Two Walk-Off Wins? In This Economy?

One walk-off win can cure you of any emotional or intellectual ailment. The smack of the bat, the moment of anticipation as you wait to see if all you've wished for could come true, and the immediate, deafening roar of the crowd all inject you with a hope and belief that buoys you forward against all odds. To dream of two walk-off wins in one day is impossible. It is irresponsible. It is too good to imagine.

On Thursday, I attended my fourth Phillies game of the still-young season. Before then, I had been to three games where the Phillies had ostensibly played baseball, but mainly stood around on the field while the other team beat them. They didn't just lose; they were absolutely clobbered. A 13-2 loss against the Nationals. A 10-4 loss to the Cubs. A 9-0 loss against Atlanta. This team is so bad that when they attended the Flyers game on Wednesday night, the crowd booed them.

I am embarrassed to admit that, as I made the long walk from my home to the stadium, I wished in my heart for a win. I know better than to bank any emotional wellbeing on a sports team, much less the Philadelphia Phillies, but sometimes, on some weeks, in the middle of some years, you need a win—any win!—so badly it feels like hunger in your stomach. The Phillies themselves needed wins, too. Entering yesterday's game, they were 10-19: bad enough that the manager they all seemed to like had been fired as a consequence. Despite the whole season of evidence, I entered the stadium with hope in my heart. I had planned to take the day off weeks in advance to attend the afternoon game, and I felt optimistic. There are few better feelings than skipping work to go to the baseball stadium.