Your 2007 Philadelphia Phillies

March 26^th, 2007: 11:30am -- I’m walking out of my current office building on 19th and Market, typical case of the Mondays. The biggest decision of my miserable first day of the week was whether to spend a blogger’s month salary for a shitty burrito at QDobba or roll the dice and go with my boy Bob in the cart and his chicken pita special with the delicious mystery sauce for two bucks and change. It was a gloomy start to the week.

quadrel, originally uploaded by damonabnormal

But then my day miraculously improved as I awaited the street light to turn from red to green -- it seemingly wanted to stay red all day. In an instant, a dozen cops cruised by and shut down Market Street. What the shit. I’m trying to get some lunch here. But then, the great red hope that is the 2007 Philadelphia Phillies came turning around the corner on the back of an early 20th century firetruck. The Phillie Phanatic, painted red, came cruising down the street to an uproar of cheers from the lunch time folk who likely don’t even know who plays the hot corner for the Fightins. For some strange reason, the zooming fire engine slowed down as it approached. As my sorry ass stood at the corner, waiting for the light to change from red, the Phillie Phanatic pointed at me and laughed. I swear he did, I heard him.

It was then I realized this is going to be a fun summer.

Phillies fans have been rather positive the past few off-seasons, hope abounds for the baseball team in South Philly when the temperatures are freezing. The addition of Freddy Garcia and the subtraction of Mike Lieberthal had fans all juiced up. After all, we’ve got The Big Guy and Chase. How can this team not be successful?

We all fear it: the gloomy start in April, the streaky May and June, the tease, and inevitably, the failure. We all fear it, but want to hop on for a ride anyway. Cause after all, the ride is all we know as Philly fans. 

Some things I think we need to keep in mind going into opening day on Monday:

strikeout, originally uploaded by Boston Fan in Michigan

Give Pat a chance. I think we can all agree that Pat Burrell seems to be a little sensitive. The trigger happy fans are going to need to make an effort to give him a chance. Maybe he won’t turn into the protection for Ryan Howard we’d all love to see, but just give the guy a few at bats. We need the Pat Burrell who earned the name “Bat” and not the guy we have come to know more as “Looking” or “Whiffed.”  He may be in there somewhere despite the gimpy foot and poor eyes.  Just give him a chance, at least through May or June. If he strikes out with bases loaded, lay off the boo for a month or two. Come June or July, if Burrell isn’t performing, then you can lay into him. But he’s fragile; we need to support him, at least early on. Hey, it couldn’t hurt. I think the type of season Burrell has will be very indicative of how the Phils do. If they want to play into October, they’re going to need The Bat. Come on Pat! 

Run, Run, Run. Shane Victorino’s speed will certainly give a jump start to the Phillies line up. With it looking like Michael Bourn will make the squad, the Phils will have a speedster to come off the bench as well. Jimmy Rollins and others working with Davey Lopes on the bases could really improve the chances of the Phillies having guys in scoring position. I think this should be a huge area of improvement over last season.

Mr. Chase Utley, originally uploaded by Fen Branklin

Chase, Jimmy, The Big Guy, and Cole. I can’t remember any team I’ve ever rooted for having such a stellar core of young talent. If these guys don’t get you excited about watching baseball every night, you’re probably at the wrong website. I hope people realize, I was joking on Wednesday when I commented on Ryan Howard’s spring. The slow start they’re off to in

Florida could be a blessing in disguise. Granted, nobody should be playing sloppy down there, but I think they’ve tempered expectations a bit. I’m looking for Chase to have an MVP caliber season and Cole Hamels to turn into one of the games elite. If that doesn’t happen, the Phillies aren’t winning anything.

Gillick and his Pen. The currently 6 man rotation looks like it should be quality. I’m curious to see how Garcia turns out. To me, he is one of the biggest question marks on the squad. He could be a stud, a bust, or something in between. Let’s hope something closer to stud. The pen, of course, is where most of the questions lie. The first few months should be interesting. There is virtually no chance that the bullpen will look the same in August as it does today and how this unfolds could be a key to Gillick’s legacy in Philly.

Don’t Suck in April. We’re amped and ready to go. J-Roll started the talk early, but can they deliver? They will learn real quick with the stacked schedule in April and how they come out of the first month of the season will surely set the tone of fans all summer. It’s a scary month, with plenty of uncertainty. We’ll know a whole lot more about what this team is really made of come May. 

Expect the Worst, Hope for the Best. That has pretty much become my motto as a Philly sports fan. I’m not one of those depressed fans, I don’t hate Philly, I’ve come to embrace the fact that I don’t expect them to win. If they lose, I’m disappointed, but it’s only a game. All that losing will make winning all that more fun.

I can’t recall ever being this excited about one of our teams. These are our Phillies. I’ll take this squad over the Mets and the Braves. 

89 wins and a wild card. A fan must have some faith. Is it Monday yet?

Other Phillies Previews:

>>Hardball Times: Five Questions [Beerleaguer]
>>Phillies Season Preview [Deadspin]
>>Predictions [Swing and a Miss]
>>Phillies Season Previewed [BS&S]
>>Don't Forget to Join The 700 Level Flickr Group and upload all your best opening day shots.

Comments

[Annie]

I like Pat the Bat. I hope he stays.

[sid]

the mets and braves are garbage, they haven't improved one bit and they both weren't that good last year.

[Matt P]

This is great, E.

On your suggestion, I'm abandoning the Burrell Boo Birds and hitching up with the Burrell Bandwagon for at least a month. It's a new season, let's give him a fresh start. I agree about the baserunning too. Last year it was a daily frustration to see how infrequently they stole bases, and it looks like they're aiming to change that.

