Phillies Roy Halladay’s NLDS No-Hitter Particularly Thrilled GM Ruben Amaro

Was that Phillies GM Ruben Amaro in the middle of the celebratory pile-up on the Citizens Bank Park infield Wednesday night after Roy Halladay‘s no-hitter? 

If so, who could blame him?  

Front office personnel joining on-field celebrations is a bit unconventional, but Amaro had to be particularly pleased with Halladay’s first postseason performance. 

Actually, he must have been downright jubilant. 

Halladay had been the apple of Amaro’s eye for quite some time. After a lengthy flirtation to swing a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays to bring him to Philly during the 2009 season, Amaro decided to go in a different direction. 

Of course, the new course of action brought last year’s postseason hero to town in the form of Cliff Lee. The “Plan B” deal was lauded as brilliance on RAJ’s part and sent the Phillies to a second-straight World Series. 

Amaro received similar acclaim when he finally pried Halladay away from Toronto last December. Some lamented that he parted with a couple “untouchable” prospects, but who could really take issue with adding arguably the best pitcher in baseball to an already powerful team?

The glow of excitement surrounding a Halladay-Lee starting duo quickly faded when the other shoe dropped.

Amaro shuffled Lee to Seattle to “replenish the farm system.”

Needless to say, Amaro took considerable heat. And, when the Phillies struggled and fell to third place, seven games off the pace, the climate got hotter.

Criticisms resurfaced about dealing Lee. When the Phillies toyed with re-acquiring the beloved lefty and he was then dealt to Texas for seemingly more than what the Phillies had received, the winter trade that sent him packing was looking like a colossal error.    

Since that time, a few things have changed. 

First, Amaro continued his fixation with acquiring other team’s staff aces. As the trade deadline was approaching in late July, the Phillies GM pulled off another blockbuster deal to land Astros hurler Roy Oswalt. 

Meanwhile, 2008 postseason hero Cole Hamels returned to form after a seeming championship hangover that lasted throughout all of 2009 and spilled over into the outset of this season. 

“H2O” was born.   

Next, Halladay displayed the reason for Amaro’s infatuation as he put together what appears to be a Cy Young campaign. He wrapped the bow on the package with a division clinching two-hit shutout. 

Down the stretch, “The Big Three” earned its name on merit.

The only test left was to perform well on baseball’s big stage. Halladay was unproven in that regard, having never previously reached the playoffs in his hallowed career. 

By the time Amaro settled in to watch Halladay’s opening pitch on Wednesday, he was surely aware that Lee had just produced another sparkling effort to run his postseason record to 5-0 with a microscopic 1.52 ERA.  

Should Halladay have faltered, a 21-10 regular season would quickly be old news. And, the game was no lay-up as he faced the National League’s most prolific offense in 2010. 

Halladay did not let his suitor and biggest supporter down. In fact, he rewarded him with one of the greatest postseason performances of all-time. 

The tall, deeply intense right-hander mixed a seemingly unending array of pitches on his way to a “no-no.” 

Halladay’s dominance spanned from beginning to end, with just one walk being the only thing keeping him from the perfection that he had achieved earlier in the year. 

He painted the edges of the strike zone with darting fastballs, diving curve balls, and free falling change-ups—as well as a myriad of other hybrid permutations. 

When catcher Carlos Ruiz pounced on a swinging bunt and gunned a throw to Ryan Howard from his knees, the masterpiece was complete. 

A celebratory scrum ensued as Phillies players piled onto their new postseason hero. 

Halladay had now answered all the questions and validated the Phillies affection— in a huge way. 

The only question that now remains: Was that Ruben Amaro on the pile? 

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Philadelphia Phillies Roy Halladay’s No-Hitter Tops Cliff Lee—and Himself

Yesterday afternoon, as Roy Halladay was preparing for yesterday’s NLDS opener, Cliff Lee was putting the finishing touches on another brilliant postseason pitching performance. 

Lee dominated the AL’s most potent offense, striking out 10 Tampa Bay Rays batters while holding them to one run to give the Texas Rangers their first playoff win in 14 years. 

Just one year earlier, of course, the unflappable lefty dazzled the baseball world with a spectacular postseason performance that took the Phillies to the brink of a second straight championship. And, like Halladay this year, Lee was making his first foray beyond the regular season. 

The fact that Halladay would be making his postseason debut immediately after Lee tossed yet another October gem is surely a bit of irony. As Phillies fans will attest, despite never playing on the same team, the two ace hurlers will likely be forever intertwined. 

