Welcome to Red October II, the sequel.

Dear Boss: Don’t expect a lot to get done around the office after about 2:30 this afternoon. That’s if workers have showed up at all.

The region, fueled by two afternoon starts to kick off the NLDS between the Phillies and Rockies, has come down with a severe case of Phillies Fever.

Or you just might call it an “afternoon delight.” Just be careful how you phrase that to your spouse or significant other. Talk of an afternoon delight at the office has been known to spark emotional reactions.

I’m struck by a couple of thoughts as we count down to the first pitch.

Much is being made of the fact that the Phillies, the defending World Series champions, have been saddled with playing two afternoon games.

Fans are complaining, especially those who forked over big bucks for playoff tickets and now realize they can’t get off work to attend.

Bar owners are saying they won’t do nearly the business they would with a night game.

I could have sworn that we have lamented for years about the dearth of afternoon playoff baseball, something that took us back to our youth.

Now we’re insulted because we’re not considered ready for prime time.

This no doubt comes as somewhat humorous to Rockies fans. Take if from someone who lived several years in the Denver-Boulder area. They’re used to it. As anyone who works in network television can tell you, no one lives in the Mountain Time Zone. That’s why they are given very short shrift when it comes to scheduling games. They seem to have survived just fine.

Then again, when the Phils and Rockies meet Saturday night in Denver, don’t be surprised if you see a few flakes and temperatures in the high 30s during the game.

By the way, just in case you missed it, you can catch up on your partying Saturday night, because the Phils game will start at 9:37 here.
That would be 7:37 in Denver. Fans can party right through the night up until Sunday’s 1 p.m. kickoff of the Eagles game at the Linc vs. the Bucs.

Then there is this. I distinctly remember the moaning, griping and general fan outrage when the Phillies selected Charlie Manuel as their manager.

The popular choice at the time was Jim Leyland, the former manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He eventually took a job with the Tigers.

Last night Leyland’s Tigers lost a one-game playoff to the Twins. In so doing, they completed a collapse that just might eclipse the Phillies of ’64.

The Tigers were three games up in the AL Central with four games to play. And blew it. They will be watching the playoffs on TV.

And Manuel? He’s the manager of the defending world champions, who will defend their title starting this afternoon.

We knew it all along! Paint the town red. Or red-faced, as some “experts” no doubt are.