The last few years the Phillies have been utter disappointments in the playoffs, early exist, unceremonious exits, and elimination from hated rivals. The Phillies were supposed to clinch the playoffs in early September, but instead fucked around and almost lost their playoff spot. Duran couldn’t last three innings and blew game one. In game two Bohm threw the ball to second when he should’ve thrown to first. Bryce Harper lost a ball in the sun and dropped it. But both Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm put their bats where their gloves weren’t and gave the Phillies one more chance to save their season.
Have the Phillies been annoying this year? Of course, at times they’ve been excruciating to watch and borderline indefensible to root for. Mistakes were made last offseason, but Arraez and Macfarlane were solid additions at the deadline. Was the team stupid to give Thomson another offseason and then proved to be stupid when they had to fire him before May? Of course, but despite Mattingly’s flaws it’s been a breath of fresh air to have a manager with some life in him.
All Philadelphia sports teams play particularly frustrating brands and styles of the sports they play. The Phillies are boom or bust, homerun and star pitcher dependent. The Sixers haven’t been to the finals since I was 6 years old and the Eagles refuse to win a game against an easy opponent by more than 7.
That all being said, there is no reward for being right and there has never been a prize for the world’s angriest fan. It is easy to be mad at the Phillies for how they are, but right now anyone who feels anything besides optimism and excitement for tonight’s game 3 against the Braves is a fool. We do not count chickens before they hatch in Philadelphia. We wait, we watch, and we hope.
There is far too much doom and gloom on 94.1 and 97.5, pessimism is running rampant in the City of Brotherly Love. Today is the day to forget about last year, forget about last week, and forget about Tuesday. If worst comes to worst you can be mad tomorrow, but do not let the prospect of being disappointed affect your opportunity to celebrate. You can be mad later.
It is October 1st, and Red October is amongst us.
Call your loved ones, put on some red, and prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for an elimination game between the Braves and Phillies tonight at 8pm.
Leave a Reply