Or maybe it sounds wild because we are just starting to get our arms around what these Phillies are doing right before our marveling eyes. Maybe the real trick is appreciating what is happening, in real time, before it slips-slides-away into the past.
They are going to the World Series. Again. They earned the right with a five-game domination of a very talented Los Angeles Dodgers team. Again. They have won by first-inning pounce and by last-inning gut check, by laugher and by squeaker, by flashy long ball and by gritty small ball.
10-4. Over and out.
Ryan Howard, the man who amasses hardware as prodigiously as home runs, added the National League Championship Series MVP trophy to a collection that includes Rookie of the Year and MVP and that World Series ring on his hand. He just tied a postseason RBI record held by Lou Gehrig.
"I don't think I've ever played on a team that's been so fun," Howard said. "To be able to make it to this point again, it's definitely something very special, because a World Series isn't guaranteed to anybody."
He held up his newest trinket, smiled at the roaring crowd, and promised, "We've got one more step."
Greatness. We're seeing greatness.
The Phillies' record so far in two magical postseasons: 18 wins, 5 losses.
Fans who have assembled, red-clad and full-voiced, at Citizens Bank Park have witnessed 11 wins, one loss, one World Series celebration and now one pennant-clinching fiesta.
Hard to believe, Harry, but they have seen the greatest team in Philadelphia sports history.
But surely, comes the knee-jerk retort, there have been other, more accomplished teams. Heck, those 1980 Phillies had a couple of Hall of Famers and a lot of success, including a ring. The Flyers won two Stanley Cups. The Eagles had repeat champions and so did the Philadelphia Athletics. What about all of them?
Well, what about them?
