The last time we spoke, I was lamenting the fact that our beloved Phillies were vanquished in the Fall Classic by the evil New York Yankees, while simultaneously preparing for the off-season that would certainly be less than pleasant.
But as fate would have it, the hangover was not nearly as bad as I expected. As a non-resident of Philadelphia, I didn’t have the support system of fans on every corner that most would consider a necessity when dealing with this type of letdown to a season. Matter of fact, it’s the exact opposite where I live, a scant 80 mile drive up da turnpike, where the Yankees “fans” are out in force.
However, I didn’t experience nearly as many of the bandwagon jumpers as I expected. Matter of fact, I could hardly tell that the Yankees even won the damn thing. There was no outpouring of Yankee pride, no jeers from people who know me to be a Phillies fan.
So I’ve returned from my mini-sabbatical after my Ripken-like streak of recaps ended on a chilly night in November. There isn’t too much to talk about (except Adam Lambert – OMG!), as the hot stove hasn’t fully heated itself up. But I’ll do my best.
Let’s get to it.
So what have I been up to? Well, not much. After the season ended, I didn’t really have much to do. And so, I took a break. From the blogging, from the Twitter machine, from baseball blogs, and pretty much everything else.
When you spend every waking minute thinking about, talking about, and writing about something, you need to recalibrate your body when it’s taken away. It’s like a drug in that regard. The Phillies are a drug, and I was in withdrawal.
But after the initial shock of it all wore off, I stopped replaying games three and four in the brain. What if Hamels struck out Teixiera? What if that damn camera wasn’t there? What if he doesn’t throw the curveball to Nick Swisher? What if Chooch hangs on to the foul tip from Damon? What if Lidge covered third? What if, what it, what if.
And really, that’s all there was. Nothing but a series of endless questions to which there were no answers. No matter how much I thought about it, the Phillies lost. And that’s it. At the end of the day, they would settle for second best.
After a week or so in wallowing in my own pity, I realized that second place is still pretty damn good. Considering that most sports fans will never get to experience a team like the 2008-2009 Phillies, it’s safe to count ourselves blessed. And when you realize that, everything comes into focus. The fog lifts and you start to see things a little clearer, and 2010, which was so far in the distance, creeps a bit closer.
So that’s where I am: A sports fan who is looking forward, not backward.
And so, we are back in the present, where I spend my days at a desk, thinking about baseball and the Phillies and life and Mad Men and, perhaps most importantly, a time when John Cusack used to be in good movies.
But this being a Phillies blog, I shant bore you with those thoughts.
Instead, allow me to address a few things that I’ve been hearing vis a vis some word association:
Trade Cole Hamels – What?
Jayson Werth for Aramis Ramirez – Silly.
Miguel Cabrera getting a first place vote in the AL MVP balloting: GAK!
New Moon – Dreamy.
Jay-Z on the parade float: Sure.
Cliff Lee in 2010: Dreamy.
Mad Men: This.
It’s good to be back, folks.
43 Comments on “The Dash Board: Return”
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General
November 24th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
First!!!!
November 24th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
you’re cool.
i’d like to point out tthat i’ve been sitting here hitting refresh for like six days. thanks dash. guess meech is too busy waiting in line to see old dogs…
November 24th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
VAMPIRE CLEAVAGE
November 24th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
WOAH. Who. Is. THAT?!
November 24th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Glad to hear you’re doing ok. 2010 baby, can’t wait.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
@Sara: I thought I was the only one.
November 24th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
i’m dying here swift. look how fast i’m replying. between my penchant for procrastination and my need for baseball, i’m on the fightins more than any academic site. i neeeeeeeeeeed baseball. i need it.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:07 am
Eighth! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 25th, 2009 at 12:19 am
I feel for ya, Dash. I’m a reader of 28 Phillies blogs, and not one of them (save for the occasional The Good Phight newsbreak) has had a real, substantial update since the WS ended.
It’s good to see the Fightins updating again though, even if it’s rather infrequent.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:40 am
Your face is infrequent.
/zinger!
November 25th, 2009 at 3:15 am
worst article of the year. pick your shit up dude, i definitely could contribute the bullshit i just read.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:20 am
ruiz holding onto strike 3 is the thing that I’ll always ask “what if” about. Other than that, I’ve surprised myself that I wasn’t in a horrible funk like I normally would be after a philly sports fail. I think it’s the carry over from last year, and like you said, how often would anyone get to experience what phils fans have in the last 2 seasons (I’d even go back to ‘07, with the awesome comeback/fun mets collapse, and the disappointment in the playoffs that helped fuel them for the next season), let alone US! I’m going crazy with no baseball going on, not just here, but no one is signing or trading. Come on baseball, DO something!