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro assured as much when he simultaneously swung two blockbuster deals last winter. The first brought Halladay and considerable exuberance to town by way of the Toronto Blue Jays. 

The second deal sent Lee to the Seattle Mariners and shock waves throughout Philly. Neither players nor fans had envisioned that acquiring Halladay would mean parting ways with the city’s newly embraced sports hero. 

Although everyone was thrilled to welcome Halladay, a great deal of debate ensued since last December about the wisdom in trading Lee. Amaro’s mid-summer acquisition of another ace, Roy Oswalt, has quieted the rumblings, but clearly the Lee trade placed pressure on Halladay to perform at or even exceed the same high level of performance. 

To say that Halladay has responded well to the challenge is an understatement. He started the season pitching like he might never lose. 

After he did prove, in fact, to be human, the big right-hander hurled Major League Baseball’s 20th perfect game. He dominated the Florida Marlins from start to finish. 

Halladay’s 10-7 record and 2.19 ERA landed him on his seventh All-Star squad. He proceeded to improve his record to 21-10 with a sparkling 2.44 ERA. 

His incredible 7.30 strikeouts to walk ratio almost doubled that of any other National League hurler. The only pitcher in baseball to top that mark was—you guessed it—Cliff Lee with an almost impossible 10.28 ratio. 

And, to add a bold exclamation point to his likely Cy Young regular season, Halladay threw a masterful two-hit shutout to clinch the NL Eastern Division title. 

Despite his season-long brilliance, some whispers of doubt were spoken about Halladay as the Phillies prepared for their NLDS opener against the Reds. 

Some wondered whether Halladay would be nervous on the big stage after 12 seasons of packing his locker contents after 162 games?

Would the NL’s top offense be able to handle him like they did in the regular season?

Could he pitch as well in the playoffs as he did in the regular season after logging more than 250 innings of work?

Others questioned whether he could possibly reach the bar that was set so high by Lee in 2009? 

And, as if that was not enough, Lee extended that postseason mastery in the hours leading up to last evening’s opening pitch. 

Halladay responded to all of it the way he always does. There he was at 5:07 last night, toeing the rubber with that same stoic look wrought with intense determination. 

And, it just got better from there. 

As even non-baseball fans know by now, Halladay carved out a place in history by firing the second no-hitter in Major League Baseball’s 104-year postseason run—and his second of the year. 

He was masterful from start to finish.  

The few extra days of rest earned by his clinching victory, along with the playoff atmosphere adrenaline, had his fastball popping into the glove of Carlos Ruiz at 94 mph. 

He had command of all four pitches that he claims in his arsenal, as well as some that he seems to invent along the way.  His pitches were diving in every direction, including a split finger changeup that hitters could not touch as it appeared to intensify gravity.  

After he applied the final strokes to his masterpiece for the ages, a pregnant pause ensued. Would the Phillies take the queue from their  workmanlike and stoic ace and simply exchange courteous handshakes—or celebrate the right way?

After making a brilliant play on a tapper to record the final out, Ruiz answered the question by rushing toward Halladay, who then broke into a huge smile. Phillies players followed suit and mobbed the historic battery-mates in the center of the infield.

What a day, what a debut. 

A perfect game…an All-Star berth…21 wins…a division clinching shutout…a likely Cy Young Award…and now a postseason no-hitter. 

Roy Halladay somehow topped the bar set by Cliff Lee. Along the way, he also somehow even topped himself.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Highly Balanced Team Without Weakness

Part 7 of 7 Phillies Championship Advantages

Over the past ten days, we have examined the first six of The Philadelphia Phillies Seven Championship Advantages.  In review, those aspects of the team that differentiate them from other contenders are as follows:

1. “The Big Three” Starting Pitchers

2. Postseason Experience

3. High Octane Offense

4. Peaking at the Right Time

5. Electric Citizens Bank Park Atmosphere

6. Superior Team Chemistry

 

The seventh and final advantage of this powerhouse ball club encompasses all of the above and more. 

More succinctly, the 2010 edition of the Philadelphia Phillies are a tremendously balanced team—with no real weakness. 

They are the baseball team equivalent of a seasoned, five-tool player with charisma. They can beat opponents in a variety of ways and are void of vulnerabilities that can be exploited by opponents. 

It all starts with “The Big Three.” The Phillies are the reigning two-time National League champs and just one season removed from winning a World Series, yet they have never approached the caliber of starting pitching that they will feature this postseason. 

They plan to primarily ride Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels throughout the fall tourney. All three possess a well earned reputation for rising to the occasion. From the opponent’s dugout, “The Big Three” cast a very large and imposing shadow.  

