NLCS Game 1 get psyched

The Phillies play tonight in sunny San Diego.  I have tickets for Sunday's Game 5 so I am predicting witnessing a clincher.

Who's your Daddy?  Not
The Padres, who will face sure
Defeat.  Phils in five.

Phils win Game 4, 8-3, series, 3-1

The Phillies are going to the NLCS.  Another blowout included a history-making inside the park HR by J.T. Realmuto.

J.T. Realmuto,
The best catcher in baseball,
Ran and touched them all

The Phillies play on
The Braves go to the golf course
Next up, the Padres

Phils win Game 3, 9-1

The Phillies played their first postseason game at home in 11 years and blew the roof off the place.  It was all over after Hoskins and Harper went deep in the third inning.

Game Three was a blast
Best way to sum up would be:
Rhys Hoskins bat spike

Phils lose Game 2, 3-0

This game was a serious bummer.  The Phillies had a few chances to score early, and then a miscue in the field ruined Zack Wheeler's great start.  

Hoskins's backhand stab
Ruined Wheeler's night and the
Phillies' night also

Phils win Game 1, 7-6

Game 1 had timely hitting and great defense.  The Phils added on runs, and they needed every one of them in the end.  

Nick Castellanos
Can hit them and catch them, too
Phils need two more wins

Eleven years later

I couldn't bring myself to post eleven years ago when the Phillies lost, 1-0, to the Cardinals and the Golden Era ended.  

It ended so fast
I wasn't ready to write
I am ready now

Cards win Game 2, 5-4

One-run losses killed the Phillies in last year's NLCS. Until I can pull my thoughts together on last night's game, here is an inspired guest haiku from a law school friend

Sick of folks saying
La Russa is a genius.
Worst haircut ever.

Phils win Game 1, 11-6

Ryan Howard may have turned the entire postseason around. Howard swung, the crowd roared, and the Phillies are off and running. Here's a haiku summarizing the game and another one musing on the ninth inning.

Doc had a rough first,
But the offense woke up and
Howard's blast won it.

If we need an out
In the late innings, I think
It won't be from Stutes.

Bring on the Cardinals

Last night was one of the most amazing nights of baseball ever. At midnight, I had the Yanks/Rays on the TV and the Sox/O's on my computer and my feet up on the couch. It is stunning to realize that the Rays and Sox were each a strike away from the opposite of the result that eventually occurred.

As for the Phillies, here come the Cardinals. Seems pretty obvious that Tony La Russa is going to make Bruce Bochy look like the Grand Marshal of the Mummers Parade before this is all over. I'm feeling confident, though, because we have shredded the Cardinals's bullpen this season.

I have a feeling
that this time next week I'll hate
Tony La Russa

Anyone concerned
About this series should know
One thing about it:

The Phils have scored five
hundred sixty-five runs off
The Cardinals' bullpen.

Back for more in 2011

Greetings, readers. We are back for more haikus in 2011. This first set begins with an ode to the Phillies' six-game losing streak, continues with a clarification about which "season" we're talking about, and ends with a stunning prediction for the playoffs.

I think that I shall
Never see the Phillies win
Again this season.

Regular season,
That is. Come playoff time, they'll
Vanquish all comers.

Playoff prediction?
I foresee three Phillies sweeps:
D-Backs, Brewers, Yanks.