10,000 reasons Phillies will make history Friday night
By: Shawn Gauby
Issue date: 7/13/07 Section: Sports
Originally published: 7/13/07 at 12:15 AM EST
Last update: 7/13/07 at 12:14 AM EST
Originally published: 7/13/07 at 12:15 AM EST
Last update: 7/13/07 at 12:14 AM EST
With the Phillies' 10,000th loss coming up, I thought it would be a good idea to purchase tickets for their upcoming series with the Cardinals. After a little digging, I found that the Phils are sitting on 9,999 losses. So this past Monday, I asked around to see who wanted to go with me to the first game after the All-Star Break, which is on Friday.
My one roommate replied, "Wait, what's the date on Friday?"
"It's the 13th. … Huh, what are the chances of that?" I said.
Do the Phillies even have a chance of winning this Friday the 13th? This is the most snake-bitten team in all of professional sports. They do not have a chance. In fact, I guarantee the Phillies will lose on Friday. In the back of my mind, I know the Phils will be defeated in horrific fashion. However, I only make the claim because if my promise backfires, it would obviously mean a Phillies win. Sure, if the team somehow pulled off a win on Friday, I would look like a fool for guaranteeing a loss, and what little credibility I have would be gone. The silver lining would be delivered by a Phillies victory which is far more important to me, anyway. Either way, I lose, but at least maybe the team can start the second half on a winning note.
No matter the outcome of the one game, if any true fan is asked, the prognosis for the Phillies season is always bleak. Every year, there is talk of this being the year we beat the Braves or the Mets for the division. However, it never seems to truly be the case as the optimism is replaced by malaise after the first three-game losing streak.
Despite the fact the team has not made the playoffs in recent memory, the past six seasons have been the second strongest run in Phillies' history. That is remarkable considering the Phillies have been around 124 years. It almost seems unfathomable that the Rollins/Burrell/Myers era has been one of the brightest stretches for Phillies' baseball. In spite of that, team gets virtually no positive press, and they have been known to underachieve just enough to miss the playoffs. What positive can come out of that kind of heartbreak? It would be easier on my heart if the team lost 100 games every year.
My one roommate replied, "Wait, what's the date on Friday?"
"It's the 13th. … Huh, what are the chances of that?" I said.
Do the Phillies even have a chance of winning this Friday the 13th? This is the most snake-bitten team in all of professional sports. They do not have a chance. In fact, I guarantee the Phillies will lose on Friday. In the back of my mind, I know the Phils will be defeated in horrific fashion. However, I only make the claim because if my promise backfires, it would obviously mean a Phillies win. Sure, if the team somehow pulled off a win on Friday, I would look like a fool for guaranteeing a loss, and what little credibility I have would be gone. The silver lining would be delivered by a Phillies victory which is far more important to me, anyway. Either way, I lose, but at least maybe the team can start the second half on a winning note.
No matter the outcome of the one game, if any true fan is asked, the prognosis for the Phillies season is always bleak. Every year, there is talk of this being the year we beat the Braves or the Mets for the division. However, it never seems to truly be the case as the optimism is replaced by malaise after the first three-game losing streak.
Despite the fact the team has not made the playoffs in recent memory, the past six seasons have been the second strongest run in Phillies' history. That is remarkable considering the Phillies have been around 124 years. It almost seems unfathomable that the Rollins/Burrell/Myers era has been one of the brightest stretches for Phillies' baseball. In spite of that, team gets virtually no positive press, and they have been known to underachieve just enough to miss the playoffs. What positive can come out of that kind of heartbreak? It would be easier on my heart if the team lost 100 games every year.
