And Here's the Pitch...

And Here's the Pitch...

How do you like my nurse's picture of Phillies' pitcher Brett Myers after delivering a pitch to home plate?

As I have said before, the baseball season doesn't officially get underway until I make my first appearance at a Phillies game. With temperatures in the low 80s and a clear blue sky here in Philadelphia today, I couldn't think of a better day for baseball. It turned out to be an even better day, as the Fightin' Phils belted four homeruns and crushed the visiting Houston Astros, 10-2.

The first game I attend each year is always a bit emotional for me, as I never know if it will be the last season for me. Six years ago, when I began seeing my current cardiologist, I told him that I was hopeful to be able to attend a game at the Phillies' new ballpark, then under construction. Well, not only was I able to be there in 2004, the first season that they played at Citizens Bank Park, I have been around for four more seasons, now that this one has begun. I'm sure glad that I got to see last season, when the Phillies reached the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

Since it has been open, I have been pleased with the accessibility at Citizens Bank Park and have found the staff extremely helpful. Having been given tickets to today's game as a gift in a non-accessible seating area, I needed to trade them in for accessible seating (well, parking in my case). All I had to do was go to the guest services desk and with no problem at all, they moved me to some great accessible seats behind home plate but up a couple of levels.

I had a nice time today. It's great to be 1-0 in games I have attended so far this year. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts, because I have become the kiss of death for my local teams in recent years!

In Enemy Territory

In Enemy Territory

To put it mildly, I dislike the New York Yankees. Maybe it's because they have an arrogant owner with such deep pockets that he can buy a championship (although they haven't actually won one since 2000). Maybe it's because I'm jealous of the fact that they've won 26 championships while my Philadelphia Phillies have won exactly one. Or maybe it's that I'm from Philadelphia and we hate all New York teams!

Nevertheless, I found myself at, of all places, Yankee Stadium today with my parents, my uncle, and my cousin (photo courtesy of Cousin Benny, by the way). With the stadium set to be torn down in a couple of years, I wanted to make my pilgrimage to the mecca of baseball -- home to legends like Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, and Mantle. Getting there was a nightmare, with traffic on the George Washington Bridge so insane that it took an hour just to get across. Fortunately, New York's finest were very helpful in finding us a place to park my van. Still, we didn't get to our seats until the third inning.

Once I was settled in, though, I was glad that I had made the trek to the Bronx. To realize that I was at the same place where all of those great players and teams once competed, the place where all of those championships were won, was quite amazing. Despite the fact that the Yankees are actually in last place (not that I'm upset about that), the stadium was packed and the fans were loud. I sat there, imagining how much louder it must be there during the playoffs, how intimidating it must be for the opposition. No wonder there have been so many miraculous comebacks for the hometown team.

I had fun at the game, but I just couldn't bring myself to actually cheer for the Yankees. They're the enemy; you can't root for the enemy -- even in their own ballpark! Go Phillies!!!