Roy Halladay’s No-Hitter Puts the Power of Sports on Display

I’ve had so many people ask me what is was like to be there last night—I can’t articulate it.

It’s impossible.

After the Phillies won the World Series in 2008, it took me until the morning before the parade, the parade I had dreamed of for far too long, to realize that every sports game I’d ever attended, every game I’d ever watched, every dollar I’d ever spent, every hour of sleep I’d ever lost, and every ounce of energy I’d ever exhausted, was all for that day. That morning. That moment.

Do you know how powerful it was to see two million people’s dream come to fruition on one perfect Halloween afternoon during one glorious ride down Broad Street? That day, until last night, was the first time I’d ever seen pure, unquestioned jubilation so widespread. So infectious. So overwhelming.

Welcome to the power of sports.

Trust me, sports aren’t important. In the grand scheme of things, sports mean nothing. The American economy remains stymied. American troops remained endangered.

But try to wipe the smile off my face today. Try to shake the mood of any of the 46,000 people that were in Citizens Bank Park last night. You can’t. It’s too much. It’s too surreal.

To have the privilege of being there in person is something I’ll never forget. That’s why we watch sports. For a chance to experience a moment like that—just once.

When all is said and done, last night will likely be a small blip on the radar of my life. Someday I’ll be married, have children, and hopefully live the American dream.

But nights like last night, with my best friend (who happens to be my girlfriend) at my side, and my Dad a phone call away, are building blocks to that American dream. Those are the days you’ll look back on.

They’re reference points. Bookmarks. Jubilant moments you shared together.

That’s why last night was so special.

It’s impossible to think of where that night belongs in the annals of baseball history when you’re there. When you experience it. When you feel it.

But when I woke up this morning and flipped on MLB Network to watch the replay at 4:30 in the morning, I began to realize what I witnessed. It started to sink in.

I sat four rows from the top of the stadium, but you could see the dominance from the parking lot. I could see how off-balance he had the Reds. The fastball was sharp. The change-up was great. The curveball was deadly.

It was art in its purest form.

I’ll never forget it. Not a moment of it. For something that should mean so little, it meant so much.

Finally, after decades and decades of torment and despair, I feel honored to call myself a Philadelphia fan.

Finally, I can call my dad 10 years from now and reminisce about all the great Phillies games.

Finally, I have something other than horror stories to tell my kids.

Incredible night.

Incredible team.

Incredible, Roy.

Ten more wins.

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The Young and the Restless: Is Ruben Amaro Too Quick on the Trigger?

Last offseason, fresh off his team’s first championship in nearly three decades, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. pounced on free agent OF, Raul Ibanez to fill the void left by the departed fan favorite, Pat Burrell.

Amaro acted quickly, as the rival Mets were reportedly hot on the trail for the left-handed slugger.

The rookie GM offered the 36-year old Ibanez a three-year, $31.5 million deal, to which he quickly agreed to.

Unquestionably benefiting from the gleam of his shiny new World Series ring, the signing was met with little backlash, though if you listened closely, you could hear the whispers of doubt: Will Ibanez be worth $10 million at the age of 39? Could he play left field all nine innings? Why another left-handed bat?

All of those concerns were quickly put to rest when Ibanez absolutely carried the Phils for the first two and half months.

Game after game, Ibanez stepped up.

Some were even discussing Ibanez as the early front-runner for MVP.

After his torrid first half, Ibanez was rewarded with his first All-Star Game selection, garnering the second most votes amongst all NL OFs.

The latter half of the season however, didn’t go so swimmingly. Perhaps it was his groin strain, perhaps it was age, or maybe he was playing over his head, but whatever the case was, his numbers plummeted.

His final line, aside from the peak in HRs, didn’t look too dissimilar from what the Mariners came to expect out of him.

Now with modest expectations, many are labeling the Ibanez signing a bust, with many believing we’ve seen his best.

This offseason, Amaro did nothing to quiet those critical of signing aging veterans to three year deals, inking former Phillie, Placido Polanco to an $18 million deal.

In a vacuum, these deals don’t look terrible. Ibanez’s market value was approximately $10 million. I’m not sure a third guaranteed year was widely available, but it was clear that Amaro had Ibanez in his sights all along.

But as the months wore on and spring training inched closer, former Phillie, Bobby Abreu, remained without a job.

Finally, two days before Valentine’s Day, Abreu joined the Angels at a modest price of $5 million in a one-year deal.

The 35-year-old rewarded the Halos with one of his finest seasons, hitting .293 with 100+ RBIs, 15 HRs, and 30 SBs.

Meanwhile, the twice as costly Ibanez slugged 34 HRs, but hit only .270 and failed to clear the 100 RBI plateau.

This year, Amaro had another hole to fill, this time at 3B.

