Ryan Howard went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Sunday's season opener. (AP)
OK, everybody… deep breath. All at once – inhale and then exhale.
One more time…
Now, do we feel better?
No? Not even when we realize that there are six months and 161 games to go?
“We played one game, man,” manager Charlie Manuel said.
“Oh my goodness,” Jimmy Rollins said in mock/sarcastic horror. “I am heartbroken that we lost a game.”
Yes, the Phillies opened their most anticipated season ever with a resounding 4-1 loss to divisional foe Atlanta in a game where starter Brett Myers gave up three home runs and four runs in the first two innings.
Meanwhile, Braves’ ace Derek Lowe pitched a two-hitter through eight innings where he got the Phillies to make 17 outs in which the ball never left the infield. As a result, panic has set in, the title defense has gone awry and the sky is falling. Didn’t they see the omens when a paratrooper from the 82nd Airborne completely missed the stadium and landed in the parking lot with the ball for the ceremonial first pitch?
Or when they removed the ladder from the field to the stands where Manuel was raising the championship banner?
Talk about your omens.
So excuse the Phillies if they are not as worried about the loss in the first game as everyone else. Excuse Manuel if he isn’t too concerned about the amount of lefties in the middle of the order or the grounders Lowe coaxed out of his team. Pardon Myers if he did not fire his glove into the stands and kick over the water cooler upon his exit from the game.
Excuse the Phillies if they don’t go 162-0.