The Phightin' Phils!

Wow! The morning after the Phillies clinched their fourth straight division title and all I can think about is how remote a possibility this seemed two and a half months ago.

The Phils were the runaway pre-season to choice to not only win the division but glide through the playoffs to a third straight World Series, and according to some experts, a second championship in three seasons.

It sure didn't look like there was any way it could happen in July after losing three of four to the pathetic Pirates and six out of out eight to the Cubbies and Cardinals. But, this amazing group of resilient and talented players has since ripped of 46 wins in their last 63 games to not only clinch another post-season appearance but home field advantage throughout the National League playoffs and the World Series.

Obviously, this team was creamed by injuries throughout the entire season and still managed to win the most games it has since 1993 which is really remarkable considering how badly they struggled offensively throughout most of the season.

And that, my friends, is where the irony lies with this whole season. A lineup that features Utley, Howard, Werth, Ibanez, Rollins and Victorino is my concern heading into the post-season.
They were inconsistent the last three years but found a way to come up with the timely hits in the playoffs to win one title and almost another. Yet, this year, they have been even more wildly inconsistent, partly due to injury, but there they are moving into October as the clear favorites in the NL and maybe in all of baseball.

Why? Simply because of pitching. Very fitting and appropriate that Roy Halladay finished off the clinching game to make it to the playoffs for the first time in his career. He has been everything the Phillies thought he would be and wanted him to be when they traded for him in December and he deserves get the ball in game one of the NLDS in eight days. Halladay started the season with a win in Washington and it was perfect symmetry that he pitched the clincher Monday night and did it in such dominating fashion. Have you ever seen a pitcher that has more movement on every pitch he throws than Halladay?

Really, all you need to know about this collection of players is that they let Halladay, Mike Sweeney and Brian Schneider, who had played 40 seasons combined without getting to the post-season, be the first three players to pop the champagne and start the celebration. All the players interviewed after the game all talked about how happy they were for those three guys to finally get the opportunity to play in the spotlight of the post-season and have the chance to win a ring, which you don't often hear in this day and age of the self-absorbed millionaire.

I was nine years old when the Phils won the first of three straight division titles in 1976 and kicked off a nine-year run when they either made the playoffs or challenged for a spot every season. I adored those teams of Schmidt, my favorite all-time player, Bowa, Bull, Garry Lee, Lefty, Tugger, LC, Rufus, Boonie and even Pete, and didn't think there could ever be a team that could be as good or as talented as they were.

However, you sure have to look at the core of this team and say that it could be as good if not better than that group and that is saying something.

JRoll, Howard, Utley, Ruiz and Hamels are all in the prime of their careers and Halladay and Oswalt certainly have a lot left and have been re-energized and revitalized by pitching in front of sellout crowds every night at home and by the chance to pitch in October.

We all know that a huge decision is looming over the Phillies after the season is over about whether or not Jayson Werth will be back. He certainly overcame a shaky middle of the season to provide some big, timely hits and prove his worth to this team over the last month. Chemistry, as discussed earlier, is a huge part of this team's success and he is a central figure in it on and off the field and the Phillies have to find a way to keep him here. It is unfortunate that he hired agent Scott Boras, maybe a foreboding sign of things to come, but he has indicated how much he enjoys playing in Philly and what a good thing they have going and could continue to have if they keep the core together, so maybe that gives some hope that the two sides can find a way to keep him around.

(123 straight sellouts and the chance to play two handfuls of October games at Citizens Bank Park and generate a lot of revenue could also be a factor)

Charlie Manuel not so subtly said the same thing after the clincher last night.

Let's get back to the games on the field. It seems right now that the only thing that can slow the Phillies down is one of their offensive funks. They have the starting pitching, and don't overlook what Joe Blanton has done the last two months, either. After a slow start, he has pitched pretty well and could turn out to be a very valuable fourth starter. Now, by clinching with five games left, they can rest some players, get Rollins some at-bats, rest the bullpen and get themselves in prime position to make a long run into October.

Back at ya next week after the regular season is over and the playoff matchups are set.

Early gut feeling and a little tease...the Yankees won't be playing in the World Series.