Phils still Phightin

It's the morning after Game 5, and I don't think the sun has ever shined any brighter in the two-plus months I've lived in Philadelphia than it has today. SEPTA went on strike today, but this city is still breathing. Still ticking. Still hoping. You simply can't tell this team or this city "no."

Facing their first elimination game since 2007 in the NLDS when they were swept by the Rockies, the Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorinos looked elimination right in the eye and didn't blink. Impressive to say the least. Sure they had Cliff Lee, but he gave up a run in the first inning, something that rattles most pitchers, but he took it through the seventh and did exactly what he needed to do, keep the Fightin Phils fighting.

And about rattled pitchers... For AJ Burnett it rained which meant it poured. He gave up six runs in two innings, something that didn't surprise me, but when a team that has shaky middle relief is calling the bullpen after two innings, there's reason for concern-make that panic. While the Yanks didn't panic they failed to complete their rally, scoring four of their six-needed runs.

If you were looking for the magic October, err November moment, it came from the home team. After two dramatic and deflating losses Saturday and Sunday, the Phils shook their potential case of the Mondays and took this series back up the Jersey Turnpike to a Yankee Stadium that isn't the darkhorse the original one was in the postseason. The new stadium has softened Yankees fans.

The House that Ruth built loomed over the field and shook after homeruns. The hallways were narrow and people were practically sitting on top of each other. The new stadium is too spread out, too removed from the field, and no one can afford it, leaving many seats empty. I've yet to get to the new stadium but even watching on television is a different experience.

Either way, it's a home game in the Bronx. Either way I'm pumped. Either way I'm thinking it's gonna be a seven-gamer.

For those that are concerned with my Yankee-fan status in Philadelphia, I'm still alive. Last night walking down Broad street after the game, horns were honking and people were screaming and chanting "Fuck the Yankees!" I saw a guy proclaiming that he was gonna kick the next person he saw wearing a Yankees hat. Good thing I wasn't wearing mine.

It's a shame nobody cares about sports in this town. I gotta say, as much as I want my Yanks to get their 27th title-Jeter, Posada, Mo and Pettitte's fifth-I'm not ready for baseball to end. I've come to realize a little more about this great city and what makes it tick. After five games, I gotta say, I still love this city more than any other.

That said, I want a Game 7. I want 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, Yanks down three with the bases loaded and I want all of that with Derek Jeter digging into the box.