As the year comes to a close it’s time to look back at some of the top moments from the Philadelphia Phillies 2010 season. While the team came short of their ultimate goal of winning a World Series championship, there were still several great memories from the past year. It’s time to look back on the top moments of 2010 leading up to the number one memory which will be unveiled on New Years Eve.
#10 Opening Day – April 5th
Let me show you a land
the greatest of all
with borders that stretch
from the spring to the fall
Emerald fields plush with diamonds
and pearls gleaming white
with meatballs becoming taters
soaring into the night
A land of hot corners
where hoses throw heat
into your kitchen
where there’s plenty to eat.
There’s pickles, there’s pepper
there’s peas, and there’s cheese
And shoestrings making catches
with the greatest of ease
Many eye-pleasing sights
also found on display
An ace that throws dueces,
a tailor-made double play
Ducks on a pond
wait for springing line drives
to hitch a ride home
on pop-ups and slides
This land welcomes all
to dream and to play
This land is Baseball,
It’s Opening Day.
-ESPN 04/04/10
Spring was in the air as the Philadelphia Phillies returned to the diamond to begin the 2010 season. Opening Day. A time of hope and optimism for every team throughout Major League Baseball. For this group of Phillies, it was start of a highly anticipated season with great expectations.
Roy Halladay made quite the impression in his Phillies debut
Philadelphia began the 2010 campaign looking to become the first National League team in 66 years to advance to three consecutive World Series. After coming off of a tough loss in the 2009 Fall Classic to the New York Yankees, General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. made a major splash in the offseason acquiring former Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay and signing former Phillie Placido Polanco to be the team’s new 3rd baseman.
After President Barack Obama threw out the ceremonial first pitch the moment had finally arrived. It was time for the new look Phillies to begin their journey back to the top of baseball.
The 44th President of the United States Barack Obama threw out the ceremonial first pitch
“It was a beautiful day for baseball,” Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said. “A great way to get the season started – no question.”
After allowing one run on two hits and a walk in his first inning of work, Roy Halladay settled down and had a great debut with his new team. He allowed just one run on six hits and two walks while striking out nine over seven innings of work.
“It’s fun for me,” Halladay said after picking up his first victory as a Phillie. “You feel like you’re just out there chipping in the way these guys go about their business. You’re just trying to fill in a role. It’s been fun for me. Nothing against Toronto, but it kind of gives you renewed energy coming over here. It’s a team that wants to win and can win.”
“We definitely got started off on a good note today,” added right fielder Jayson Werth. “Roy was magnificent. He was exactly what we expected.”
After cruising through the first three innings, Nationals lefty John Lannan fell apart in the fourth inning. Lannan walked Chase Utley and then hung a first-pitch curveball to Ryan Howard which the Phillies slugger crushed to right field.
“There’s the pitcher’s breaking balls, and then there’s breaking balls for strikes,” Howard said. “I just try to lay off the ones they try to get me to chase and just hit the ones that are over the plate.”
Placido Polanco had a career high 6 RBIs
Lannan faced eight more hitters in the fourth, including an RBI swinging bunt single from Halladay before leaving the game with a four run deficit.
“Philly is a tough team to stop once they get the momentum,” Lannan said. “The momentum kept on going, and I couldn’t stop it.”
After Miguel Batista loaded the bases in the top of the 7th, Placido Polanco hit the second grand slam home run of his career off of Jason Bergmann and the Phillies were well on their way to a dominant 11-1 victory.
Polanco had quite the debut in his second stint with the Phillies accumulating a career high six RBIs.
“I’ve been watching Polly all spring, and he just puts together great at-bats,” said Howard. “He’s just a hitting machine.”
“They just add,” said Rollins after picking up two hits and two walks in his season debut. “You can always use help, no matter how good you were the year before. Adding a guy like Roy Halladay is no doubt one of the biggest moves we’ve made since I’ve been here. And then adding balance in the lineup with a guy like Polanco, not just a right-hander batter, but a guy that can move the ball around.”
Halladay and Polanco.
The Phillies two new additions made quite the impact in their debuts as Philadelphia opened up the season with their first opening day victory in five years. It was just the start of another special season for the City of Brotherly Love.
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