The season opened two weeks ago and it’s been a pleasure having games on TV since the network primetime programming isn’t very good. If I close my eyes for just a moment during a game, memories flow like stories at a Jose Canseco party.

“Now batting for the Phillies, shortstop Jimmy Rollins.” Watching Rollins play is always a pleasure. He’s without question the best offensive shortstop this team has ever seen and his defense rivals the man I picture when I close my eyes, Larry Bowa. As a youngster, I watched Bowa for years and I was disappointed when he was given away to the Cubs. What a ballplayer he was!

“Now batting, centerfielder Shane Victorino.” Vic is my mother’s favorite player. He looks like a little boy out there and he’s always having a good time. Before his injury, he was really struggling. But I close my eyes and remember number 31, Garry Lee Maddox. He could cover ground like no one else, and a classier person there never was. Oh if I was just a few years older and could have truly appreciated his talents.

“Second baseman, Chase Utley.” This team has never seen a second baseman like Utley, but they almost did. Oh yes, until that fateful day when Bill Giles and company donated Ryno to the Cubs along with Bowa for Ivan “.198 batting average” DeJesus. I’m getting depressed already. I was always a Dave Cash fan, but his wife told him to go to Montreal for the money. Then came Ted “Teddy Ballgame” Sizemore. My memories of Size are minimal as I was a bit young. But I do remember Manny Trillo. What a glove! I still remember in the Phillies yearbook. The question was, “What one person would you like to meet?” Trillo’s answer was, “The man who would marry my daughter, Aloha.”

“Batting fourth, first-baseman Ryan Howard.” What a slugger he is! He followed a phenomenal MVP season with a solid campaign, but his 2008 has been slow so far. Oh how I wish I could remember Dick Allen playing in his second go-around with the Phils. I was at some games, but who remembers things that happen when they are seven? Who followed Allen? The Gravedigger, Richie Hebner of course. And who followed him? Yep, the Hit King, Pete Rose, and I remember his playing. I remember him catching the ball that fell out of Boone’s glove in the World Series. Tell me he didn’t earn every penny of his contract.

“Batting fifth, Left fielder Pat Burrell.” For one-half of 2007, he was brutal. For one-half of 2007, he was one of the best players in the game. Here’s hoping the good one comes back for 2008. So far so good.  And who does he remind you of? He reminds me of The Bull, Greg Luzinski, a big, hulking power hitter that didn’t move around very well. I have nothing but great memories of The Bull hitting bombs all over the field. And memories of Giles and company giving him away to the White Sox for next to nothing. What a joke. Though I have to admit I will always have a soft spot for The Sarge, Gary Matthews, who replaced The Bull in leftfield. Even though his announcing leaves a bit to be desired.

“Now batting, right-fielder Geoff Jenkins.” He’s nothing special, but I think Jenkins will put together a solid season batting mostly against right-handed pitching this year. But 10 years from now, will I even remember he played here? Maybe, maybe not, but I’ll never forget Arnold Ray “Bake” McBride. He could do it all, hit, run, field. But he didn’t always stay healthy. Still one of the greatest nicknames of all time. The Phils didn’t do much in right field until Glennbo came around, Glenn Wilson. Although he cost them a future Cy Young winner in Guillermo “Willie” Hernandez, I knew Wilson was going to be good. And he knocked in 102 runs one year. And then the commercials. Who can forget, “this year, you have Glennbo” with Wilson in his best Rambo attire. Oh boy…

“Third baseman Pedro Feliz.” He is what he is. Solid fielder, okay hitter, but much better than Wes Helms and Abraham Nunez. But he’s no Mike Schmidt. I could go on for hours about Schmitty, but I won’t. If you’re reading this, you know what he brought to the table. Let’s just say third baseman before (Don Money) and after (Charlie Hayes) couldn’t hold his jock, and I’ve always been a Don Money fan. But facts are facts.

“Batting eighth, catcher Carlos Ruiz.” I do like the platoon of Ruiz and Coste, but I hope Coste gets his chance to play a bit more. He swings a better stick than Ruiz. The names I remember at catcher. Johnny Oates actually taking the job away from Bob Boone until that fateful day when Dave “The Cobra” Parker ended Oates’s season with a slide at homeplate. How about Larry Cox and Jim Essian trying to break into the lineup? Dave Rader was here for a bit. Then Boone is donated to the Angels for a box of donuts and Bo Diaz came on board, may he rest in peace. Please everybody, if you need a satellite dish installed, hire a professional. Then came Ozzie Virgil as the team turned more towards offense. Oh the days…

The band Night Ranger once said, “When you close your eyes, do you dream about me?” When watching a Phillies game, these are some of the players that cross my mind. The powder blue uniforms playing in the cavernous Vet watching Phil and Phyllis do their dance long before Phanavision. To the old days and to Veteran Stadium, I leave you with this. As Harry Chapin once said, “Through the too many miles and too little smiles, I still remember you.”