The bullpen has been a trouble spot at points during the season, but the warning lights have darkened as players have healed from injury. 

The 2008 championship club relied heavily on its own big three at the back-end of the bullpen. Ryan Madson and JC Romero provided the Bridge to Lidge—who everyone knows was “Lights Out” that season. Last season, the bullpen was often an adventure. 

Those three relievers are still around in 2010 and performing well, but not quite as much a sure bet as 2008. Any drop-off, though, is made up by greater depth. 

Jose Contreras has been a very good addition with his heavy, mid-90s fastball. Chad Durbin is solid and dependable.  Hard throwing Antonio Bastardo adds an important ingredient as he can be very tough on lefties. 

Importantly, the team’s need to rely on the ‘pen should be largely diminished by its three ace starters. 

When those hurlers take the hill and look around them, they see one of the best fielding teams in all of baseball. If the regulars had been healthy all year, perhaps the numbers would suggest they are the best. 

The infield is galvanized with a left side that has accumulated five Gold Glove Awards between Jimmy Rollins and Placido Polanco. Chase Utley has been in the Gold Glove discussion over the past few years. These guys can pick it. 

Additionally, they discovered an amazing thing while each player logged time on the DL—back-up Wilson Valdez appears to be their equal in the field. 

Center field is patrolled by two-time Gold Glover Shane Victorino. The Flyin’ Hawaiian has both the blinding speed and verve to track down balls in all directions. He complements his glove work with a plus arm that limits runners to station-to-station movement and cuts down others who dare to risk it. 

The highly athletic Jayson Werth possesses an even bigger arm and is not far behind him in terms of range. Raul Ibanez holds his own in left and Ryan Howard continues to improve at first.

Carlos Ruiz has evolved as a quiet leader behind the dish. He instills confidence in the pitchers with his game management, and his ever-growing reputation around the league could earn him a Gold Glove in the near future. 

Perhaps nothing speaks more to the balance and strength of this Phillies team than some pundits highlighting concerns about the offense. 

Yes, the collective numbers were down. Yes, the biggest stars didn’t post some of the eye popping stats we have grown to expect.

However, as mentioned before, injury surely had an impact on the decline both in terms of lost time and lost timing. As players returned and found their groove, we witnessed  the lineup’s capability down the stretch.  

This team is still an offensive juggernaut. If you want evidence, consider that the almost-healthy team averaged 5.57 runs per game in September and October. 

Putting this in perspective, that pace would have made the Phillies the highest scoring team in all of baseball by 43 runs over the course of a full season—without having the benefit of a DH. 

For further evidence, consider that the team is likely to have Rollins batting seventh, just three years removed from a spectacular MVP season. Batting behind him will be the team’s leading hitter in Ruiz, who posted a .302 mark. 

And, this offense is not a “one trick pony,” but rather multidimensional. They can scratch out runs by working walks, getting base knocks, taking extra bases, and outright stealing them. They can also simply bludgeon teams with the long ball.

This is an extremely well-rounded team clearly capable of doing big things this postseason. Now the time begins to go do it. 

 

Phillies- Reds NLDS Preview

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MLB Playoffs 2010: Phillies Team Chemistry Keeps Them at the Pinnacle

Part 6 of 7 Phillies Championship Advantages

Professional sports teams have been known to win championships without it. 

Sometimes sheer talent and fortuitous circumstance converge together to achieve a successful outcome. 

Sometimes a team simply catches fire and makes an unlikely championship run. 

But, oftentimes, it is the presence of certain intangible qualities that melds a collection of players into winners. And, for an organization to achieve sustained success, the presence of these intangible qualities is almost essential. 

Team chemistry can be an elusive concept with imprecise definition, but it becomes readily apparent to all when it does in fact exist. Such is the case with the current era Philadelphia Phillies.

The organization deserves a great deal of credit for assembling the best collection of talent in its 127-year history. It deserves even greater kudos for the aggregate personality and make-up of that group.

The origin of the Phillies’ winning chemistry traces to the nucleus that the organization chose to build around. Specifically, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard have been the foundation and clear leaders of the ball club through the current period of prosperity.

Utley is intense, driven, and stoically focused. Many players and pundits have viewed him as the consummate gamer. 

Rollins and Howard are more free-spirited and complement similar determination with a little levity. “J Roll” also brings a touch of swagger that tends to instill confidence in the players around him. 

As Jim Sheridan so aptly detailed in his article last week, Howard demonstrated one of the special qualities that makes him such an admired role model amongst his teammates. After the Phillies clinched their fourth consecutive NL East title, Howard paused the victory celebration to allow three veterans who had never reached the postseason to pop the first champagne corks.

