So once again the Phillies have sealed their ticket to return to the playoffs for the 5th consecutive year and this fan couldn't be happier. For someone who has only been watching baseball since 2007, this is meaningful for me.
I have been told about all of the years that the Phillies did not have success but having only really been a baseball and sports fan in general since 2007, I can't imagine that.
Now, I'm not going to bore you with how I got into sports but let me tell you this, I am not a bandwagon fan. I did not just jump onto the playoff bandwagon. I just happened to start watching at the right time I suppose. The 2007 playoffs against the Rockies was really the first time I started watching sports and at that point I knew almost nothing about baseball.
Actually, there were only really two things I knew.
1. The Phillies were the team from Philadelphia and therefore the team I was supposed to cheer.
2. Chase Utley was hot. Correction: is hot.
That was really enough for me. So as I sat and watched the game I had to ask my brother absolutely everything. I played a little softball so I knew stuff like hits, outs, innings and the basics but some of the stuff confused me.
Well even though the Phillies lost, 2007 began a love affair between me and the team with the red pinstripes. Long story short, ever since then I have become attached to this team. Each year I seem to watch it more religiously, get more paraphernalia and become more dedicated to keeping track of stats or writing about the team. I have even since joined various Facebook chat groups to talk about the Phillies with other passionate fans (shout out to the Real Philly Phans, best group out there).
Some call it obsession but me, I call it fandom. I think all true fans are obsessed a little so when people tell me I'm obsessed with the Phillies I take it as a compliment.
So now that I did end up boring you with my personal story, I'm going to get back to my point of this blog.
The Phillies have seen so much success since 2007 gradually climbing the ladder to where they are now. 2008 saw the Phils win the World Series and 2009 saw them go back to the Fall Classic, only to lose to the Yankees.
With all of the continued success the Phillies have been blessed with, players are wanting to come to Philadelphia more than ever before. That is part of the reason we were able to bring pitchers like Roy Oswalt, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee to Philly. Sure Lee was the only guy to come as a free agent but still the success has helped to build the farm system that allowed the Phillies to make such trades.
Right now in 2011, the Phillies have acquired and grown the perfect storm of talent. Three excellent pitchers including the kid Cole Hamels, who came up through the Phils system are poised and positioned to take center stage in this year's postseason. The offensive core of Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard has since been boosted with guys like Raul Ibanez, Hunter Pence and John Mayberry Jr., all of whom are looking to get their own World Series ring like the core did in '08. This Phillies team exemplifies talent, grit, tenacity, swagger, heart, ability, teamwork, leadership, perseverance and determination. They have all of the pieces to go all the way and today they took the first step.
Although they only clinched the wild card today they still lowered their magic number to clinch the division to four. They are on pace to win 100 games and to take the best record in all of baseball.
A couple notable facts about today's clinch.
The Phillies clinched a playoff spot in 146 games. With 16 games left to be played, this is the quickest in franchise history that the Phillies have clinched a playoff spot. Now that playoffs are locked up, I feel the resting of starters in this team's future.
Another kind of interesting fact is that Halladay was once again on the mound for a playoff clinch. Last year it was to clinch the NL East and this year it was at the worst, the wild card. Also, Halladay, who is currently in a tight Cy Young race, threw his first shut out of the season in this game. The Phillies having struggled in this series against the Astros looked to Halladay and he stepped it up when he had to.
I know the Phillies didn't really celebrate this playoff clinch because after all they expected nothing less going into this season. I think they should have. It may just be the playoffs but out of 30 teams, they are the first to lock in their playoff spot. They currently stand alone in teams to make it and when all is said and done, NL East crown or not, the Phillies will be one of only eight teams to play into October.
So, boys I'm going to break out the champagne for you. I don't care that it is only the wild card because playoffs are playoffs and this team deserves to celebrate the hard work and the great season they are currently in the process of completing.
I'll have my goggles on and start popping corks tonight and when the Phils clinch the East in a few days, I'll just keep that party going.
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