As we know, the Phillies’ 2012 season wasn’t a successful one. Coming off a 102-win season, they plummeted to 81 wins and third place. But much like the worst day of my life started off pretty well, the 2012 season actually began on a high note.
Despite missing stalwarts Ryan Howard and Chase Utley from the lineup, there were a couple of reasons to be optimistic about the Phillies’ chances on Opening Day: The Phillies were facing the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Roy Halladay was making the start. The Pirates were perennial also-rans coming off a 90-win season and weren’t expected to be much better in 2012.