Stick a Fork in the 2007 Phillies!
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by Christof
Exactly one week agom, the Philadelphia Phillies completed an emotional four game swept of the New York Mets. By doing so, the Phils were only two games behind the Mets in the NL East. Futher, they were only three games out of the Wild Card spot in the National League.
After the Mets series, the Phillies went on a six game road trip. The first stop was to Miami, where the Phils played the Florida Marlins in a three game series. The Marlins are a sub .500 team that are playing out the the 2007 MLB season. Hence, you would expect the Phils to win the series.
But these Phillies are just like the Phillies of yester-year. Instead of winning two against the Fish, the Phillies lost two. During this time, the Mets swept the Atlanta Braves. Hence, hopes of winning the NL East were greatly dimmed.
Speaking of the Braves, they were the Phillies next opponent. The clubs split the first two games of the series. The rubber-match game was played this afternoon.
The Phillies quickly opened a 5-0 lead against Tim Hudson and the Braves. Soon, the lead would grow to 8-2. It was the bottom of the eighth. Things were looking good for the Phillies.
And then Tom Gordon entered the game. Mind you, Gordon has a torn rotator cuff. He is still trying to pitch. The key word in this last sentence is "try".
Gordon was only able to record one out in the bottom of the eighth. He was then replaced by Brett Myers, the Phillies closer. Damage was done, but the Phillies still led 8-6.
Fast forward to the bottom of the ninth. The Phillies was still away 8-6. Myers was able to retire the first two batters he faced. Next thing I know, the bases were loaded.
A routine fly ball was then hit to right field. Chris Roberson, however, did not make a routine catch. Instead, he missed the ball completely. Three runs scored. The Braves win! The Braves win!
I did not turn the Phillies game on until the eighth inning. The sad thing is that I saw the score and looked at who was pitching, and I said to myself "the Phils are going to lose this game." This feeling only increased when the Phillies brought in Myers in the eigth.
Thankfully, the Philadelphia Eagles season is about to begin. This should limit the pain of another Phillies season without playoffs. The last time the Phillies made the playoffs was in 1993, fourteen long years. It will be at least fifteen before this streak ends.
