Sportswriters do this thing where they will tell you they are not fans of the teams they cover. In many cases, it’s probably true.

Maybe they weren’t a fan of the team growing up. That makes it easy. Even if they were, the daily grind and some of the bullshit that comes along with the job probably helps remove emotion and sentimentality from the equation. Some will reference the pillars of journalism, things like objectivity, while wearing their fair-and-balanced indifference as a badge of duty.

There are plenty of writers in this market who grew up backing Philadelphia sports teams, got jobs in and around the city, and forever ditched their allegiances in the name of good journalism. Some of them are probably lying, but I can’t really speak to that. What I can speak to is my own experience.

I grew up loving the Phillies. I was eight years old during the 1993 run. I remember almost everything about that season, including a torrid start that had me begging my parents to buy PRISM. By late May, they finally budged. The first night we had it, the Phillies played the Expos. Pete Incaviglia hit a grand slam. I always loved my parents for it.

When the Phillies lost to the Blue Jays in Game 6 of the World Series that fall, I was inconsolable. My baseball card collection declined by one that night. I ripped up a Mitch Williams card and made my dad throw it in the fireplace, which, in hindsight, was probably a bit dramatic.

Fast forward 29 Octobers later, and here I was at Citizens Bank Park, covering the Phillies as they won the National League pennant. The significance of the occasion wasn’t lost upon me.

Just before the on-field trophy presentation, I stood on the infield dirt and did a quick 360 to take in the indescribable energy of more than 45,000 people going crazy over the same baseball team I have always loved.

I didn’t clap yesterday. I didn’t cheer. There are protocols to follow and doing such things would be considered unprofessional, but I did make sure to fully take in all of the emotions throughout the stadium during the immediate moments following the game. I owed it to the eight-year-old boy in me to do that.

3 Other Day After Thoughts

I Do Believe What I Just Saw

So much has been said and written about Bryce Harper in the aftermath of his go-ahead two-run homer that helped lift the Phillies to their Game 5 win. Just as it cleared the fence, I uttered the famous Jack Buck “I don’t believe what I just saw” line.

But the more I think about it, the more believable the moment becomes.

Harper is different. He always has been. He was the man, even as a boy. From the day he showed up on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 16 years old, the industry pegged him as the next face of baseball, a transcendent player that demanded our attention. He quickly lived up the hype by putting up prolific numbers and filling up his trophy case. The only thing missing from the resume was a big postseason moment, and, well that box has now been checked.

For a player of his stature to so consistently dominate in high stakes games and then rise to the occasion the way he did, all with a trip to the World Series on the line, is the stuff of which legends are made. There are, at best, a handful of players on the planet who are capable of playing at the level Harper is playing at right now, and that might be a generous assessment.

It was a remarkable moment from a remarkable player. Believable, too.

A Great Call

Phillies fans get spoiled with Scott Franzke. Big moment, gotta find the Franzke call. It’s like a reflex at this point.

Predictably, one of the greatest moments in Phillies history inspired one of the greatest radio calls in team history.

But don’t overlook the excellent job done by Joe Davis on the FOX broadcast.

“Harper! The swing of his life!”

Like I wrote above, baseball has tracked Harper’s every move since he was a kid. He has always been great, but this was a swing that validated all of the early fascination, all of the hype. This is what greatness looks like, and Davis’ call — and ensuing silence to let the moment speak for itself– provided the perfect narration for the moment.

What They Do Best

Back in early August, the Phillies rallied past Sandy Alcantara and the Marlins late to win for the 12th time in 13 games. Here’s what I wrote at the time:

There are probably plenty of thoughtful, nuanced ways and words to describe this team right now. I am not thoughtful, nor am I nuanced, so the best way I can describe the Phillies? They are tough as shit.

 

Ironically, the headline I had for that story was “This Phillies Team Has Some Serious Balls,” but I scrapped it last minute. I was feeling classy that day. Turns out that I probably should’ve stuck with it.

Either way, my general thesis was tested during a difficult September, but it ultimately proved correct. Not to diminish the obvious talent on this team, but when it’s all said and done, I think words like “toughness” and “resilience” will be the first ones used to describe the 2022 Phillies.

Those qualities were on full display throughout the weekend:

  • Rhys Hoskins had a roller coaster of a weekend. He went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and a brutal error on Friday night. Then, all he did was bounce back with three huge legacy-defining home runs that helped secure a World Series date with the Astros.
  • Jean Segura’s redemption arc was the primary storyline following Game 3.
  • A 4-0 Game 4 deficit was nearly erased four batters in before the Phillies later ran away with a 10-6 victory.
  • I don’t think anymore needs to written or said about what happened in the eighth inning with the Phillies down 3-2 late in Game 5.
  • Ranger Suarez came back less than 48 hours after throwing 68 pitches, stranded two runners, and earned the save in the series clincher.

It’s the whole team!

Note: Check out some more on these points and other topics about the 2022 National League champs in the latest episode of Crossed Up: A Phillies Podcast.