VIEWPOINT LETTERS

Growing up a Phillies’ fan in Southern California was not easy. After the back-to-back NL championship series losses to the Dodgers in the ‘70s, there was no limit to the grief I got from my friends. I used to say that I rooted for the Phillies and whoever is playing the Dodgers. Well, from now on I will root for the Phillies and whoever is playing the St. Louis Cardinals.

First God told J.D. Drew not to sign with the Phillies, then a thin skin led Scott Rolen to sulk his way out of town. Those two deserve each other, although I am not sure that the great baseball city of St. Louis does. I am already planning my trip back to Philadelphia for the Cardinals’ first visit with both Drew and Rolen so I can boo as lustily as the locals. Maybe now we can end all of that absurd talk that Rolen might be as good as Michael Jack Schmidt.

Patrick Mallon

San Luis Obispo