The final pitch of the Phillies 2011 campaign ended towering aspirations and simultaneously began a new chapter leading to rebuilding, a new administration, calculated spending, and unrealistic expectations.

One, the other or both:

When the Philadelphia Phillies went from champion to also-ran, the magic evaporated gradually over the months, but in baseball seasons it happened before the faithful or management were expecting it. Translation: a fired GM! And the decline accelerated to rock bottom: restructuring.

IN OTHER WORDS: “Most people think of success and failure as opposites, but they both are products of the same process.” – Roger von Oech

Nine years after, the four aces would have delivered the Fightins to the promised land: the Broad Street parade for their championship and the pennant raising at the Bank. Moreover, they would have arrived the next Opening Day with their gold-trimmed uniforms. Plus the ring ceremonies would have concluded that series.

In ’11, the red pinstripes had set the franchise record with 102 triumphs and were one victory away from advancing to the National League Championship Series. Yes, the opportunity was there to add their eighth NL pennant to 1915, 1950, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2008 and 2009.

Having Roy Oswalt for the fourth game in St. Louis and Roy Halladay for the battle at home provided a false sense of inevitability. Unfortunately, being on the wrong side of a pitcher’s duel ended with an injured warrior who never reached first base: ironically, his defensive position as well.

As if the air was out of the balloon, ’12 had produced only a .500 team; sadly, the Phils finally reached .500 seven seasons later: last summer. Yes, that’s six campaigns of losing baseball with three under the current front office. Will 2020 be the first winning 162 since 2011?

No sooner had the Fightins reached their organizational pinnacle than they crashed and burned. However, they didn’t rise from the ashes like the phoenix. And they eventually landed in the NL East cellar for three out of four seasons.

With spring training ahead in mid-February, the locals could be wondering if the good guys can have a winning record and qualify for serious October baseball. But even though some are uncertain or have questions, Opening Day will return hope to those willing to accept and enjoy it if truck day or pitchers and catchers won’t.