Despite possessing different personalities, all three also share many traits that have been fundamental to the team’s winning chemistry. The trio leads by example, demonstrating such qualities as resiliency, tenacity, mental toughness, and professionalism.

And, importantly, despite their substantial talents and accomplishments, all remain personable, team oriented, and humble. The focus always remains on winning and the team as a whole. 

The organization proceeded to build out the team with a collection of veteran players possessing similar qualities such as Roy Halladay, Raul Ibanez, Brad Lidge, Roy Oswalt, Jamie Moyer, and Placido Polanco. Or, they mixed in ready

to mold young talent such as Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino, Carlos Ruiz, Cole Hamels, and Ryan Madson that flourished under this tutelage. 

On top of this, the organization chose perhaps an unconventional, yet ideal manager to lead the group. Charlie Manuel may not be the most eloquent speaker amongst his peers, but his understated style and instinctual finesse enable this group to thrive. 

The net result is a team with a superior culture and a winning attitude. Players want to be a part of it—and stay a part of it. 

Veterans such as Halladay, Oswalt,  Ibanez, Mike Sweeney, Brian Schneider, Cliff Lee, Matt Stairs, and Pedro Martinez immediately recognized the obvious chemistry and highly appealing environment in Philly. 

After a seeming lifetime of characterization as one of the least desirable destinations for players, Philadelphia is now arguably the “it” city of Major League Baseball. 

The tremendous fan support and electric atmosphere at “The Bank” surely contribute heavily, but the team chemistry and overall culture are central to this reputation. The club’s professionalism, work ethic, selfless approach, upbeat collegiality, and overall winning attitude are both infectious and inviting. 

Despite the Phillies’ obvious talent, four straight division titles, two consecutive National League Pennants, and one World Series Championship over the past four years almost certainly would not have been possible without these undeniable intangibles. 

They are also a key reason that the Phillies are the favorite to be the last team standing this postseason. 

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Citizens Bank Park: The Perfect Stage for Another Philadelphia Phillies Title

Part 5 of 7 Phillies Championship Advantages

 

The Philadelphia Phillies are fortunate to call Citizens Bank Park “home.” The stadium is both part and parcel to the greatest era in the organization’s history.  

It possesses a rare combination of retro charm, modern luxury, intimate dimensions, and an electric atmosphere that make it a truly special sports venue. 

There are so many aspects of the place to like—from the meticulously groomed grass field, to the towering scoreboard in left, to the ivy covered brick wall in center field.

Even the bullpens that are typically squeezed into some otherwise unusable space, take center stage with fans lining the railings above. 

The team’s roots are well represented throughout the complex. Former beloved members of the Phillies family such as Steve Carlton, Mike Schmidt, and Harry Kalas are immortalized with statues, artwork, photographs, memorabilia, and signage.

Providing additional appeal are the concession offerings along Ashburn Alley spanning gap-to-gap in the outfield with a perfectly positioned opening above that provides a terrific view of the Philly skyline.  

And, very importantly, the stadium features a playoff atmosphere every game of the year. Phillies fans packed Citizens Bank Park beyond capacity for all 81 home games, as well as three more “away” games transplanted from Toronto. 

Needless to say, postseason tickets in Philadelphia are only available through resale outlets at a lofty markup. 

With the Phillies closing out the campaign on the road, the final regular season attendance tally is in. Excluding the Blue Jays home games, the club set an all-time record with 3,647,249 fans rotating the turnstiles.      

Perhaps an even more remarkable figure is that this count represents 103.5 percent of capacity. 

Standing room only crowds at every game provide a definite advantage to the home team. The fact that the overwhelming majority of them are passionate, vocal Phillies loyalists takes it to another level. 

By virtue of the best record within and All-Star game victory by the National League this season, the Phillies will enjoy that home field advantage throughout the postseason. 

This is not a small thing. It is an edge that translated into a 92 point greater winning percentage in 2010.   

Wednesday, the Phillies open up defense of their back-to-back National League Pennants in the friendly confines of “The Bank.” Another sellout, and charged up fans will surely have the place jumping. 

The current that will be coursing through the air that day has been known to both intimidate opposing players and motivate the hometown heroes. Count this, along with batting last, as another Phillies advantage. 

The Citizens Bank Park structure, accommodations, and features are surely world class, but it is the electric atmosphere provided by the fans that makes it the best venue in sports. 

It also makes “The Bank” the perfect stage for another Philadelphia Phillies World Championship. 

