The Phillies Girl Returns From Hiatus

Hey people, it’s only about 110 days until Spring Training starts. I think we can make it.

I’m not going to lie, it feels a little bit like I got stabbed in the heart. And watching the Cardinals play the Rangers in the World Series feels like someone is twisting the knife.

But I’m not going to talk about the World Series. We’ve all picked, prodded, extracted, thrown around, tossed upside down, examined and tore apart everything that went wrong, everything that could have made the difference in losing the postseason. Truth is, we’re a little spoiled right now. Our team has been pretty great for the past few years, one that has high expectations. Since the first pitch of Spring Training 2011, everyone had set high goals for the Phillies.

World Series or bust. 

But honestly, I feel like that’s a little unfair. The team won 102 games this season. 102 games. Baseball isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon, and while the guys didn’t finish first, they certainly beat their personal best. And if you look at it that way, it doesn’t seem that bad at all. And if you look at how the Giants, Braves, and Red Sox’ seasons ended, it REALLY doesn’t seem that bad at all.

Of course, I’m highly disappointed that I can’t use those really great jokes about who Brian Cashman was going to cheer for in the Philly v. Boston Fall Classic, but I guess I can’t nit-pick.

Sidebar: Thank you to everyone who left me alone the night…. it happened. I got 3 condolence texts and a phone call. And one very RUDE Facebook post from person who shall remain nameless. You can thank me for that… you know who you are…

This may or may not have been what I looked like after Game 5 of the NLDS. Hint: it was.

A lot of people are wondering what the off-season is going to be like for the Phillies. Baseball fans everywhere are going to be keeping an eye on the Phils’ winter meetings, but I urge the players and fans to use the few months until Spring Training wisely and focus on things that really matter.

For example, I’m doing some charity work by setting up a crisis hotline for Mets fans to call after each game. Cliff Lee has more time to practice hitting home runs, and Doc is staying in beastmode by hand crafting stuffed Chooches for Phillies fans all across the nation. I’m also pretty sure I heard that Hunter Pence is offering discounted runway lessons for aspiring models, but that hasn’t been confirmed.

No matter what goes down this winter, there’s a wind blowing. And it’s going to bring some major changes for the Fightins in 2012. I’ll be right here, keeping up with everything that happens. Count on it.

For now, I’m sticking to what I know. And I know my team. Live. Love. Phillies.

Umm…. when does Hot Stove start??