Commentary: Let’s Not Forget It
I was watching television last night, when lo came a commercial for Pepsi. This new-look Pepsi is promoting its “Throwback” brand – everything new is the same as what’s old. As they showed choice baseball clips, they cut to the Phillies celebrating on the mound after game five of the series. That was seven months ago.
Yesterday we took minute after precious minute to berate the Phillies. Jimmy Rollins is slumping. Chase Utley isn’t doing well. Chad Durbin should’ve never been in the game. Brad Lidge should’ve never been in the game. The list went on. We tortured ourselves with these issues after a seemingly innocuous May Business Person’s Special against the Dodgers.
Sure, they all matter, but let’s look back for a moment.
Seven months ago the Phillies won the world championship. They broke the city’s 25-year drought without a title and broke their own 28-year drought without one. It was a crazy ride, certainly, and we lived with the thrills of victory and the agonies of coming up short. But in the end, the Phils finished the postseason 11-3, taking the title without question. The Phillies were the best team in baseball.
Remember that. As the Phils shake Obama’s hand and continue to honor their great victory, remember that they did win it. That memory will never leave us. And no matter how poorly they play in May 2009 – or even in September 2009 – they did it, and we can’t fault them right now. Not right now. Maybe in a few years. Maybe if they’re still in a drought in 2036. But not right now.
These guys earned it.
