4/7 Phils 5, Reds 3

There, see, that's more like it. Lots of home runs, Cole shuttin' guys down, Lidge gets the save (after a bit of drama, but I'm willing to give him some time). I was at work during this one, but I kept checking it, of course, and was very pleased.

Next: Time to go out to Shea and meet the Mets.

4/6 Reds some number, Phils some lower number

What happened: I was out having fun with my friends and enjoying life, so I missed the whole thing. I heard they lost. Brett Myers hasn't been so great, but I'm not worried. The season's not even a week old, man. They'll be all right.

More interestingly, the Flyers won their final game and will play the Caps in the first round. Flyers in the playoffs! It's only been two years but it feels like forever. I'm psyched.

Next: The playoff schedule isn't out yet, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out how much these games will take over my life. Plus the Phils have one more game against the Reds, of whom I am officially sick.

4/5 Reds 4, Phils 3

What happened: One of those weird games where they don't play well enough to win, but not poorly enough for me to get crazy and write long, angry essays that no one will ever read. Adam Eaton looked okay, which is promising. The hitting is still not quite there, though Utley is amazing so far. Is Chad Durbin that horrible, or was he just tired? I'm going with tired for now.

Brad Lidge is officially on the team! Tim Lahey, we hardly knew ye (didn't know you at all, in fact). Brad Lidge's song... hmm... I'll say "First of the Last Calls" because he's the closer, so he's the "Last" pitcher, and you make a "Call" to the bullpen... eh??? Yeah, it's terribly lame. Next year I'll try Rush songs, so he can have "Closer to the Heart".

Next: More of the Reds; baseball will be played.

4/4: One of the best Philly sports days in a long, long time...

Phils 8, Reds 4 (yeah!)
Sixers 109, Hawks 104 (YEAH!)
Flyers 3, Devils 0 (YEAH!!!)

What happened: The Sixers and Flyers clinched playoff spots on the same night, within about half an hour of each other - a development so thrilling and fantastic that it actually makes me kind of emotional, proving conclusively that I am out of my mind. I have no idea if they've ever clinched on the same day before - how do I look that up? The Flyers game was spectacular - they've rarely looked so dominant against the hated Devils, and I can't really recall seeing Brodeur ever being pulled against the Flyers before. The Sixers looked solid - playing with a lot of energy and confidence. The final six games are still important, because they're still jockeying for position, so I hope they keep it up.

I must admit that I was not aware that they both could have clinched last night. At some point it was announced that if the Flyers won and the Canes lost, they were in... so during the game we were getting Panthers/Canes updates (probably the first time in my life I've ever rooted for the stinkin' Panthers). Right after the Flyers, I switched over to the Sixers, where Marc Zumoff informed me that the Sixers would clinch with a win... and then the Flyers score appeared, and Marc excitedly announced that the Canes had lost and the Flyers were in. The Sixers were locked in a close battle at that point, but I knew they'd pull it out. These things are only exciting to me, of course, but it was a great moment.

Oh yeah, and the Phils won. They looked good.

Next: With the Flyers and Sixers both in the playoffs, I won't accomplish anything productive for the next few weeks. And if the Phils get off to a hot start at the same time - forget it, you'll be lucky if I remember to shower.

Just to keep this blog on topic: Adam Eaton makes his season debut this afternoon. Come on Adam, just get it together, you're killing me.