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Philadelphia Phillies’ Timing Is Right for Another Championship

Part 4 of 7 Phillies Championship Advantages

 

As they say, timing is everything. After a highly challenging 2010 season wrought with unending obstacles, that little bit of wisdom might particularly ring true for the Philadelphia Phillies. 

The primary hurdles related to the non-stop stream of injuries that proliferated throughout the season. Perhaps the others involved a sense of confidence that spilled over to become a lack of urgency. 

As the season edged toward late July, to say the Phillies were a disappointment is putting it mildly. Losing six out of seven games after the All-Star break left the team just two games over .500 with a 48-46 record. 

The Phils found themselves staring up at both the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets, a full seven games off the pace. Additionally, they had four teams ahead of them in the wild-card race. 

The next day, Cole Hamels locked into a pitcher’s duel with Adam Wainwright in an attempt to avert a four-game sweep at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Phillies finally broke through to score a pair of runs in the 11th inning to secure a gut-check victory. 

Something seemed to kick in on that day. Or perhaps it was the next day. 

Upon returning to Philly, the club announced a changing of the guard in its coaching staff. Hitting coach Milt Thompson was out, Triple-A instructor Greg Gross was back in. 

With all due respect to his abilities, surely Gross didn’t immediately bring pearls of wisdom that caused the club’s dormant bats to awake, but in fact they did. 

The Phillies proceeded to sweep the seven-game home stand against the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks to draw back into contention. 

The impact could be felt in both the clubhouse and the front office. Any notions that maybe this just wasn’t the Phillies year quickly evaporated in favor of a renewed conviction to succeed. 

General manager Ruben Amaro and the organization responded by taking a couple risks. First, they summoned prized prospect Domonic Brown to the big leagues to replace disabled Shane Victorino. 

And, then on July 29th with the trade deadline looming, Amaro pulled the trigger on a blockbuster deal to land Houston Astros ace hurler Roy Oswalt. The Phillies now had matching “Roys” to wrap around a resurgent Hamels. 

Surprise that the second-year GM was able to land yet another premier starter was exceeded only by the Phillies ownership’s willingness to take on another big salary. 

Like the uncharacteristic in-season coaching change, the move signaled that the front office was “all in” for 2010. The preseason aspirations of attaining another championship were still clearly in their sights. 

After a somewhat disoriented Oswalt struggled in his Phillies debut and a Brad Lidge meltdown led to a pair of losses in the nation’s capital, the team quickly shook off any disappointment. 

A stretch run to remember resumed. 

The Phillies needed just 66 games to double up their 48-win total. A 48-46 record was followed up with their current 48-18 run. 

Doing the math, that’s a 216-point jump in winning percentage to a spectacular .727 mark. 

As they say, the Phillies truly are peaking at the right time. 

Beyond the empirical evidence, lie the more subjective assessments that further support this to be true. 

The overall team is currently healthier than it has been all season, particularly the starting eight and the back-end of the bullpen. Additionally, each of the “Big Three” has a history of pitching their best when the stakes are the highest. 

 

In the case of Halladay, his “big-game” reputation has been built with superior work down the stretch in pursuit of a playoff spot. He is 28-11 with a 2.47 ERA over his career in September and October.

Oswalt has done the same. The other Roy sports a 32-9 lifetime record with a 2.59 ERA in those two months—plus a 4-0 postseason record. 

Hamels simply has a pair of 2008 postseason MVP trophies as a testimonial.  

All in all, the timing appears right for the Phillies’ best work of the season just as the fall tourney begins. Yes, timing really can be everything. 

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MLB Playoff Predictions: Phillies Championship Advantage, No. 3: Offense

Part 3 of 7

Although the Phillies have a league-wide reputation as an offensive powerhouse, their numbers were down across the board this season. Appearances can be deceiving. 

A peek at the rankings suggests that the Phillies might take a back seat to other playoff teams in terms of offensive output.  

The Cincinnati Reds lead the National League in runs, batting average (.270), home runs (181), and slugging percentage (.434.)

Although in-season acquisitions have bolstered their run production, both the San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres are built around pitching. Similarly, the Atlanta Braves rely more on pitching than offense to win games. 

Although the presence of the designated hitter makes comparisons between the two leagues difficult, all four American League clubs have posted impressive offensive statistics this season. The AL contenders have varying formulas, but each of them ranks in the top five in runs scored. 

When it comes to the 2010 Philadelphia Phillies, though, the stat sheets don’t tell the true story. Sometimes there is truth in the old adage “figures lie and liars figure” and this is a prime example.  

