Commentary: No Looking Ahead
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Wed, September 24, 2008 12:33 PM | Comments: 25
Posts
David Murphy is blogging his thoughts about the postseason roster. Paul Hagen is writing about the huge offseason the Phillies are about to encounter.
I’m doing none of that.
Yes, if you’ve noticed, I’ve written nothing about the playoffs. No rosters, no rotations, no magic numbers, no elimination numbers. And I’ve written very, very little about the upcoming offseason. The reason?
Allow me to be entirely naked here: I’m freakin’ nervous, scared, tense. Every day is giving me more and more stress/goosebumps/decay. It’s hard enough working, eating, talking to friends and family and being a regular social person while all this is going on. Crazy? Maybe. Surprising? Come on.
Let me put it this way — it’s a very deep investment writing every day about anything. I’ve always been a passionate (probably too passionate) Phillies fan. If you can find my comments on Sept. 30, 2007 on a rival blog’s message board, you’ll see firsthand my obsession. But because I’ve put in so much time and effort on covering this team, I’ve felt unbelievably attached to this team. More than ever.
I’ve seen Phillies teams fall short. I’ve seen Phillies teams have had a chance, and let it slip away. This year is setting up to be something very special, and I know that, but I can not look ahead. Not a day.
It’s Murphy’s job to look ahead. It’s Hagen’s job to look ahead. They need to fill column inches, blog quotas … basically, they get paid. So if you want to debate the postseason roster, go to it. But you ain’t getting it from me. Not until the Phils are celebrating on the mound.
Posts: 0 Brian
Well said. I would love to see your comments on the rival’s board from last September. Anyone have them, or a link to them handy that they can post in the comments section?
Posted: 12:43 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Elizabeth
Amen! Last night was underwhelming, and with a magic number of four, our boys better wake up and smell the coffee! No post season rosters or pontificating will be necessary if they don’t make it.
Yours in bitten-down fingernails (and tickets for the entire weekend-be it good, bad, or ugly)…
Posted: 12:51 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Richie
I feel ya 100% Tim. I went nuts on my dad yesterday for asking me what round of the playoffs he should purchase with his season tickets.
Posted: 12:57 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Paul
I hear ya! I’ll feel good when the Magic Number for the Wild Card or the East is at zero.
Posted: 12:59 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Gavin
Tim, I agree 1000%. It drives me crazy when people talk about stuff like it has already happened. Until the Phils are in the playoffs, i count on nothing. I cant even speak to people when they say stuff like that, I just have to make a muttering comment like, “I guess its better to be ahead than behind.” But other than that it makes my skin crawl.
Must win tonight.
Posted: 01:12 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Mikeb
You shouldn’t be nervous.. Accept that this is not the Phillies year to win.
Yes..they are a good ball club
Yes..they will make the playoffs…might even make it to the NLCS
But we know how this will end. the Phils will fight hard but ultimately lose to a better team with better starting pitching. Depending how far they go.. it could be the Cubs, Angels, Redsox that remind philly they need more ammo to compete.
That is why LOOKING forward to the offseason is VERY important. I think the Phils best shot to win is 2009. If they make the right offseason moves.
They did last year with Lidge. If we land another stud like that via FA and keep the “core” intact the Phils will be primed to win it all in 09 not just the NL East
Posted: 01:17 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Rob Cowie
I love that clip art.
Posted: 01:34 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Georgie
Tim, that is exactly how I feel, it’s so consuming, I ‘m trying anything to distract me from thinking about it. I can’t even get the words out today, nothing’s making sense, so I’m taking a break for a while. Later.
Posted: 01:35 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Fran
true story, cant talk about the post season if your not even in it yet.
Posted: 01:35 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Richie Allen
Tim my thoughts exactly….cant look ahead any farther than tonight….very good article…
Hope for a good effort tonight..Im optimistic..
One question though… anyone know how many times Werth has struck out over the last 3-4 games?
