Left Behind, Looking Ahead

While Phillies fans are understandably out of their minds over the Phillies going to the World Series, I’m a little out of my mind over the Yankees not going to the World Series. I know there is a universal dislike, putting it mildly, in Philadelphia for anything connected to New York. Although, I think we may come in second to Philadelphia’s feelings about Dallas. The Phillies were the underdog getting into the playoffs and once they got their chance, they were magical. Rhys Hoskins hitting clutch home runs. Gene Segura slapping that single to right and, of course, Bryce Harper hitting the home run that will  go down with the Philly Special as one of the all time moments in Philadelphia sports history. I was simultaneously watching the Yankees in their playoff run, or should I say, their playoff trip and fall.

Let’s go back to the beginning of the season. The Yankees fans were expecting they would be back in the World Series. Judge, Stanton, Rizzo, LeMahieu, Cole. It’s a lock. They got off to historic start. Fifteen game lead in the division. Fastest team to seventy wins. Meanwhile, the Phillies were stumbling along under former Yankee manager Joe Girardi. After a 22-29 start and in only his third year as manager, Girardi got fired. Replaced by coach Rob Thomson who came over to the Phillies with Girardi from the Yankees. Are you staring to see the connection? Thomson turns things around. The players and the fans love him. The Phillies sneak into the playoffs. The Yankees have a bad second half but manager to win their division. I’m hoping for a Yankees-Phillies World Series, a replay of the 2009 Series, and hoping for the same result. By the way, Girardi was manager of that team.

The Yankees get a chance for revenge against the Astros who cheated their way to a Championship in 2017. They lost to them again in 2019. So this year was their chance to punish the Astros. Not so fast. The Yankees were humiliated. Swept. Fifty strikeouts in four games. Judge who had one of the best years in baseball history hitting 62 home runs, hit .139 for the playoffs against the Guardians and the Astros with 15 strikeouts. So while the Phillies fans were cheering so loud at Citizens Back Park it could heard a mile away, I felt like walking around in a hoodie and sunglasses.

But let’s get back to the Phillies-Yankees-Astros connection. Phillies fans should be grateful the team hired former Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who beat them in 2009. Fortunately, Girardi failed. Fortunately, Girardi hired Rob Thomson, who coached with him for years with the Yankees. Thomson gets the Phillies to the World Series against the Astros who all Yankee fans dislike, I’m being polite. Since the Yankees did so much to help the Phillies get to the World Series, the Phillies have to pay back the Yankee fans by beating the Astros once and for all. As hard as it’s been being left behind, all Yankees fans must look ahead to the World Series, and hope the Phillies can do what the they couldn’t. Go Phillies! I never thought I’d say that.