For the past several seasons, the Phillies reigned at the top of league rankings with their high octane offense. 

The previous two seasons placed them first in home runs. Last year, they captured that distinction by a large margin, clubbing 34 more than the next National League  team. 

As further validation that the Phillies have been built for the long ball, they ranked one or two in slugging percentage over the past four campaigns. 

And, in the true measure of offensive prowess, the Phils ranked first or second in runs scored each of the previous five seasons. 

In 2010, Philadelphia’s home run production currently sits 61 dingers behind that of a year ago. It is safe to say, regardless of any further exploits by Ben Francisco, John Mayberry, or Mike Sweeney in the regular season’s last three games, the final tally will be a very large drop-off. 

After a strong stretch run, they have climbed the rankings a bit in runs scored, but will likely finish third. 

Statistics and rankings aside, though, this is probably the team’s most dangerous lineup in the current era of prosperity. 

The recorded numbers mask the lineup’s true offensive potential as well as the level of anxiety it stirs amongst opposing hurlers. 

Just ask Jonathan Broxton.

The reason that the numbers seem not to align, of course, is simple—Phillies regulars logged an inordinate amount of time in the training room this year. 

The injury impact on the statistics has been two-fold. The most obvious has been the lost production associated with the roughly 200 games that regulars have not stepped on the playing field due to physical ailments.   

And, then, when players returned to action, their productivity suffered from inactivity and an often compromised physical state. This was most notable with Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins as they struggled to regain their swings. 

And, I would be remiss not to mention that Howard’s stint on the DL and subsequent recovery non-fortuitously coincided with the stretch of season that has historically been his own personal fireworks display. 

The way this season has gone, it would be foolish to rule out anymore physical setbacks. That notwithstanding, though, it is the Phillies’ good fortune— and opponents’ ill fortune—that the lineup is set to be intact for the postseason.  

And, as good as the Reds hit all year, this Phillies lineup as it was conceived in the offseason is the gold standard. 

It possesses the rare combination of game changing speed and power capable of alternately intimidating opposing hurlers while instilling confidence in its own. 

Count this Phillies potent offense as another key October advantage. It appears poised to do some postseason damage. 

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Philadelphia Phillies Championship Advantage No. 2: Postseason Experience

Part 2 of 7

The Philadelphia Phillies current era of success has been built around a nucleus of talented players. Some players have come and gone, but that core has been present through the team’s rise and current reign as one of baseball’s elite teams. 

Players such as Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Cole Hamels are at the center of the core and have served as the key catalysts to the organization’s ascension from an “also-ran” to an elite ball club. 

Other young talents such as Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Ryan Madson, Carlos Ruiz, Greg Dobbs, JC Romero and Kyle Kendrick were layered onto the nucleus. Oh, and a not-so-young pitcher named Jamie Moyer. 

The first four in that group have been key elements of the team’s success over the past four seasons, while the latter four have played important parts at various times. 

Since the team’s first trip to the postseason in this era, the club has added seasoned veterans such as Brad Lidge, Raul Ibanez, Joe Blanton, Roy Halladay, Placido Polanco, and Roy Oswalt to the mix.  

Overall, the result is a Phillies team tested by the rigors of postseason play and grounded by the experience of having previously visited the fall tourney. 

It could be argued that the team’s top pitcher is not playoff-tested, as last night’s clinching win landed Halladay there for the first time in his 14-year career. Of course, anyone who has witnessed his chip-on-the-shoulder intensity and unwavering tenacity understands that he is made for the big stage. 

 

As far as the Roy at the other end of “The Big Three,” Oswalt’s resume sports five postseason series, including a World Series appearance in 2005. Importantly, the hard throwing right-hander also brings an unblemished 4-0 postseason record and an overall reputation as a money pitcher.

The other key 2010 newbie on the team is Polanco. But, unlike Halladay, he brings the accumulated experience of six postseason series, including a World Series appearance with the Detroit Tigers in 2006.

Playing in a short series with an entire season’s body of work and often years of anticipation on the line can be very daunting. The game can suddenly speed up, and nerves can kick in even for the most accomplished players. 

For evidence, you need to look no further than these same current era Phillies. After overtaking the New York Mets to capture their first division crown in 2007, the club ran a quick three-and-out like an NFL practice squad quarterback.

The same lineup that tore up National League pitching all season long seemed suddenly hesitant and lackluster. The Phillies hit just .172 and pushed but eight runs across the plate over three losing contests against the Colorado Rockies. 

There is nothing like having previously “been there, done that.”

