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 …

Just call me Broadway Joe as I’m going to guarantee the Phillies win tomorrow against the Washington Nationals. Sure, the bullpen scares me to death after the disastrous appearance of Tom Gordon. Sure, Rollins’s error came at the worst possible time. Sure, they couldn’t even get the runner to third when they had runners on first & second with none out.

None of that matters. Expect big things from the big boys tomorrow. Ryan Howard is going to hit one or more bombs while Chase Utley will once again contribute a couple of hits. This isn’t going to be a repeat of April 2007 because this team has too much talent.

I still expect more from the bullpen. Ryan Madson is at least a serviceable reliever and J.C. Romero was a stud a couple of years back and of course he was amazing in 2007. Brad Lidge is supposed to be healthy which will make a big difference for the back end of the bullpen.

For those expecting a “rah rah” article, here it …

I remember when opening day meant I could watch a Phillies home game on TV. That was a treat because few home games were televised aside from Sunday games. I would be glued to the TV for the entire game watching the likes of Schmidt, Bowa and Luzinski play their hearts out.

I remember when the front office could be counted on to bring in the key players needed to compete for a division title. Whether it was Richie Hebner, Bake McBride or Pete Rose, that key cog was always right around the corner. Salary never came into play, just ask Pete Rose.

I remember when the Phillies uniform wasn’t so boring. The bright blue road jersey and the fancy “P” on the hat. That was before the trend became “going back to the past.” Every team now has to have an old style uniform. Gone are the bright colors of the Astros and the A’s as they have been replaced with the drab whites and grays of the 1950s. Now the sole interest of the teams is marketing their …