It was just one game, I tell myself, but it was a good one. The offense hit, which only surprised me because of how well they did, not that they don't stink. The starting pitching wasn't good, which did surprise me, but I guess that's the "one day" thing. The bench was productive and the bullpen did hold a lead, even if it wasn't pretty, and suddenly, something surprising happened.
The off-season doomsday chatter stopped, for a day, and the team won a game.
It was a good win for many reasons. Texas is a good team. This is the kind of game they would have lost last year. All the red flags in the line-up, for a day, produced. It was a good win.
The first twelve games of the season may matter more for the Phillies than anyone else. After Texas, the Phillies go to Chicago, then welcome Milwaukee and Miami to town. If they don't come out 7-5 or better to start the season, the doomsday talks will commence. My target number is 8-4. Now they only need 7 more wins to do that.
