LOS ANGELES -- Nick Castellanos said it best.
The Phillies have regressed.
In 2022, they lost in the World Series to the Houston Astros.
The next year they lost in the National League Championship Series to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In 2024, the Phillies lost to the New York Mets in the NL Division Series.
And on Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers eliminated the Phillies in the NLDS when reliever Orion Kerkering's inexplicable throwing error set Philadelphia to a Game 4 defeat.
"We've had four chances to win a World Series and we were closest in 2022 and then we fell shorter, and then we fell shorter, and then we finished the exact same as last year," Castellanos said. "It's unfortunate because I think we have one of the most talented teams in baseball and we did not play up to what we are capable of."
The Phillies won 96 games this season and their second straight NL East title, but none of that mattered as the Phillies dealt with the carnage of Thursday's loss in the cramped visiting Dodger Stadium clubhouse.
"The regular season is not the postseason," Castellanos said. "They're two completely different animals. The season is one thing. Your talent can get you to the playoffs. But once you are in the tournament, it's completely different. And I think, as a whole organization, once we get into the tournament, we've regressed."
The question now is where do the Phillies go from here?
Manager Rob Thomson's future will be debated.
He made several decisions against the Dodgers that did not work out.
"I think it's just part of managing," Thomson said. "And when something doesn't work, you're up for criticism. And I understand that. It's just part of the job."
The latest came in Thursday's seventh inning with the Phillies up 1-0. Thomson elected to intentionally walk struggling Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani to load the bases. Phillies closer Jhoan Duran then walked the next batter Mookie Betts, to force in a run and tie the game.
"That's Duran's first career bases-loaded walk," Thomson said. "You're not expecting that. And his ability to throw strikes, really wasn't expecting that. But it happened."
Thomson was asked about his future.
"It's out of my control. I'm not even thinking about it. I've got 60 people in there that are brokenhearted right now. So I'm thinking about that more so than my job right now."
There are sure to be changes to the roster next season. The Phillies have prominent free agents in Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suarez.
Minor league prospects -- most notably outfielder Justin Crawford and pitcher Andrew Painter -- seemed poised to join the big league roster.
Other veterans could be headed elsewhere. Castellanos became a platoon player in September. Would he play a similar role for a full season in 2026?
"Right now where I am I'm going to get some imaging on my knee," Castellanos said. "Clean that up, see where we're at and then go from there."
Thomson said the Phillies will be good again next season.
"Our farm system is being built up. John (Phillies managing partner John Middleton) is going to spend money. He wants to win. He wants a world champion. There's good years ahead, no doubt."
The question is how many people in the Dodger Stadium visiting clubhouse are going to be with the team to enjoy it.