It’s been commonplace for me in the past few days to read an article from the Inquirer or Daily News criticizing the Phillies’ performance and suggesting the next step.

So, as I was reading this article from DN writer Paul Hagen, one particular word stuck out to me. As a copy editor, I probably wouldn’t have let this slide (assuming the inclusion was intentional). But hence, it made it to print.

The bottom of the second inning summed up the phrustration.

I googled the term “phrustration,” and from what I could find beyond the prompts of “Did you mean frustration?,” it’s a term reserved for clever (or cliched) headlines used either a) for a play on articles criticizing Philly sports teams or b) a way to emphasize (or create) the alliteration effect with another word that actually begins with “ph.”

Is this the DN’s way of trying to make a word commonplace? If so, I want some credit.

phrustration (frŭ-strā’shən) /noun/ - the feeling of dissatisfaction, often accompanied by anxiety, anger, disappointment and/or depression, following the inevitable failure of one of Philadelphia’s major sports teams, especially after a period of extreme optimism based on performance.

You saw it here first.

An example of the “extreme optimism” would be Kevin Millwood’s 2003 no-hitter, the second and last no-hitter at Veterans Stadium, and the last to see the light of day in Philadelphia. It’s one of those times when you remember where you were.

Damon’s Restaurant. Dinner with the family, watching the game on the jumbo screen across from our table. They were out of salmon that day. My mother wasn’t happy, but that was covered only by her anxiousness and nauseousness during Millwood’s ninth inning.

At least we have the Philadelphia Soul. For now, at least. Because as we know, all good things come to phrustration.

Photo courtesy AP.