I’m a Phillies fan (or “phan” as I like to think of myself) therefore I am always waiting for the proverbial “other shoe” to drop. Things might go our way for a while, but I know that the inevitable heartbreak is always lurking around the next corner.
The Phillies are the second oldest franchise in baseball history. It was in 1883 that the Phillies began representing the city of Philadelphia’s baseball hopes and dreams. Count ‘em up… that’s 125 years of rich baseball history… except for one tiny little fact. The Phillies history ain’t all that rich… in fact it’s wrought with futility (or phutility if you will).
No professional sports franchise has lost more games than the Philadelphia Phillies. They have managed to lose over 10,000 baseball games. Yep, that’s not a misprint…TEN THOUSAND.
125 years of Phillies baseball and ONE lone world championship. That’s right, just one. There were generations of Phillies fans from the late 1880’s and in the early 1900’s that never lived to see that magical season of 1980.
I’m one of the lucky ones I suppose.
I was born in 1970, and the Phillies swindled me. Growing up in Lancaster County, I naturally gravitated toward the Phillies, and it didn’t hurt that the gravitational pull came just as I was beginning to develop my love for sports. 1976 to 1983 was the greatest era of Phillies baseball…. 5 Division crowns, 2 pennants, and their only World Series Championship.
I was a 10 year old 5th grader on the night of October 21st, 1980. I can still remember exactly where I was and the “lucky” Phillies hat and shirt that I was wearing when Tug McGraw (my favorite player on the team) struck out Willie Wilson with the bases loaded to clinch the World Championship for the Phillies.
Here we are now in 2008, and for the first time in over 25 years the Phillies are going to the playoffs for a second year in a row.
Last year I was just happy to see the Phillies end a 14 year playoff drought, and I get the impression that the team was too.
It seemed like there was so much focus on just getting in to the playoffs that they forgot to show up once they got there. The Colorado Rockies dumped my Phillies in 3 straight games.
I know that I should know better, hasn’t 125 years of phutile history taught me anything?! But I really feel like this might be our year.
The Phillies have a tremendous lineup that features the last two National League most valuable players, and Ryan Howard just might win it again this year. The Phillies can certainly score runs and would you believe that their bullpen has actually been strength? Phillies closer Brad Lidge isn’t being talked about as a legitimate M.V.P. candidate, but he should be.
All “Lights Out” did this year was be absolutely perfect. He was an incredible 41 for 41 in save opportunities and is the owner of the greatest season a Phillies reliever has ever had.
Starting pitching (as always) is a slight question mark. But if either Cole Hammels or Brett Myers can get hot in the playoffs, it would go a long way toward a Pennant.
I think that the American League will be represented by either the Red Sox or the Angels, and on paper the Phillies are overmatched by both of those teams. But Championships aren’t decided on paper; go ask Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
Yes the Phillies have a team that is capable of winning it all; many of the pieces are in place. But call it a, “feeling” or a, “vibe” on my part…. I really think that a parade down Broad Street in Philadelphia just might be coming in November.
I fully realize that I will most likely look back on this blog in about a week and feel like I should go straight to the nearest tattoo parlor to have the word, “sucker” inked on to my forehead. But, I’m a fan, and that’s what truly diehard fans like me that bleed Phillies red do!
