Playoffs pending, resilient players deserve praise

I’d trade my entire inventory of postseason-less memories for a chance to see this group get there.

The players we’ll see tonight, trotting onto the field for the last regular-season home game, have marshalled every ounce of fortitude to make this postseason dream become a reality. Standing alone as the Wild Card leader, in control of their own destiny, deserves considerable respect, no matter where they stand seven games from now. This was a test of will, and they passed with flying colors.

Dear Phillies: We love everything about you. The roster couldn’t possibly contain more underdogs who’ve successfully beaten the odds to prove they belong. And if you’re not a Cinderella story, rookie or some other unlikely part of the supporting cast, chances are you fall into the category of superhero, humbled by success, undaunted under duress.

After the deadline trade of Bobby Abreu -- the Phillies best run producer over the last 10 years -- the challenged was issued. Who would step up? The answer: All of the above. No star shimmers quite like Ryan Howard, who leads the majors in home runs and RBIs, and is the front-runner for league MVP. Chase Utley piled on a 35-game hitting streak that ended just after the Abreu trade. Obviously drained by the experience, Utley is getting his second wind, and still running out dead-duck double-play balls. Jimmy Rollins has done his part to score runs and hit for extra bases, just as Abreu might have done. No disrespect to his 2005 hitting streak, but this is the best J-Roll we’ve ever seen.

Nobody asked the pitchers to keep grinding through every skipped turn in the rotation. Nobody made a peep when they were asked to endure every hack or head case who didn’t belong. Nobody wasted a second chance. Nobody relented when the bottom of the lineup card read Bell, Fasano, Lieber. Nobody caved when the probable starters read Bernero, Lidle, Fultz. Nobody hung their head, no matter how far under the Mendoza line their batting average plummeted, or how often their name was omitted from the lineup card. Nobody quit when a touch-and-go bullpen blew chance after chance. Nobody was too established to treat every game like their precious first, and nobody was too young to see the big picture. Nobody cashed out when the boss sold the farm.

As a long suffering fan, nobody deserves October baseball more than the players of the 2006 Phillies.

Comments

[gr]

yup. most likeable team in years.

[kdon]

I tend to think people like teams that win, but there is no denying that guys like Rollins/Vic/Nunez/Howard/ are just fun to watch because they seem to really enjoy the game.

I remember early in the season when both Alex Gonzalez and Nunez were struggling, and I couldn't get myself to pull for the former. He just looked sullen, whereas Nunez really seemed to care. Even on Beerleaguer, I think there was far more "dislike" of Gonzalez than Nunez, even though they were both awful.

I'm not sure things like this (likeability) help a team win, but they are quite enjoyable supurfluities.

[enrico]

They are really starting to have some swagger. This is the kind of team who can come out of nowhere to make some noise in the post season. We just need them to keep up this torrid pace for 7 more games ... Then make some magic in October.

Good stuff.

[Steff]

As a long time Philly fan-my first game was at Connie Mack Stadium-I applaud and agree whole-heartedly with your sentiments. I have never cheered this hard nor respected my team this much.

[Labrat]

As a first time poster and long time blog lurker... All I have to say is GO PHILS!!

P.S. Have to agree with the other posters regarding the wife's annoyance with the constant baseball watching.

[ali]

As a girlie phan stuck in boston while all this is going on (sorry Papi, I really don't care about #52) I haven't been so excited about baseball since i scrawled 'Darren Daulton is cool' in my Phils hat when I was 9. Now I just need to get cable for a month so I can watch the games....

[Lake Fred]

On wife annoyance, I was engaged to my wife in 1983 when the Phillies went to the World Series. After the World Series, she said she was glad baseball season was over. When 1984 rolled around, we were married and she was relieved that the Phillies didn't make the playoffs, because that ended the season on time for her. I kept telling her how rare Phillies post season participation was and that it was an event that needed to be savored.

When 1993 rolled around, she did not complain. I guess by then, she had lived through years and years of me telling her that the Phillies lost, that she realized this would not be an every year occurance. I hope she'll be understanding this year.

[Drama Queen]

I've just recently joined PhillisPhans.com, and I must say I enjoy BeerLeaguer way more! They are flat-out malicious on there. Here we have people get ticked off and say some things, but you can't even have an opinion of your own over there, you must agree with them solely.