Even the weather report is looking good for Monday's game... Mostly sunny, 62 degrees...

[Ted Kerwin]

As a Met fan I am looking forward to our home games at your beautiful stadium in the last week of August when the Philly fans are more interested in the Eagles then supporting your quality baseball team. Damn shame that there are only 25,000 baseball fans in your area.

Still, we enjoy the hospitality.

[Tim C.]

Posted by: Annie | Thursday, March 29, 2007 at 01:08 AM

the mets and braves are garbage, they haven't improved one bit and they both weren't that good last year.

Really Annie, 97 wins last year and the Mets weren't that good? Remember, one man's garbage is another man's treasure! Utley, Howard, and Rollins are good. However, I am more than happy with Reyes, Wright, Beltran and Delgado in the Mets' line-up!

[meech.one]

Nice. A Phillies preview AND a new banner? I feel spoiled.

Good shit, Enrico. Although Burrell might be past the point of no return. Towards the end of the year the fans were ruthless to him at The Bank. I'm on board, but I doubt word could spread quickly enough to make a difference.

Here's to no injuries.
Go Phillies!

[sid]

yeah annie, what the hell are you thinking? i agree with her though, the mets are garbage!!

[Johnny BlueJeans]

I love how Mets fans come over and read about the Phillies. Enjoy Tom Glavine and El Dookie

[Walklett]

Interesting fact:

Pat the Bat has hit close to .300 in the first month in each of the last 3 seasons. Whether or not he sustains this output is another question. I vow to not boo Burrell until precisely May 1st.

Depressed fan? I don't HATE PHILLY?

Well played, E.

[Vin]

Awesome. Mascots should get out more randomly in public. I was hanging outside 21st Amendment in SF once and Lou Seal drove by a scooter honking and waving to everyone. (random off day for the Giants) and it made like 50 people's days.

[schoe]

ladies and gentleman, your paper champion 2007 philadelphia phillies......

i cant wait til september when phillies fans are booing and crying about yet another disappointing season......win something, anything, then you guys can talk....97 wins, you guys cant touch 90 wins, let alone 97........

[JMac]

Do NOT eat at QDoba. Gross. Gross. Gross. In DC, we're stuck w/ such limited cart options. Take advantage of the smorgasboard that is a Philly cart vendor. I like a good turkey sub to follow my sausage, egg and cheese.

Also, this is the first time in my life that I am barely paying attention to the upcoming season ...

We are ... Georgetown ...

I'm back to the diamond on Tuesday, though.

[Vinnie]

I picked them to win the NL on our blog. I hope you're not superstitious about that kind of stuff. If so, sorry. But I'm convinced they're a good five wins or so more talented than any other team in the NL.

[Chamomiles Davis]

Lou Seal drove by a scooter honking and waving to everyone.

Then he bit off Buster Bluth's hand.

[schoe]

"But I'm convinced they're a good five wins or so more talented than any other team in the NL."

So what you're saying is the difference between the mets and phils this year is 17 games? explain to me where you see this:

The phillies hitting and the mets hitting is the same as last year...

The phillies bullpen and the mets bullpen is the same as last year...

The phillies bench and the mets bench is the same as last year....

The phillies coaches and mets coaches are the same as last year......

so its all in the starting pitching?? have you ever watched freddie garcia and adam eaton pitch??? ADAM EATON???? seriously....17 games....good luck with that vinnie........

[Walklett]

@ JMac:

With all due respect, please do not use the word "sub" on a Philly website when referring to a sandwich. The proper term is hoagie.

[JMac]

Walklett,

Shamed.

The other day I asked for a glass of water and I didn't have to repeat myself. I HAVE to get out of DC.

[chris]

The Phils were one of the best running-teams last season. They had a great team sb%. I hope we won't see that decline if we start running more.

[Matt P]

@C. Davis: Nice...

@Schoe: yes, i've watched Freddy Garcia pitch. He had 17 wins last year and has averaged 15 over the last three. and whereas the Phils have added at SP, the Mets lost their best starter, with Pedro being on the DL and possibly out of gas. As far as your "everything is the same" statements, i believe i heard the Muts' Duaner Sanchez was out until midseason. as far as "batters," the phillies have a new 3B (Helms) and a new C (Barajas). the Phils bench is completely re-vamped (not saying for the better, but it is). finally, other than Uncle Charlie and Rich Dubee, the Phils coaching staff is pretty much entirely new.

I'm not sayin the Phils will win the division by 5, but you can't say nothing's changed.

[mike]

schoe is a douche bag!

[bryan b]

i cant believe mets fans actually post on this site...

[enrico]

I have a problem writing the Mets or Braves off. While I have faith in the Fightins, this is, after all, the Phillies we're talking about.

Glad some of you enjoyed the new header in honor of opening day.

[Matt P]

I'm excited that we may have a true rivalry brewing, and not just because fans on both sides dislike the other city's team. The Phils and Mets haven't been good at the same time in years, but both teams have the makings of being contenders for at least the next 5-7. And you can't discount the Braves. That's a franchise that just flat out wins, and they could easily rise up and dominate the division again, as much as it would pain those of us in Philly and NY.

It's got all the makings of a tight race this year, who knows which team will get out on top.

[Pedro M.]

I can't believe that Philly fans have opposable thumbs!

[All Philadelphia Sports]

Great article, here's a couple more Phillies links and here is what Phillies GM, Pat Gillick had to say about this years team.

Also, what's wrong with Qdobba? I love their burritos, they sure are filling!