Night Before Opening Day 2019

‘Twas the night before Opening Day, when all through the park

Not a creature was stirring, not even a lark;

The bats were all hung by the helmets with care,

In hopes that the Phillies soon would be there;

The fans were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of a parade danced in their heads;

Mom in her Hoskins jersey, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long Spring nap,

When out on the field there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to Citizen’s Bank I flew like a flash,

Tore up 476 and almost near crashed.

Phillies Bunts staff was blogging; we’re the best in the biz!

With Joe S and Frapples and CJ and Wriz

Bryce Harper’s a Phillie, the consummate pro

Unlike Manny and Trout, he knew where to go

When, my wondering eyes saw the mound and the bases

With our young core, plus some new faces

Along with Bryce, there’s Realmuto, Segura and Cutch

With Franco & Hoskins are lineup’s straight clutch

More rapid than the Eagles Gabe’s courses they came,

And he whistled, and shouted and, called them by name,

“Now, Nola! Now, Eickhoff! Nick Pivetta too!

On Vinnie and Jake to round out the crew

From the dugout! To the top of the wall!

They dashed away! Dashed away! Dashed away all!

As dirt kicked up before the wild hurricanes fly.

Scotty is back while Quinn’s in Lehigh

Kruky and T*Mac were calling the game,

‘Boy we miss Harry’; Oh! What a shame,

Franco is back, for now anyway

We open this season at home verse the Braves

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Aaron was set and took to the mound.

He was dressed in a throwback, from his head to his foot,

And the strength of his arm could throw a shot put;

The Mets overrated; the ‘Gnats playoff is slop;

The Marlins are played out like the Braves tomahawk.

Three up and three down as JT made the calls!

Two strike-outs, a pop-out, and only one ball!

Gabe is all tanned with his teeth pearly white

And the plug will be pulled on clubhouse FortNite

Robertson signed, the bullpen is stacked

Herrera, Hernandez and Williams are back!

The rebuild is over, no longer in trouble

NL East Champs? We’re right on the bubble

We’re young and we’re talented and don’t forget Bolder,

The phuture is now standing shoulder to shoulder

Believe the Hype! Bunts got shirts just to prove it

If you’re not on the ‘wagon then step-off and move it

They laughed at the Eagles, the Sixers & process

Now it’s our turn to show them we’re bosses!

But tonight we’re in first, like the rest of the teams

And all we can do is have positive dreams

Can’t wait til tomorrow; a beer I’ll be squeezin,

“Good Luck Philadelphia, and to the fans a great season.”