After gladly declining incumbent starter, Pedro Feliz’s $5.5 million option, Amaro set his sights on a free agent class that included Chone Figgins, Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa, Placido Polanco, and eventually Garrett Atkins.

Once again, Amaro was the first to strike, seemingly outbidding himself for the services of Polanco.

Again, while the signing wasn’t completely despised, few thought this was the right move.

Many wanted to go for the jugular, and sign Figgins to top this already potent lineup. That was a pipe dream, but other options in the same general price range of Polanco were Mark DeRosa, Garrett Atkins, and the slightly more expensive Adrian Beltre.

Shortly after the Polanco signing was announced, reports surfaced that both DeRosa and Beltre were seeking deals in excess of $10 million per year, a price the Phillies certainly couldn’t afford to pay.

Understandingly now, the pundits regressed, seeing Polanco’s $6 million yearly salary as a bargain compared to what DeRosa and Beltre were commanding.

But then the market dried up and prices nosedived. Earlier this week, Mark DeRosa signed a 2 year, $12 million deal with the San Francisco Giants. Garrett Atkins signed with the lowly Orioles for a $4.5 million deal.

Don’t both of these signings represent value in comparison to the Phillie’s newest 3rd basemen?

The point is, sometimes it’s better to sit on your hands while others play.

Now, I’m willing to let the chips falls as they may, but at first glance, it looks like Ruben is too eager for his own good.

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Eagles Red With Envy As Phillies Topple Birds From Perch

We waited nearly three decades to celebrate a winner in Philadelphia. A quarter century of tormenting coulda’s, maddening woulda’s, and hopeless shoulda’s.  

Every team had their chance.

Allen Iverson led a no-holds-barred attack at the mighty Los Angeles Lakers, only to be shackled in five quick games.

After blitzing their way through the Eastern Conference playoffs in 1997, the Flyers were shown the door by the Detroit Red Wings in a four game shellacking.

The Eagles knocked on the doorstep to the Superbowl three consecutive years before finally making it to Jacksonville to face the Tom Brady-led Patriots in a loss that has defined Donovan McNabb’s legacy as an Eagle thus far.

The 1993 Phillies made sure they would be a part of the discussion, ending up on the wrong end of a series winning, walk-off home run.

As those gut-wrenching losses began to pile up, a cloud of doubt and speculation hovered over the stadium complex on Broad St. Was this city cursed? Did they know how to win?

Then came the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies, vanquishers of all that was wrong in Philadelphia. On the left arm of Cole Hamels and the slider of Brad Lidge, the Phillies reminded the city what it was like to be on top.

It was a feeling many fans had never experienced. Those fans that were born immediately following the 76ers championship in 1983 hadn’t a clue how to react when that final pitch dodged Eric Hinske’s bat.

The party that proceeded on Halloween day will go into Philadelphia lore as one of the most memorable and remarkable days in the history of the city.

The Phillies were the toast of the town. It no longer mattered how goofy Uncle Cholly sounded in a press conference, or how many times Ryan Howard struck out, or how the moves the GM didn’t make at the trading deadline cost us a Championship.

Our day had finally come. Our time was finally here.

Vindication.

Finally.

The following April, the 2009 Phillies took the field to do something Philadelphia hadn’t seen in twenty-five years: defend a title. Defend it valiantly they did, but to no avail.

The Phillies ultimately yielded their crown to the New York Yankees in Game Six of the World Series.

Along the way, somewhere amongst the mass hysteria that accompanies a championship win and the misery that that follows another NFC Championship Game loss, the Phillies did something perhaps even more impressive than being the best team in baseball: they stole the top spot in Philadelphian’s hearts.

In a town that bleeds midnight green, and perhaps even orange and black before red, the losingest team in the history of North American sports had somehow stolen the show.

Winning, of course, will certainly aid in that journey. But, this theory was reified this year when, following the sixth game of the World Series, there was no outrage. There were no calls for the manager’s head, and there were no complaints about crooked referees/umpires.

Rather, there was appreciation and thanks for such a gifted and likeable team.

Sure, this could have been the product of leftover goodwill from last year’s victory, but this is Philadelphia.

Ask Cole Hamels how long goodwill lasts. One lousy season, a shrew of questionable remarks, and his days of LCS and World Series MVP were long forgotten.

But not for this team. Somehow, this team has touched Philadelphia in a unique way. They mean more to us than a reason to get completely barbecued eight sunday’s out of every year.

We sympathize with the players, see eye-to-eye with the management, and embrace all that is the Phillies.

How much of that can be said about the Eagles?  Again, winning is the remedy for all ailments, but this franchise has been a model of consistency amongst a parity-ridden league.

