Phillies 7 Reds 4

We're trying to be calmer this year. The Phillies don't owe us much. They've been in the playoffs four straight years. They won the World Series in 2008 and made the series in 2009. In years past, if the Phillies fell behind early, we'd get pissed off and turn the game off. Now, we just get up and take a break from the game and then we come back later.

Take last night. We were outside playing with the kids and actually missed the Reds batting in the first inning. By the time we got the game on, the Phillies were down 1-zip. By the fourth, it was 4-zip. Pissed off, we fired off some angry tweets and started making dinner (ham and cheese omlettes with hashbrowns and bran muffins). After dinner (and dishes) we saw the Phillies cut it to 4-2.

After six innings we were convinced a loss was inevitable. We went upstairs and read with the kids before they went to bed. On our way back downstairs we checked the Evo and saw the Phillies had runners on first and second against Aroldis Chapman in the seventh. Presto! We called The Playmaker down and said he could watch "the rest of the inning."

And what an inning. Utley went all Jeter and got "hit" by a Chapman smoker. We saw walks. We saw Cincinnati boners everywhere. (Including one by Scott Rolen, who has replaced Nancy Drew as the most hated player in Philly.)

Before you could say Dave Concepcion, the Phillies were on top, 7-4.

Before The Wife could say, "It's way past his [The Playmker] bedtime!" Madson and Lidge closed the door on the Reds and the game was over.

Only then did The Playmaker go (back) to bed.

Sometimes it pays to be calm. Or at least try to be.

k

***Check back later today for more posts.***