Shock: Phillies IN playoffs.

Yes, I'm shocked. The Phillies are in the playoffs. Granted, they're about to be up against either the stupid hot Rockies or the Padres trotting out Peavy, Young, and Maddux. So prospects of further advancement aren't terrific, but when the franchise's last playoff appearance was 14 years ago, and it involved the first come from behind World Series-ending home run, its just nice to back in the post season. Well, its good to be playing in October, I'm going to watch the games, have a beer, and enjoy it while it lasts.

Phillies and playoffs

Another big reason for the blog: so my friends don't have to listen to me bitch about the Iggles, Flyers, Phillies, and Sixers. Today, its the Phils, and in fact, I've had most of this blog has been written for a week and has been sitting unposted. I know, I'm supposed to be excited about the Phillies playoff prospects, but I'm not, and haven't been all season. Every time the Phils gets within a couple games of a division lead, media goes all "pennant race" nuts, and I'm just not with it. Here's the scoop: its the Phillies, they're almost guaranteed to blow it. The quick prediction: they finish the regular season tied with the Mets for the division lead and lose the one game playoff at home against the team they've beaten eight straight times. Combine that with the Padres clinching the wild card on the last day of the season and Philadelphia will be out of the playoffs, a tidy ending to a season, and exactly the type of kick in the nuts the Phillies are prone to giving their fans. In short, I'll be shocked if the Phils make the playoffs. Pleasantly shocked, but shocked none the less.