November 25th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Did this fudge packer just say New Moon is “Dreamy?”
I feel like I’m covered in EMO now. I CUT MYSELF SO I CAN FEEL. WHY CAN’T THE WORLD FALL INTO THE NOTHINGNESS THAT IS ME? MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE GOOD CHARLOTTE WEEPY WEEPY WEEPY
Jeez – man up and talk about how pissed Petey is that Rube showd him the door. And how funny it is now that everyone is talking about him like he’s the greatest clutch hitter in Phillies history.
All I saw was a great defensive 3rd baseman who was ridicously impatient at the plate.
November 25th, 2009 at 10:40 am
I cry a single tear daily when I open my iGoogle browser and my ‘The Fightins’ gadget says the same things over and over. If I have to read the headline:
‘Cole Hamels Attends the Modern Warfare 2 Global Debut’
I might kill myself or someone around me.
Glad there is some new reading material around here.
Thanks Dash
November 25th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Howard voted third place in nl MVP…..
November 25th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Offseason sucks. When does spring training start exactly? Good article, though, Dash. I think most (and read real) Phillies fans felt the same way. There were questions, but I really enjoyed this season immensely. It really is very boring without the team.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Dash!!
Thank god you’re back!
November 25th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
So, where can I get a good cheesesteak? And…is 1819 Ranstead really a washy-wash?
November 25th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Wait, how did I get here?
November 25th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
i feel like a new person now that there’s a new post.
thank you so much.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
anybody else get the “stand up to cancer” email from mlb.com? wtf does breast cancer have to do with baseball?
November 25th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
stinkbug,
kate hudson had both her titties removed. that explains it.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I miss baseball. The MLB network has had old games on though, nothing like a good ol’ spliff and some ball!
November 25th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
will h,
thank you. i had no idea!
i thought they sold the mailing list to someone who had not done any research into the demographics of such a mailing list.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
ever heard of second base?
or no.
November 25th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Will h,
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Can’t wait to see what Ruebens got planned the next 3 months….
November 25th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
“i thought they sold the mailing list to someone who had not done any research into the demographics of such a mailing list.”
Because, of course, no girls watch baseball. Or no guys who love girls watch baseball.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Well said, Lynniemac.
Also, Stinkbug, if you think people who like baseball don’t appreciate breasts, I suggest you take another look at this post.
Welcome back, Fightins’. I have missed you terribly.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
so i guess you guys clicked through and gave them some money?
November 25th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I was bored without you.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
The worst part about the whole thing is that my girlfriend is a Yankee fan and she was so close to switching. She went to 5 games with me including opening day and game 2 vs the rockies (both losses by the way) she watched almost ever game with me. Knows more phillies then Yankees. Owns phillies shirts. So this world series woulda been the clincher. Not so though smh!
November 25th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
No need, stink. I donate to the ACS, usually twice a year.
And that was an excellent point, Jennifer.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Thanks, Lynniemac!
I also donate, but not through MLB. Usually through work via the United Way (paycheck donations are nice and easy on my bank account). And every year I have a few friends/family members who do the Walk for the Cure and I sponsor them, though I have never walked myself.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
lynniemac: that is what i am trying to convey.
this has nothing to do with boobs btw. i have two of my own.
November 25th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
i donate to local bars
November 25th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Sorry, stink – I didn’t mean to leave my thought unfinished. I meant to say that if I didn’t already donate elsewhere, I may have clicked through the email. Who knows? And if they send out a couple million emails, and even 1% (or even 0.1%) click through…
November 25th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
it absolutely has to do with boobs
November 25th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
even when the phillies won the world series, it was the same feeling
I missed baseball
November 25th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Good to have you (and The Fightins) back, Dash. Now if only the Phillies were up to something more interesting than signing a crummy utility infielder. At least the Christina Hendricks pic helps, but a few more would be even better.
November 25th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Moyer in the hospital – more complications from surgery.
November 25th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Phillies signed four people to minor league contracts. More Andy Tracy on the IronPigs = YAY!
November 26th, 2009 at 7:50 am
jb, i bet moyer is thinking “aw nuts”
November 27th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Moyer will probably be on the op table demanding that the doctor use, “two hands!”