[Carolina Phan]

Players - without question. The manager and his staff - no way. Hopefully the players' achievements during the second half of the season won't result in having Manual return again in 2007.

[joe]

philliesphan is the howard eskin of the blog world. its *awful*.

[That Dude]

"Now I just need to get cable for a month so I can watch the games...."

There are people without cable? Crazy

[Drama Queen]

It's fricken horrible (philliesphan). They think their the leaders of the free world over there. I have a greater respect for places like BeerLeaguer now...thanks Weitzel!

[Lake Fred]

I work a block from the Superdome and went for a walk around there at lunchtime. This place is hopping. Outside my building the local NBC affiliate, WDSU channel 6, was interviewing Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu. The station has set up a bandstand for music starting at 2:30 PM. I saw two other bigger bandstands (one for the Goo Goo Dolls) on the Superdome parking deck, but the gendarmes wouldn't let me go up there. Coors had their Silver Bullet Train parked on the street. No free beer! Boo!

[Kevin]

"stuck in boston while all this is going on (sorry Papi, I really don't care about #52)"

Amen, sister! I'm in New England as well and a friend of mine went to the game where Big Papi hit #52. My friend was so excited (which was okay). But when I told him that someone on my team had 58 he didn't care. Come on baseball nation - give some respect to our boy and our team, please!

As far as character goes, nothing will beat '93 for me. But this is good. This is real good.

[RickSchuBlues]

Want a little break from the butt-kissing? I have give you an elbow for this line: "Dear Phillies: We love everything about you."

Not to take a page from my man Clout, but that had me laughing to myself pretty good!

[J. Weitzel]

I'd give Burrell a hug on a morning like this. Share the love, man. DQ is sharing the love this morning.

[Drama Queen]

Weitzel- I've been much better recently. I'm starting to mature I believe.

[RickSchuBlues]

Hey - if the Phils win it all, I'll come back to Philly and plant a kiss right on Burrell's ass.

Of course, I'll have to ask him to pay my plane fare afterwards.

I have love for this team, unconditional love, but it's tough love. And with a week still to go, I can't let it out just yet - no way. This is all a bit premature!

[Will]

I watched the dodgers game the other night (Saturday night) and got the LA home broadcast. They were already selling playoff tickets! Karma's a you-know-what and then they lost.

[Drama Queen]

RSB- I've fighting my better judgement, but if I'm going to believe, I'm going all out! Go Phils...to the Wild Card then to the World Series.

[Lake Fred]

DQ, no slight to your site, but I agree with you that Beerleaguer is the best. I think we generally have quality commentors with a bit of humor, folks like RSB, Willard Preacher, Tom Goodman, kdon, and even clout, make for mostly enjoyable reading and opinion. Most of these other Phillies sites are hard on the eyes and hard to use.

My wife peered over my shoulder last night and asked what are you doing at some "Beer" site. I guess she'd prefer a name like "Coca-ColaLeaguer."

[Tony]

philliesphan is the worst. I'd rather talk about the Phillies at marlins.com.

I can honestly say that right now there is not a team in the National League that scares me. That includes the Metropolitans.

[joe]

Tony,

Sometimes its all about peaking at the right time.

The Mets starting pitching is in a shambles, and the Padres have no offense.

The phils look to be in the driver's seat, an odd position to be in.

[Drama Queen]

Lake Fred- my site doesn't even compare to this sites commenting section, which is why BeerLeaguer is so damn good! So, no offense taken.

[Pollyanna Koolaid (actually Unfinished)]

So who's our DH - Conine, Hernandez, Burrell? A rotation of catchers? Personally, I say Conine, tho I think Mr. the Bat will have a surprising NLCS.

[voice of reason]

Everybody in, optimism is at an all-time high on Beerleaguer!!!
Kind of scary, though.

Don't contrarians rake in the cash by selling when market sentiment is at or near the top?

[clout]

RSB: What makes beerleaguer hilarious isn't the unabashed hero worship when the team is going good. It's knowing that the very same posters will revile the players as lower than dogs if they blow it. We've seen both this season from the exact same posters!

[clout]

This bunch is a very likeable team indeed, but to be honest, I'd just as soon head into the playoffs with Rose, McBride, Maddox, Schmidt, Luzinski, Boone, Trillo & Bowa with Greg Gross & Lonnie Smith on the bench, Carlton starting and Tugger closing.