Anyone else need a thumb splint this morning?

Yes, I was among those flipping furiously most of yesterday afternoon.

I parked myself in front of the TV, armed myself with the remote control and a portable radio, and braced for three hours of Phillies and Eagles drama.

Thanks to the TV czars who tell our professional sports leagues when they will play these events, we had ot deal with the incredibly aggravating prospect of both the Eagles and Phillies playing yesterday at 1 o’clock.

Here was my strategy. I set up the TV to watch the Eagles. Then I put the Phils on the radio. And I spent the afternoon flipping furiously back and forth.

Football does not lend itself to constant flipping back and forth. It is a much more immediate, action-packed affair. Baseball, on the other hand, moves at its own pace. It is a slow, languid dance. It moves at its own pace. There is no clock.

It was not long before I was pumping my fist into the air. Jimmy Rollins opened the game by launching a pitch into the right-field stands. 1-0 Phils.

Then the Eagles took the opening kickoff and marched right down the field to score. 7-0 Birds. Looking good. Soon after that rookie sensation DeSean Jackson returned a punt for a touchdown to put the Eagles up 14-0. Then came a key turning point in the game. The Eagles’ next drive stalled and they sent out David Akers to try a long field goal. Akers has been struggling from this distance. He missed two last week. Make it three. His kick sailed agonizingly just outside the right upright.

It was like pulling a plug. The Eagles went dead for the rest of the day. The Redskins chipped away and wound up beating them.

Luckily, the Phillies did their part, and salvaged the day by winning and advancing to the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers.

Now excuse me while I ice down my thumb.