Looking at the other potential NL playoff participants, all seem to be green in terms of postseason experience.  The Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, and San Diego Padres are all relative upstarts in terms of recent playoff experience.  

 

The last time any of those clubs participated in the fall tourney was 2006 when the Padres made a quick exit in the NLDS. The only holdovers from that team in 2010 are first baseman Adrien Gonzalez and pitcher Chris Young. 

The Braves last participated in the postseason in 2005, also making a first round exit. Similarly, the current squad represents an almost total transformation with pitcher Tim Hudson and then back-up catcher Brian McCann being the only common denominators. 

The current San Francisco Giants roster has zero resemblance to the 2003 squad that last made the playoffs. That team, of course, was anchored by a controversial slugger known for posting statistics that seemed to exceed normal human limits. 

And, lastly, Cincinnati has mostly been a bottom-dweller since the new millennium. The Reds’ last trip to the postseason was a four-game sweep at the hands of the Atlanta Braves way back in 1995. Needless to say, there are no holdovers. 

Conversely, since the Phillies “just-happy-to-be-there” 2007 cameo, the same core of players has participated in six postseason series— winning five of them. Only a stacked New York Yankees team in 2009 stood in the way of two consecutive World Series Championships. 

During that period, the Phillies have compiled a 20-9 postseason record. Doing the math, this represents an other-worldly .690 winning percentage against the best teams baseball had to offer. 

 

Speaking of the Bronx Bombers, only the Cliff Lee-led Texas Rangers lack recent playoff experience in the American League. The Minnesota Twins enjoyed a “cup of coffee” last season, exiting after three games. The Tampa Bay Rays, of course, were the victims of the Phillies in the 2008 Fall Classic. 

For the Phillies, the 2010 path to the World Series will not entail playoff tested teams unless the Rockies were to pull a rabbit out of a hat in the season’s final week. Actually, that scenario might require pulling a T-Rex out of a hat.

The World Series might be a different matter, but short of a 2009 rematch, three consecutive trips to the fall classic are likely to provide an edge over other opponents. 

As they prepare to make an appearance for the fourth consecutive year, it seems safe to count the cumulative postseason experience of this Phillies ball club as a key advantage. 

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Philadelphia Phillies: Examining the Seven Key Championship Advantages

Part 1 of 7

With the Philadelphia Phillies standing on the precipice of a fourth consecutive postseason berth, the focus of the team and fan base is two-fold. 

First, take care of business and nail down a fourth straight NL East crown. 

Second, take a look towards the end of year championship tourney to see how the Phillies stack up and are positioned for success. 

Should they do the expected and wind the magic number to zero, the Phillies appear better positioned for postseason success than anytime in their 127-year history. 

This assessment traces to seven key advantages that at this point appear to make them the favorites to be the last team standing— each of which will be detailed leading into the playoffs.  

 

Advantage 1: “The Big Three” Starting Pitchers

The most obvious and likely largest advantage is the Phillies top three starting pitchers. “The Big Three” or “H2O” as they have been billed present a formidable challenge for any opponent. 

Last year, with Hamels seemingly suffering from a season-long championship hangover, a mid-season trade brought a new ace in the form of Cliff Lee. The former Cy Young winner quickly won the hearts and minds of fans and teammates alike with a spectacular three month stint.  

Lee demonstrated pitching mastery as well as role model leadership qualities. Tremendous intensity, laser-like focus, and a fearless demeanor accompanied him to the mound every time he appeared on the lineup card. 

Fast forward to 2010. A much debated tandem of trades sent Lee to Seattle while netting a new ace in Roy Halladay in the offseason. 

Then, somewhat surprisingly, GM Ruben Amaro swung a huge deal prior to the mid-year trade deadline that brought Houston Astros stopper Roy Oswalt to Philadelphia. Despite a misleading 6-12 record at the time, scouts still believed the newest Roy still possessed dominating stuff. 

Meanwhile, after a slow start that resembled 2009, Hamels found his fastball, command, and Mojo. He also added a cutter to his repertoire that started to pay dividends. 

Not surprisingly, the heat of the pennant chase motivated Oswalt to offer up his best work of the season. His pre-trade losing record now stands at 13-13 after going 7-1 with a 1.76 ERA in a Phillies uniform. 

From day one, Halladay has pitched as advertised, racking up a 20-10 record with a 2.53 ERA. For good measure, Halladay threw in Major League Baseball’s 20th perfect game. 

Perhaps even more importantly, he has exhibited the same leadership qualities embodied by Lee that has a way of motivating an entire staff. 