Since the Donovan McNabb/Andy Reid era begun over a decade ago, this team has competed for Superbowl nearly every year.

They’ve visited the NFC Championship game five different times. They, until last week, have dominated their foremost rival in Dallas, and even the Giants.

Yet, following every inexplicable loss, the cynics came out. They call for Andy Reid’s head, they beg Jeff Lurie to pull the plug on Donovan.

Sure, it’s passion in a way that only Philadelphia knows how to display. But where was the outrage over Charlie Manuel’s decision to leave a lifeless Pedro Martinez on the hill to face a hitter in Hideki Matsui that had absolutely dominated him?

Why was Ryan Howard treated to a free pass after breaking the record for most strike-outs in a single World Series? How many more times would Jimmy Rollins have to lazily pop-out for someone to speak up?

One possible explanation could be the distrust in the Eagles organization when, after 42 Superbowl’s, they have yet to claim a single one.

It could be that Andy Reid hasn’t yet let anyone even close to him understand his reasoning. Perhaps Lurie’s perceived frugality has cost this organization their reputation.

Whatever the reason may be, Philadelphia now belongs to the Phillies. They are an easy organization to love.

Following the departure of Ed Wade, everything the team has done had a clearly articulated and reasoned explanation. Pieces began to fall into place. The fans were a part of the clearly growing powerhouse.

Now, on the heels of a third straight NL East crown and second consecutive NL title, the Phillies are poised to remain a power for years to come.

With a core of players all firmly in their primes, potential stars littered across their farm system, and a young, aggressive GM who understands his team, this Phillies franchise is one of the best to ever call Philadelphia home.

A Superbowl ring can certainly change all of this, but until that day, the Phillies reign supreme.

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Philadelphia Phillies: A Tip of the Hat and an Eye To the Future

Well, they by no means disappointed. Last night, in a rather anticlimactic fashion, the Phillies relinquished their title of baseball’s best to the clearly superior Yankees.

Make no doubt about it, folks. The Yankees were the better team. They had three reliable workhorses who left little to guesswork.

They synchronized timely hitting with flashes of power. And, much like the Phillies did last year, had the luxury of summoning an absolute stopper to put the game away.

Back-to-back National League titles is no simple accomplishment. Completing such a feat required every ounce of grit this Phillies team had.

Remember, the Rockies were the hottest team in the league before they ran into the Phils. The Dodgers had just finished waxing the floor with the Cardinals before they subdued to the champs.

While the Phillies had very little trouble dispatching those two stoutly built teams, the Yankees were not only more talented than the Phil’s previous challengers, but more intelligent.

Every single weakness was exploited.

The lack of a DH. The breaking balls down and away that Ryan Howard just couldn’t lay off. The bullpen no more stable than a ticking time-bomb.

All of it was exposed. All of it was revealed. The 10 scouts that watched this team in the NLCS compiled the perfect blueprint to take this giant down.

And thus, today begins the march to next year. This is not a team that was built to win now and flounder. This is not a team that was built on career years.

In fact, it may be quite the opposite. Cole Hamels was awful this year. There’s no way around that. He flashed very little of the form that made him a household name just one year ago.

Brad Lidge’s most recent meltdown carried all the way over into Game Four of this series. Chase Utley started the season with a questionable hip. After a blazing start, Raul Ibanez settled into approximately his career norms.

Jimmy Rollins was one of the least productive players in baseball for three months. Yet despite all these shortcomings, the Phils still comfortably won the NL East and cruised through their foremost competition in the NL playoffs.

Considering those circumstances, the fact the Phillies even stretched the Yankees to six games is incredible.

But nonetheless, this team has weaknesses. The most glaring hole in this team is in the bullpen. Many a win was lost in the back-end of a formerly lock-down bullpen.

Does Phillies’ GM Ruben Amaro address the closing situation? How much longer can Charlie answer questions about who his closer will be? Aside from Ryan Madson — who wasn’t even close to good this year — who did you ever feel comfortable with out of the ‘pen? Chan Ho Park, maybe?

J.C. Romero, who missed nearly the entire season due to a 50 game suspension and then an injury, will provide a boost to the ‘pen. But where else will they find help?

The starting pitching, which at the trade deadline looked to be phenomenal, now also faces questions.

Cliff Lee will undoubtedly be back next year after the Phils pick up his option. Cole Hamels, like it or not, will be the No. 2 starter, hopefully with a reliable third pitch. Right now, Joe Blanton will settle in as the No. 3. After that, who’s throwing?

Will Pedro return? We could have seen the last of Jamie Moyer this year. What about potential R.O.Y., J.A. Happ? Could blue-chip prospect Kyle Drabek pitch his way into the rotation?

This will be an interesting situation to monitor over the next three moths leading up to spring training.

