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SPORTS COMPLEX: Doctoberfest
The Web site for the award-winning alternative weekly, the Philadelphia City Paper.
SPORTS COMPLEX: Doctoberfest
Editor's note: This is the time of year that CP sports columnist E. James Beale lives for. He'll be posting maniacally on the Clog about the Phils' World Series run from now until the parade. Enjoy.
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Yesterday, on the subway down to Citizen's Bank Park, I ran into a friend who splits a season ticket package with eight of his friends. This group had managed to procure one set of playoff tickets for them all, and as the most equitable solution they could think of, had agreed to have a draft to determine who among them should go to what game.
âThe first-pick guy couldn't go during the World Seriesâ my friend explained, âso he got stuck with this weekend.â The second in line snatched Game 6 of the Fall Classic, and the third locked up the first. All of this left our friend, picking forth, game tickets to Game 2 of the 2010 World Series.
âI wanted to see them close it out,â he deadpanned, shrugging. âOh well.â
I never figured out which unfortunate soul was saddled with seeing the first no-hitter in National League playoff history, and I doubt they were cursing their luck when the single finest righthander ever to pitch in Philadelphia was no-noing a team that led the NL in average (.272), homers (188) and runs (790). Still, the fact that the second season's kickoff was relegated to a second-tier event may have had as much say about the state of Philadelphia baseball as anything he witnessed on the field. We grew up in a town that was shocked when the Phils were competitive, and all of a sudden we're living in one where parades are all but assumed.
Four years ago, when Charlie Manuel trotted Jimmy, Shane, Chase and Ryan out for their first of four (plus?) playoff runs as the Phils' 1-4 hitters, fans felt like they had won their World Series already (7 in 17, for those with memories forged in the Twitter generation (@ejamesbeale). The next year, our city put the challenge on the shoulders of the fans, turning playoff games into bunkers as they tried to rattle opposing pitchers, and leaving the stadium more relieved than elated. Even last year, with a WFC in the pocket, the playoff run was less about flexing muscles and more about the hope our city wasn't a fluke, but rather belonged in the winners' circle. This year? Fans are literally planning trips to American League cities they believe might host games 3-4-5 of the Championship round.
In a sports town long marked — heartbreakingly and accurately — as doomed to failure, the 2010 Phils have somehow instilled in our city the sincere belief that the NLDS is just the unavoidable scenic-route drive to the inevitable championship.
Part of that is justified: The Phils' Game 1 starter — the guy who just pitched the best playoff game in the history of the senior circuit — was their third-best starter in the second half (third-best ERA, WHIP and BAA after the All Star break). Thanks to Doctober, Oswalt, Cole âRoyâ Hamels, and a lineup wherein you could win the argument that their current worst-hitting regular has an MVP on his mantle, they should be considered the favorites for the Commissioner's Trophy. But still ⦠when Polanco missed the game with a sore back, fans weren't worried, they joked that their team was basically telling the world they're so good that they can rest players in the playoffs. Pregame conversation fodder used to be the opposing starters' off-speed stuff, now it's in which city the Phils will play games 3, 4, and 5 of the World Series. Philadelphia has a swagger it hasn't seen since Ben Franklin was sleeping with half of France.
Five years ago, this confidence might be a cause of worry. Today? Too busy planning that parade.
Game notes on their way â¦
[...] more here: SPORTS COMPLEX: Doctoberfest :: The Clog :: Blog Archive :: Staff … Categories: Uncategorized tags: beale, clog, james-beale, phils, the-time, time, world, [...]
about time we saw more of beal again, smart writer. (dont be TOO smart though, we may be a few years into this winning thing but still into the thrill)
[...] this article: SPORTS COMPLEX: Doctoberfest :: The Clog :: Blog Archive :: Staff … Tags: beale, clog, maniacally-on-the, run-from, the-parade-, the-time, time, until-the-parade, [...]
I attended my first Phils game circa 1959 at my Dad's side - night game, dazzled by the emerald field under the lights of Connie Mack. They played the Reds that night. Vada Pinson played center. NOBODY in my world was named Vada or Pinson or could run like that ... this was a fantastic new world. I've been along for the ride since - and I have never seen anything like this. Sure we were good in the late 70's - and sure we won a World Series - but the "Machines" and the "Dynasties" were out of town phenomenon. So this IS fun. For me, yet another fantastic new world. Go Phils
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