Broad Street Bully chats Flyers at 12 p.m., Tuesday, April 26.

Today, fellow Phillies fans, let's talk about the serious issue of ants-in-your-pants fans who arrive late and leave early, abandoning the Phillies to play before a sea of empty blue seats. Broad Street Billy feels that is an UNFORGIVABLE VIOLATION of the Diehards' Code which clearly states that you arrive before the first pitch and stay until the last out is recorded because we have HIGH HOPES, not LOW EXPECTATIONS.  Today's Broad Street Billy column features a season ticket holder since 1974 (talk about great cred!) who was disgusted to see arrive late/leave early fans by the thousands at the Phillies opening weekend:

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20110405_Broad_Street_Billy_.html 

Take a look, and let's discuss.

Here's a couple of comments from readers from today's philly.com chat:

[Comment From Hoppy: ] 

Liked the column on staying all nine innings. The stupid thing about leaving is you get stuck in traffic anyway with all the other losers who left, and sometimes, like Friday, you'll be sitting there in a traffic jam listening to the exciting end of a game you could have been at.

 [Comment From Anthony: ] 

If it's 40 degrees and raining, and you paid $100 for a ticket, you can do whatever you want. I would like to know how many of these true "die-hards" stayed all 9 innings at the Vet when the team was suffering for a lot of years.

[Comment From “Dr. Frasier Crane”: ] 

I'm also bothered by fans repeatedly getting to the game late and making you stand mid AB so they can get to their seat. Then they'll turn around and get up and go to the bathroom.

Broad Street Billy replies: 

Well, when you consider the alternative to their getting up to go to the bathroom...

TONIGHT: I'm on my way to freeze my Broad Street Butt off at Hamels' 2011 debut tonight.  Anyone coming to the game?

Opening Day has arrived!

Broad Street Billy's down at the ballpark getting ready for first pitch. Here's what he had to say about Opening Day in today's Daily News.

Check back later today for more.

Better yet, whether you're at Citizens Bank Park, sneaking a few innings on the break room TV, or enjoying a looooooonnnng lunch, send Billy your stories in the comments section or by e-mailing phillies@phillynews.com.

Play ball!

Dan Geringer had been writing Daily News human-interest stories for 26 years when he debuted Broad Street Billy — “as big a phan as you are” — in October, 2008, inviting diehards to send in their favorite Phillies family stories and photos — kids, pets, home shrines, moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas. Fans responded by the hundreds. A few weeks later, Billy remembers partying with two million of them on a slow-moving southbound Broad Street subway train, headed to Broad and Pattison to hear Chase Utley deliver his state of the union address. He remembers being thirsty. And then not being thirsty. He remembers depending on the kindness of strangers. But the details remain fuzzy to this day.

Last year, Billy’s cousin, Broad Street Bully, bonded with Flyers fans during the incredible Stanley Cup run, and second cousin Broad Street Birdie tailgated with the Eagles’ faithful before the Packers flicked our Vick.

Now in his fourth year, BROAD STREET BILLY, the guy who started it all, invites Phillies fans to send stories and photos to phillies@phillynews.com all season long, so we can share our love of the Phils as they fight for the right to PAR-TYYY like it’s 2008! And Billy promises fan interviews from the ballpark whenever he can squeeze into standing-room-only Ashburn Alley this summer.

Meanwhile, BROAD STREET BULLY invites Flyers faithful to send their stories and photos to bully@phillynews.com because the Trail to the Grail goes through South Philly.

Geringer is not a professional sports writer. He’s a fan, like you. He yells so loud, he gets hoarse, like you. By late in the game, he gets sloppy with his suds, like maybe one or two of you. This is your blog, fellow diehards. Talk to me.