Philadelphia Phillies: Who Has Been Their Biggest Ace and Will He Win the CYA?

The Philadelphia Phillies entered the 2011 season with one of the most heralded and hyped starting rotations in decades.

They were called everything from The Four Aces (or Phour Aces, if you prefer) to R2C2, to Mound Rushmore, and the sky was the limit for them this year.

In large part, they have collectively met the hype so far—indeed, it would have been almost impossible for them to have exceeded it.

The amazing thing about their success is not the wonderful pitching of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, but the fact that rookie Vance Worley has come to the fore (or is it the four?) and picked up the slack for Roy Oswalt, who has been beset with injuries this year.

Even Kyle Kendrick has pitched quite well when called upon, making Phillies fans forget about Joe Blanton, a pretty good pitcher for them over the years, but clearly the fifth wheel on an elite sports car that was graced with four big wheels.

With an MLB-best 77-40 record, the Phils are all but assured of a playoff berth, and the best record in the National League.

The remaining eight or nine starts apiece for the rotation may well sort out whether Oswalt or Worley will be the No. 4 man in the playoff rotation, with the probable front three of Halladay, Lee and Hamels.

But of those three, who has been their ace among aces?

And if I had to fill out my NL Cy Young Award ballot right now, who would make my top 10?

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