Okay, so I thought since I am such a big Phillies fan (and a friend begged me to) I’d blog about their post-season play a bit. First of all, I must admit while I am a big fan, I am also a bad fan. I am just not able to take their late-inning heroics in stride and often bite my nails or walk away from the television entirely when the chips are down and the score is tight.

I love those games where they get a good run cushion going so I don’t have to sit through a Brad Lidge, ninth inning, one-run lead, Prozac-inducing fit. Like the other night—that was perfect—the Phillies got four runs in the first inning. I could sit and watch in comfort for quite a while. Then the Dodgers rallied mid-way through the game and were putting bodies on the bases. I was pacing then for a bit telling myself that they really didn’t need to win this game, that they already had a three-games-to-one-lead, and if they didn’t win that night we’d get them in the next game. Well, that only worked for like half a minute and then I realized they’d have to fly back to L.A. and win, and that the MO-MEN-TUM, a huge word in baseball, will have swung by that time and God only knows what might happen then, and ahhhhhhhhhh! I had to leave the room—again. Some fan I am.

Only once I had realized that the Dodger threat had pretty much been neutralized, was I able to sit back down and cheer on my team to victory. I was actually able to enjoy the game then and my thoughts even started to wander to the locker room champagne party, and the people that must be on the assembly lines at that very moment pumping out the NLCS winner shirts, hats, and rally rags. I was also wondering when the team gets their rings if they will have one made for Harry Kalas to put in the dugout at every game like they do now with his sport jacket and loafers. (They should, definitely). Before I knew it, the game was over. The Phillies were all running toward the mound and all the Dodgers looked like death warmed over. What a great feeling! (I am a good enough fan to remember all the years when the Phillies sat in the dugout looking like that and have no sympathy).

Now this was only the NLCS series. I can only imagine what next week is going to be like once the World Series starts. No wait, I remember. Pretty much like last year, only this year we may face the likes of the New York Yankees—not some expansion club out of Florida.

Hopefully, though it will have the same result as last year. After all, what are a few fingernails? I am prepared to lose one of two of them entirely for the team. Maybe then I’ll be a big, good fan. Go Phils!