Posted: 01:46 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Real Mets Fan
Relax dude. Your team is in the post season. Get used to that. It’s us Mets fans that are feeling the way you feel towards the Mets. Our post season hopes seem to be in jeopordy. Think of it this way…The Brewers absolutley suck. If the Mets go on a run and tie the Phillies for the division lead(Probably best case scenario for the Mets), the Mets will win the division, and you are the wild card. Playoffs is playoffs.
Posted: 02:11 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Richie Allen
I absolutely have to comment on this one:
According to the Hagen Blog….Ruben Amaro said…
(about next year)”nobody who is contributing is going leave our club because of finances”…WOW..
Does anybody out there believe him?
Posted: 02:12 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Real Mets Fan
I will comment on that. The Phillies are 1 starting pitcher away from winning a world series in 2009. Ownership cannot be cheap at this point in Phillies history. They need to pay Ryan Howard his arbitration, and sign or trade for a top starting pitcher. They need to open the wallets. If they do not this team will be mediocre for years to come.
Posted: 02:18 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
I HATE MAGIC NUMBERS!! Lets just forget about them and win tonight’s game!!
Posted: 02:19 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
Does that mean Burrell stays???
I agree with Real Mets Fan (although I hope your team chokes)
and with Manny..
Posted: 02:25 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Phil
If we lose tonight I’m going to get very scared. If we lose and the Mets win their next 2 we’re tied in 1st. I forsee the Mets and Phillies both taking 2 out of their last 3. This team needs to step up tonight.
Posted: 02:27 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Mikeb
4
Posted: 02:28 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Richie
Mikeb take your “hate”orade on to a Mets blog, I’ll get ya one of those Big orange met pillows to cry the blues on!!
Posted: 02:46 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Richie
Not for nothing with the core talent that we have, could you imagine if we had like a Mark Cuban as our owner, and he said here ya go Pat go get what it takes to win it endless bank account. This team could actually be a dynasty. That is what I don’t get with these owners, they don’t realize what they have here. Add 30 million, and get like a Sabathia and Lohse. Sabathia Hamels Myers Moyer and Lohse. With our lineup!! Who is beating that team ever baby!! Let’s Go Phils!! Mark Cuban where are you at?????????????
Posted: 02:50 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
ease up on Mikeb… look how nice a guy he must be standing directly behind his buddy with the Heineken bottle, and not even trying to steal a sip..
http://www.dirtymascot.com/admin/Articles/FUNNY%20GUIDO.jpg
Posted: 02:52 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Joey
950 was talking about who we would rather play in the 1st round. I had to turn it off. I wanted to clinch on Thursday anyway (through Brewers loss on Phils day off). This team doesnt strike me to be like the 93 Phils where hitting the bottle and not sleeping were a daily routine.
Posted: 03:23 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 LH
Tim, I enjoy reading you comments daily.
This September stretch is awesome. Can you imagine the lack of fun and disappointment that the Cub fans are feeling right now because their regular season is over. But I hope the Cubbies keep plugging away on the field. It’s a run for the money and I hope we come in first.
Posted: 04:03 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Richie Allen
Don M ..I guess unless Burrell doesnt want to stay he’s in..he is definitely a contributor.At least thats the way I would interpret that statement from Amaro…but then again who knows?
Posted: 04:04 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
I just think that you can get SO MUCH MORE for $14 million than …Pat Burrell… I know he needs most of that money to feed his cigarette and chewing tobacco habits.. so I wont rip him too bad
Posted: 04:43 PM on September 24, 2008
Posts: 0 Geoff
Burrell can walk. There are several more integral pieces than him. You go and you trade Jimmy Rollins, you let Burrell go, and lock up some more players liek Shane Victorino or Jayson Werth. Mayve Hamels if you can. But theres still money that needs spent on free agents.
Posted: 05:07 PM on September 24, 2008