Opening Day 2009 in Philadelphia was supposed to be the start of a new championship tradition.
Yet the WFC (curiosity of an outspoken Chase Utley) atmosphere began to fizzle as the sun descended from the heavens, night set in on the city like the shadow of death and another tradition refused to break.
Consider the mathematic theorem for the Phillies. Brett Myers + Opening Day = a loss.
Add in any variables including a 30-pound weight fluctuation and the results remain the same for Brett and the boys.
For the fourth straight year the Phils dropped their home opener.
Not exactly a well-received tradition.
Despite what Myers lost under the belt this off-season -- he still was unable to start the season on a light note.
Sunday night's homerun derby was the third straight Opening Day loss for Myers. He rocks a 4.95 Opening Day ERA (10 runs in 18.2 innings) a number hideously growing at the same pace as his sideburns.
Myers gave up five Opening Day long balls -- three coming (or is it going) on Sunday night.
The Phils picked Myers nearly a decade ago with the 12th overall pick in the 1999 draft. Since then the only thing really consistent about the big fella is his ability to spoil the most sacred day in Philly.
At least it’s some kind of consistency in a career highlighted by inconsistency.
Myers' Opening Day adversary Derek Lowe looked brilliant Sunday. Lowe hardly showed his age as he baffled the Phillies lefty-laden lineup -- allowing only two hits over eight innings.
Take notes Brett. Popped up is good -- popped “outta here” is bad.
The rest of the team could afford to jot a thing or to down as well.
Yes, this was only the first game of the season. With 161 more games to be played the Phils and their fans have no reason to worry -- at least not yet.
The National League East is hard to swallow this year with both New York and Atlanta adding more beef than Adkins to their roster.
Just slow your roll before you take the leap of unfaithfulness off the WFC's bandwagon -- we are still the team to beat.
No need to reinforce it, again, Mr. Rollins, this year everyone else in baseball knows that the Phillies are at the top.
Will the Phillies slip into the playoffs again in 2009 behind another moMETous collapse. Who knows?
The only consistency of baseball in Philadelphia recently -- an Opening Day loss followed by six months of uncertainty.
Just enjoy the ride.
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