CENTER FIELD :: Endorsement

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Endorsement

Center Field is officially endorsing the candidacy... of the Philadelphia Phillies.

This news should come as no surprise to anyone who has spent any time around here.

Much like the Red Sox, the Phillies are a team full of characters, so they're easy to root for. They've got dynamic pitching in Cole Hamels (and Brett Myers), phenomenal bats in Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell, and all-star fielding in Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins. Pat Burrell, however, does not provide any of the all-star fielding... he'd be outrun on the basepaths by Grandpa Jamie (Moyer). Plus: Hawaiian flavor! Shane Victorino inspires hula-dancing bobbleheads, and also has a patented evasive tactic for avoiding groupies. Jayson Werth (or as we call him "Barfly") is always a great source of entertainment because he hits dingers AND spends 95% of his time in the dugout scamming on chicks in the stands. And Brad Lidge found redemption in Philly after he was all but ruined by Albert Pujols in 2005. Not to mention the Phanatic - sorry, Wally, but he's the coolest fuzzy green monster around.

Plus, they have rubber duckies.

And much like Boston, their fanbase is raucous, uncouth and totally bonkers about baseball. There is really no such thing as a bandwagon Phillies fan- that alone should make them the automatic victors. When you care enough about your team to hurl batteries at the heads of opposing teams' players... well that's love. And also, they love a good playoff ~~riot~~ celebration.

I could give two shits about whether the AL wins the series - I have no loyalty to any team other than the Sox, much less will I ever feel compelled to root for a team simply because they were arbitrarily placed in the same league and division as my team. Tampa can suck it.

So in conclusion, Philadelphia Phillies 2008: Why Can't Us?

Comments (11)

[ SoxPhan ] says:
on October 22, 2008 6:29 PM

Well said, Texy. I stopped by Modell's last night to pick up some Phils gear for today's rally in Center City--the place was a madhouse. I mean, you couldn't even move it was so packed, and I waited in line for 20 minutes to pay for my hoodie (and that was with four cashiers working). They had fun Victorino shirts with leis on them, so there's that.

Tampa can indeed suck it. Go Phils!

[ Anonymous ] says:
on October 22, 2008 6:59 PM

Tampa can suck it.

Hear, hear.

I can't cheer for the ~~Devil~~ Rays because they Sweet Carolined us earlier in the season. Punks.

[ jules ] says:
on October 22, 2008 7:01 PM

What is it with me? How hard is it to fill out the name?

Yeah, that was me up there.

I need to get to work.

[ Angie ] says:
on October 22, 2008 7:10 PM

Great post. I feel like the Phillies are the NL version of the Sox. And I love a team with character! So go Phillies

And Why Can't Us = made. of. win.

[ Liza ] says:
on October 22, 2008 7:10 PM

I officially adore Shane Victorino. I still can't quite figure out why.

[ Red ] says:
on October 22, 2008 7:24 PM

//Tampa can suck it.//

They can! And, God willing, they will.

[ Katherine ] says:
on October 22, 2008 9:48 PM

I read somewhere that they thought most Sox fans would be cheering for the Rays. I nearly spit my coffee onto my laptop. Everyone I know has said "Go Phillies!" since the final out on Sunday night.

[ bclaudio ] says:
on October 23, 2008 1:06 AM

Living in tampa and hearing the presumptous (sp?) raving about the DEVIL Rays in all formats is making me sick. For example, a nightclub sponsored by a local radio station had a Rays World Series Party planned for last friday, completely disregarding what happened the night before(and we all know what happened!!). Seriously, i am about to shove a cowbell up the booty of the next person I see with a ray hawk, especially my boss who had a NY hat on about 3 months ago, loser!!
OKay, thanks for letting me get that out and I have to say Go Philly, their fans are a-holes and I love it. I hope they make the Rays miss the cowbells when they are on the road. Someone needs to bring a Fievel stuffed animal to the game, am I the only one who thinks Longo looks like him????? Oh, and because I am a girl- Shane Victorino is mighty fun to watch!!

[ starr4 ] says:
on October 23, 2008 9:23 AM

Thanks, Texy, for endorsing the Phillies. They're my hometown team, and number 2 baseball team.

It's good to see them get their props from you and all the good folks here.

[ Anonymous ] says:
on October 23, 2008 6:57 PM

I do not approve of Citizens Bank Park and many of the people there and rally towels and the behavior that a lot of these people exhibit.
I also hate the Phillies. On my list of hated teams, it's the Yankees and the Phillies.

That said, I love a few of the guys on the Phillies and have quite for some time despite my hate for the team. The fans fill up the ball park regularly...ughh even if it's just to boo their team. [Unlike Yankees fans who just didnt go.] And Philly loses...um... a LOT ... they haven't had a WS win longer than the Devil Rays have existed.

I do like some Rays players and would love to see them win and I love Joe Maddon.

But while I may not like many many many Phillies fans, they have been fans for longer than October and they don't have cowbells or Evan Longoria t shirts b/c that is the only player they know.

No matter what team had eliminated the Sox, I would not be able to root for the team that eliminated mine from the playoffs. They definitely proved they were better team and earned their win but I'm not going to root for them.

I'm hesitant to root for the Phillies as well but I will be a-ok if they win over the Rays.

[ Mark ] says:
on October 25, 2008 8:40 AM

I had been flip-flopping on the Series... But this post has set me straight. And to echo what was said earlier, it is sickening that so many people in St. Pete couldn't be bothered to support their team until the playoffs. We all saw regular season games at "The Trop" that were near or total sell-outs, because Boston was in town. Lots of transplanted Sox meant more Sox supporters than Rays fans in the stands.

The game after they sold out three straight with the Sox early in the season the Rays could only draw 8,000 or so. That's AA ball attendance.

Yep, the Rays fans do suck it;.

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