Phillies: Old nemesis returns
By Tal Venada
Remembering Phillies’ ups and downs against previous foes, the faithful will ride the emotional roller coaster with the team because contenting sparks the passion from seasons past.
Faces in the other dugout:
Even though the Philadelphia Phillies and their opponents are relevant again, their players have changed, but their uniforms are all too familiar. And in October the national broadcasters will breathe new life into those fan bases by mentioning their recent successes and memories of their playoff battles over the years.
"IN OTHER WORDS: “Rivalry and envy are Siamese twins.” – Josh “Henry Wheeler Shaw” Billings"
From one summer to another, certain 162s don’t need much to remember a controversial call or inclement weather the umpires tolerated. But others bring a smile to our faces due to a dramatic home run or a clutch hit leading to an unforgettable victory.
After a 1950 NL pennant, a 1964 meltdown, and a 1976 NLCS sweep at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds, 1977’s and 1978’s matchups were against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Twice, the outcomes were 1-3. But Los Angeles also went 2-4 in both World Series versus the New York Yankees.
In ’77, the NLCS was 1-1 until Black Friday, fans booed Burt Hooton off the mound in the second inning, and losing a 5-3 lead with two outs in the ninth was heartbreaking. But not replacing Greg Luzinski defensively in left, his misplays, and a botched call at first base led to the defeat. Then, the Dodgers won a rainy game four.
Three former members of the Big Red Machine had joined the aging champions, but those 1983 Wheeze Kids only had a 1-11 record against Los Angeles. This time, however, the Phils were on the victorious end of a 3-1 NLCS. But they could only beat the Baltimore Orioles in game one of the Fall Classic.
In 2008, the Dodgers were just a 4-1 stop for the good guys on their way to beating the Tampa Bay Rays. And the reversed roles from the 1970’s included a dramatic Matt Stairs‘ bomb off closer Jonathan Broxton in Los Angeles. Of course, Chase Utley left his fielding mark in the World Series.
During the 2009 rematch, Jimmy Rollins‘ double off Broxton was the turning point. But that campaign, Brad “Lights Out” Lidge wasn’t perfect, and Cole Hamels didn’t have a good 162. The rubber-chicken circuit interrupted his shortened offseason program.