As the official clubhouse DJ, Phillies backup catcher Garrett Stubbs probably needs to add a song to his playlist after what took place at Citizens Bank Park Friday:

That’s because there was a lot of redemption happening at One Citizens Bank Way. Rhys Hoskins having his postseason moment may have been the biggest bit of redemption, especially after he was raked over the coals for the Phillies loss in Game 2 because of his botched fielding play.

But Rhys wasn’t alone.

There was Aaron Nola continuing his “Kiss Ruben Amaro, Jr.’s ass” tour through September and October. There was Nick Castellanos continuing his barrage of singles that have been part of his own, “OK, maybe it wasn’t a stupid question tour.”

And on a smaller scale there was Kyle Schwarber finally getting a hit, snapping the fourth longest hitless streak in MLB playoff history. And there was Connor Brogdon finally throwing a clean inning – low leverage yes – but important nonetheless, because he has the stuff to be a dangerous arm in the bullpen, but the makeup has been what’s come into question.

And there was one more redemption, and it was a huge one. A massively collective one. Dare I say, a “hostile” one?

That’s right. The fans earned some redemption Friday too. After being unwilling to believe in the Phillies all season, with attendance figures coming in far lower than they should have for a team that was in playoff position for much of the final two months of the season, for a team who had one of the best records in the sport since firing Joe Girardi and hiring Rob Thomson as his replacement, the fans still were afraid to buy in. They were doubting Thomases. They needed to see it. They wouldn’t believe it until it was happening. And somehow, after a terrible loss to Atlanta to finish the season at home on September 25, the Phillies went 7-7 in 14 games over the next 19 days before coming home to the largest sellout since Opening Day, 2015.

A .500 record was good enough because it included clinching a playoff berth in Houston against maybe the best team in baseball, two wins in the brand new Wild Card round in St. Louis, evicting a monkey who had been squatting on their backs for the past 11 years, and a win in Atlanta in the first game of the Division series.

And they came, en masse, and brought that notorious Red October energy to the ballpark. They got to Braves starter Spencer Strider, and he had to be lifted after getting only seven outs. They derided Marcel Ozuna by constantly chanting “D-U-I” to the Braves DH whose had his run-ins with the law. They had an ongoing back and forth with Braves star outfielder Ronald Acuna, but more than anything they were loud, they were raucous, they were waving their red rally towels, and they were supporting the hell out of the Phillies.

And now, because of all of these redeemed folk, the Phillies are on the brink of their first NLCS berth since 2010 and their 10th overall, all coming in the last 46 years.

Let’s look at the redeemed, and see if they can’t come together to pull off an unexpected upset and make the Phillies the Cinderella darling of the MLB postseason.

Rhys Hoskins

We all know what happened Wednesday. Hoskins botched a ground ball that is an easy play for most professional first basemen, allowing the first run to score in a 0-0 pitcher’s duel, and the Braves tacked on two more to get a 3-0 lead. Hoskins wasn’t charged with an error (although he should have been). The Phillies didn’t score a run. Tis no matter. In the eyes of the beholden Phillies fans, all of this negative energy came from Hoskins misplaying that ball that should have ended the inning.

During pre-game introductions, he received the most lukewarm reception of any starter, even getting a modicum of boos from the sellout crowd. But it started to turn ugly when he struck out in the first inning and the chorus of boos were raining down on him.

So, when Braves manager Brian Snitker decided to intentionally walk Kyle Schwarber in the third inning to set up a double play, Hoskins had that moment that will live in franchise lore forever.

For a guy who has been here for so many close calls and so many collapses. A guy who tried to personally lift the team last year before a season-ending injury thwarted the Phillies chances. And, at the same time, a guy who is incredibly streaky and is sub par defensively and often has his mistakes thrust into the spotlight, Hoskins needed this moment, and he got it. This was Kim Batiste’s walk-off single. This was Shane Victorino’s grand slam. This was Matt Stairs ripping one into the night. This was Rollins doing it to Broxton again.

And who knows, maybe when this fairy tale story ends, maybe it’ll be a lot more. After all, Hoskins is a home grown talent who was part of a master plan many moons ago for a Phillies resurgence into contention.

But for Hoskins, it was his time.

Just as an aside, how cool is it that Hoskins is wearing a Jose Alvarado t-shirt that reads “Strike One, Strike Two, and good luck.” After all, Alvarado has had his own redemption with the Phillies this year, becoming the most reliable arm in the bullpen after being an abject disaster in the season’s first two months.

Aaron Nola

The Phillies ace, and yes he is an ace, has now allowed earned runs in just one of his last 35 innings pitched this season. That includes three starts against Atlanta, one against Houston, one against St. Louis and one against the Chicago Cubs.

He threw 6+ innings Friday, allowing just five hits, and striking out six. He did yield one unearned run after Hoskins dropped what would have been an inning-ending double play, but has now gone three straight starts without allowing an earned run.

In fact, if you can forget about the worst start in Nola’s career when he gave up eight runs in just four innings in Arizona back in August, aside from that in his last 10 starts he’s 5-2 with a 1.64 ERA.

Nola’s redemption, like Hoskins, stems from being a homegrown product, but even more than that, Nola has been labeled and saddled with narratives that he can’t pitch in big games or at the end of a season.

What he’s doing, and continuing to do, is practically otherworldly.

https://twitter.com/BrodesMedia/status/1581053334869286912

He is the first pitcher since Corey Kluber in 2016 to throw at least six inning per start and not allow an earned run in his first two postseason starts.

His 11 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings to start his postseason career is a Phillies record.

In his last seven games against winning teams (all playoff teams) Nola has a 1.99 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP, striking out 54 batters while only walking nine.

Screw the narrative. He’s that good.

Kyle Schwarber

Schwarber finally got a hit after starting the playoffs 0-17 for the Phillies. His seventh inning single ended a streak of 35 consecutive postseason plate appearances without a hit.

But Schwarber continues to be an emotional leader of this team. He is constantly pumping up the bench, and for the first time, the fans too.

It wasn’t a big contribution, but he did a routine similar to what Harper usually does with the fans in right field, out in left.

And his hit stopped him from reaching an ignominious record:

Connor Brogdon

This might be the smallest bit of redemption, but it’s one nonetheless.

Brogdon was lights out in the Phillies bullpen through August 20. From that point forward though, he’s been inconsistent at best, flat out terrible at worst, and completely unreliable.

Still, getting an inning, even in mop up duty, and having it be a clean 1-2-3., is huge for Brogdon’s psyche, as the Phillies could need his big arm, deceptive delivery and overall “stuff” later on this postseason, so getting him right now, while you can, is crucial.

https://twitter.com/BrodesMedia/status/1581071758395789319

Phillies Fans

What can you say? When the team needed the fans he most, they were there, and paid the Phillies back in kind for bringing playoff baseball back to Citizens Bank Park. They were #RedOctober

Oh and finally there is this. Just Rhys and Bryce making predictions…

Thing is, it’s starting to feel like we should believe them.