Team to Beat?: Phillies Stumble Out of the Gate in Philadelphia

Being a Philadelphia sports fan is more of an art form than anything else.

 

I've spent 26 years waiting for a team in this town to hoist a trophy. Thinking whimsically of the parade down Broad Street. Looking longingly at those pictures of Tug McGraw, with his hands raised in triumph in front of millions of Phillies fans.

 

Looks like I better get used to it.

 

We got close, once. I was 12 when the Phillies were last in the Series. Like every other Phanatic of my generation, I was officially inducted into the "Philadelphia Sports Fan Club" off the bat of Joe Carter. It was my first taste of true disgust.

And here we are at the start of another baseball season. Another chance, another shot. I was a bit skeptical a few weeks ago when Jimmy Rollins claimed that the Phillies were the team to beat in the NL East...but somehow I was a bit comforted by the preseason confidence.

Anyone who looks at the Phils' roster can see the potential. Between Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Pat Burrell, there's no reason this team can't score runs. 

Most analysts predicted that the Mets would be long-shots for a wild card spot. The Braves are supposed to be rebuilding, as are the Marlins. The Nationals are expected to lose more than 120 games. So I figured that left the Phillies as the class of the East.

Two weeks into the season?

2-8.

2-8!!!

No need to panic though—it's a long season, the Phils reassure us. Charlie Manuel says that things will get better. And hey, GM Pat Gillick told us not to expect a good record this year.

As if that's supposed to make me feel better about paying twenty bucks to watch the Phillies fall apart against a bad Astros team.

Or be any consolation when for the third year in a row we end up two games out of the wild card and kick ourselves for a horribly slow start.

Where does all this leave the fans? Destined for another disappointing season, probably. Most of us are hoping the Phils lose more so Manuel will get fired.

And trying to figure out how Wes Helms, Rod Barajas, and Jason Werth are supposed to help the team.

And wondering why John Lieber is still around if he's obviously not interested in being part of a shaky bullpen.

And guessing how long it will be before Pat "The Bat" Burrell goes into his traditional season-long slump.

That's right—the Phillies are the self-proclaimed "Team to Beat." If you want to beat on someone, book a flight to Philadelphia.