the first seven innings of the game because of the shadows that come with a 4:08 ET start time at Citizens Bank Park.
Both would go on to say that the Phillies need to find a way to battle through the shadows, knowing that Game 2 Sunday will also start at 4:08 ET and have nearly identical conditions. And they probably had a point about the effect that the shadows had over the first seven innings of the game, considering the two teams combined for just three total hits.
Of course, nuance — and actually reading more than the headline — is often lost on social media. The dominant narrative to come out of the comments that Castellanos and Turner made Saturday night, right or wrong, was that two of the biggest stars on the team were making excuses.
In his meeting with the media before Game 2, Kyle Schwarber was asked whether there really is something to the shadows, or if the Phillies just need to adjust.
"Well, it's definitely something we're going to have to adjust to just because it's there," Schwarber said. "I think if you were to talk to any hitter in the big leagues, you'd hope for a game without shadows just because it's a -- when you go from the ball going from different shades, when it's bright, dark, bright, whatever it is, in the batter's eyes it's bright, this is dark, it can make it difficult.
"But at the end of the day also, both teams have got to do it. For us we've got to be able to adjust to it and go from there. We played 4:00 games here before, and for us we've just got to find a way to get it done."
Schwarber had two of the three hits between the Phillies and Mets across the first seven innings of Game 1, including a titanic home run to lead things off in the bottom of the first inning.
KYLE. SCHWARBER. 💣
pic.twitter.com/X4Dqfbi5a3
— On Pattison (@OnPattison) October 5, 2024
Matt Gelb of The Athletic noticed that Schwarber wore sunglasses to hit Saturday, and asked him both why he's so comfortable doing that and if he's advised teammates to follow his lead.
"I mean, it's all personal preference," Schwarber said. "I mean, for me, it started for me back in 2018. I was playing a game in Colorado and it was a day game, it was bright and they were white jerseys. It was hard to see. It felt like the center fielder was standing where the ball was being thrown out of. So I just wanted to make it a little bit darker, and felt like it was good. Ever since then I've just worn sunglasses in the day.
"Yeah, I mean there's — I think it's all personal preference. A lot of guys, if you think about it, a lot it comes down to what eye dominant you are," the slugger added. "If I'm a right-handed hitter and I'm right-eye dominant, and so now I'm looking kind of at the pitcher and then you might be seeing a nosepiece, you might be seeing something else. I'm left-handed but right-eye dominant, so I don't really notice the nosepiece. A lot of guys talk about that."
If the Phillies get to the NLCS, they aren't likely to have to worry about shadows as they'll probably draw later start times. But to get there, they now need to win three of the next four games against the Mets. That includes another 4:08 ET start time in Game 2, with 5:08 ET start times in Games 3 and 4 at Citi Field. The Phillies will have to overcome the shadows, according to Schwarber.
"Ideally, would you want to play in a shadow game? Probably not. But it's what's given to us, and we've gotta attack it."
