It Was Nice to Meet You, October
2-1. There’s a score that nobody anticipated. Both the Phils and the Colorado Rockies were expected to put up football scores throughout the series. But once again the Phils’ bats died. Gone. Vanished. Ka-poof. The team’s vaunted offense was completely shut down by a Rockies pitcher named “Ubaldo” when they needed it most. Jaime Moyer did everything his AARP arm could do, giving up one run against a Rockies lineup that could easily have gotten 450-foot home runs from its first seven batters. J.C. Romero, lights-out hero for most of September, gave up the doink that did the Fightin’s in.
Still, this was a completely memorable season. Once again the Phillies were corpses in April. Once again they flirted with the wild card only to fall when it seemingly mattered most. But then they won. And won. And won. And then, out of nowhere, they were handed the National League East championship that the Mets had seemingly locked up in June.
This team is young. Now this team is also playoff-baptized. The same gaping holes exist that were there in the beginning of the year. One of the biggest: “ace” Cole Hamels. His stuff is there, obviously, but he’s also teetering on the edge of becoming clubhouse crapface if he doesn’t ditch the me-first bitching. But, hopefully, all needs will be addressed and the Phillies will once again be the team to beat come January. As defending National League East champions, they most certainly are.
Meanwhile, let’s hold off on that extension for Cholly right now. Right now, let’s just think good thoughts.
This Phillies Team Will Never Play Together Again [Daily News]
Invisble Phillies Swept by Rockies [Beerleaguer]
