"As my friend Dana and I stood next to the giant balloon arch and let someone take our photo, people around us were feeling optimistic about "winning it all" and "getting a ring." Dana and I talked about how happy we were to be back, how good it felt to return to the ballpark we spend all summer in each summer, how fresh the grass smelled, and how grateful we were that the long offseason was over."
"We were happy to be back in our seats, which were the same seats we'd sat in the year before, and the year before that. We were happy to watch our team, which was mainly the same as the team we'd watched last year, and the year before that. It felt like a gift that all our guys were back."
"That game stands out in my memory because the Phillies got wrecked by the Brewers. But- but!! -they got destroyed so badly that people left early and Rob Thompson put WESTON WILSON (outfielder) in to pitch, and he didn't give up a run! I cackled in the stands. What a ridiculous game to care about, to watch, to enjoy. Weston Wilson! It felt ludicrous to have that much fun at a game they lost."
At the Phillies' 2025 home opener, fans felt optimistic and hopeful about a championship as returning to the ballpark brought joy and relief after a long offseason. The narrator and a friend savored familiar seats, reunited players, and sensory details like fresh grass and shared smiles. An NL East championship pennant became a tailgate decoration on a red school bus, enhancing community camaraderie. One memorable game featured an embarrassing loss to the Brewers that turned oddly delightful when outfielder Weston Wilson pitched a scoreless inning, provoking laughter and making the defeat feel ludicrously fun.
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