And, clearly, each of “The Big Three” invokes a subtle challenge to one another through their own work.  

The five and seven-game formats of the postseason allow teams to go with a four or even three-man rotation. Obviously, this only serves to enhance the advantage of possessing three top tier starters. 

Another benefit is that as good as each pitcher is individually, they are arguably better together.  Rather than bearing the weight of “ace” status, the pressure is disbursed amongst the trio. 

In the postseason, that could bring a psychological lift to both pitcher and teammates by eliminating the  “must win” pressure.  The three should be “locked, loaded, and relaxed” knowing another ace is waiting in the wings. 

This season’s National League contenders will surely bring some good pitching, whether it’s the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, or Colorado Rockies. Matt Latos, Jon Garland, Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, Derek Lowe, Johnny Cueto, Bronson Arroyo, and Ubaldo Jiminez— all can be good to great. 

That being said, no trio tops that of the 2010 Phillies. Exactly what Ruben Amaro had in mind.    

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Philadelphia Phillies Appear Poised for Another Championship Run

The Philadelphia Phillies obstacle course of a season currently finds them one game up in the National League Eastern Division. The club’s 2010 campaign has been akin to a season of The Amazing Race in terms of duration, complexity, and challenge. 

An ongoing spate of injuries has kept the National League’s best team on paper at less than full strength all season long. Key players revolved on the disabled list and often when back on the field, found themselves still compromised by inactivity and less than full physical function. 

The team’s fortunes had taken such a nose dive that many were debating whether the Phillies should be “buyers” or “sellers” in the annual July swap meet. Some argued that it was time to concede to the injuries and team’s diminished record, write the season off, and look towards next season. 

To the Phillies players’, coaches’, and entire organization’s credit— that did not happen. Everyone maintained a sense of calm, found a way to stay afloat, and even threw in a bold trade to acquire another marquee pitcher. 

The payoff has been a slow, steady climb back to the top spot in the NL East after spending almost three months looking up at the Atlanta Braves. But just as the team was making the swap in standings, a few more warning flares appeared. 

First, Brad Lidge’s balky elbow caused the team to shut him down for a few days. Although he is just months removed from surgery to clean it up, both Lidge and the team remain optimistic that it is only a minor ailment that will not derail the Phillies closer. 

Lidge has been a key cog in the team’s resurgence and is being counted on as an important element for the team’s success. Since an ugly blown save against the Washington Nationals in late August, Lidge has done his best work since the 2008 World Series run. 

Next, Gold Glove shortstop and team heartbeat Jimmy Rollins pulled up lame running the bases. Two previous stints on the DL already this season with a calf injury caused manager Charlie Manuel to immediately sit him down and is now listed as day-to-day. 

The injury was indicated to be a hamstring strain. Both player and team remain optimistic that a short rest will nip the problem in the bud. 

Other players such as Ryan Howard, Placido Polanco, and Chase Utley may not be 100 percent over the balance of the year, but that is the reality of the marathon that is Major League Baseball. 

Continuing brushes with the injury bug highlight that a successful conclusion to the season is not all within the team’s control. And, surely the other team’s fighting for a postseason berth are not going to fade away easily. 

The Braves lead baseball in comeback and walk-off wins. 

The San Francisco Giants have the pitching and a bolstered offense to maintain their charge. 

After a recent tailspin, the San Diego Padres are showing signs of a rebound. Strong pitching had produced the best record in the NL before their 10-game losing streak, and surely is capable of producing many wins down the stretch. 

The Colorado Rockies have launched their annual September surge. They are playing with the same strong sense of confidence that has propelled them past other teams in recent years when the games became more urgent.  

Despite the keen competition, the Phillies are well positioned and poised to make another run to glory. 

The Phillies offense has started to heat up as the original starting cast now populates the lineup and returning players continue to find their groove. Hitting can be contagious and Howard appears to have his normal September offensive bug. 

With an effective Lidge, a rested and sharp Ryan Madson, and an overall good supporting cast, the bullpen has moved from weakness to strength. 

And, importantly, the starting staff  is imposing— at least three out of five days. 

Joe Blanton brought back memories of Adam Eaton through July, but has been 6-1 with a 3.37 ERA since. The remaining schedule may allow the team to bypass inconsistent fifth starter Kyle Kendrick. 

The biggest source of optimism for the pennant stretch and postseason, should they advance, derives from the fact that Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt can out-duel anyone. 

Surely the games need to be won on the field, and a one game lead and a pack of hungry teams in pursuit of the playoffs will keep the heat on— but this Phillies team has the elements to win it all. 

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