The lineup is pretty much set. The only position that might be upgraded, or at least looked at, is third base. The Phillies have to decide whether Pedro Feliz is the best option there. He’s by no means even a decent hitter. But that’s not what he’s there for.

The Phillies basically concede sports two spots in the order in return for a solid defense. A sound decision in my estimation, but it might be something Amaro addresses with perhaps a more reliable option than Greg Dobbs or Eric Bruntlett.

Which brings us to the bench. This has been a glaring weakness all year for the Fightins. The likes of Miguel Cairo, Eric Bruntlett, and Matt Stairs simply are not good enough.

Ben Francisco was a welcome addition to this group, but he alone is not enough. They need another right-handed bat off the bench. They need a better utility player than Bruntlett or Cairo.

They need to be aggressive. Complacency cannot set in. Ruben must not be happy with what he is.

Constant improvement with sustained continuity will bring more success. Last offseason, the Phillies seamlessly plugged Ibanez in for the castoff Pat Burrell in LF and a move that paid dividends in spades.

There needs to be that type of aggression again. There needs to be a sense of urgency.

We’ve had a taste of what it feels like to win. Now it’s time for more.

What’s needed is not an overhaul, but a fine-tuning. With a few soundly calculated moves, this team could find itself another advantageous position entering October.

What a run it’s been over the past two seasons. It’s a run the likes of which Philadelphia has rarely seen. But let’s not be satisfied. Let’s not be happy.

This could be the greatest era in Phillies history. Enjoy it. But don’t settle.

Few franchises ever have this opportunity. Embrace it.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Subdued Celebration a By-Product of Expectations

I bet you can remember your first kiss. It’s likely that you can remember your first car. And I’m sure you can remember your first drink, right? …right?

How about that second kiss? What car did you drive after your first lemon? And after that first drink, well, it’s all down hill from there.

The point is familiarity begins to set in. That first kiss created a feeling unlike anything you had ever felt before. The first time you revved your engine etched a memory forever in your consciousness. And the first drink, actually, never mind.

And that’s where the Phillies find themselves today. The day after clinching their second World Series appearance in as many years, the team unquestionably feels different than they did at this time last year.

They are undoubtedly mindful at the opportunity before them, thankful for the success they’ve already achieved, and hopeful about finding similar successes for years to come.

But for the players, coaches, and fans of this Phillies team, this is not 2008. The jubilation of last year will be hard to match. Ever.  

To many, it was the first season in their lifetime that ever ended with their team walking off the field a champion.

To many, it was the culmination of decades of fan-ship without ever reaching the ultimate pinnacle.

It was the validation of their passion after thousands of hours watching, countless dollars spent, weeks of sleepless nights, and far too many of those drinks that make you forget about the hopeless futility of your team.

But last October it all seemed so worth it. The way you felt after Carlos Ruiz squeezed his glove for one final out, the emotions that ran through your veins when Brad Lidge fell to his knees as a champion, the thoughts that raced through your head as you realized the far-reaching implications of what had just transpired—all of it, every bit of it, was what you waited for.

That night, you were no longer a loser. You had climbed every seemingly insurmountable mountain right there with your team.

Your buddy from New York could no longer persecute you. Your cousin from Massachusetts would finally have to keep his mouth shut. Now it was your turn to brag. Finally.

So when Ronnie Belliard’s pop-fly landed softly into Shane Victorino’s glove last night, don’t fret if you didn’t quite get the same feeling as last year. It doesn’t mean you’re any less a fan, or even any less excited.

It is simply impossible to duplicate such a new, unique feeling. It was an emotional high many diehards have never, ever felt.

We may get to that emotional level again, but not this quickly, not this year.

This year we are all victims of expectations. Last year’s championship validated these Phillies. It reassured us of their place as a juggernaut in this league.

So what made last year so much different? Why did last year seem to occupy every waking thought we had for one, fast-paced month?

Because last year carried the element of surprise. Perhaps we all knew this team had the capability to achieve such success, but being a fan so long has trained all of us to temper expectations.

You see, we fans have gotten so used to having our hearts ripped out, that it was foolish to put your faith in any team that called Philadelphia home.

Volcanic explosions are so violent when they burst because of the years of pressure building up inside them. They simmer. They wait. And then finally, in one magnificent feat of Mother Nature, they burst.

Last year, Philadelphia burst.

And when that most glorious ring was finally presented to all the players and coaches this past April, it officially closed the book on one of the finest professional athletic achievements to ever grace The City of Brotherly Love.

We all felt like we owned a little piece of each ring. That our initials were also engraved in that fleeting piece of jewelry.

So now is the second time around. This feels like a second kiss. The second car, the next in a long line of drinks. We know how to react this time around. We know what to expect. We know how it felt.

This feeling of superiority is rare for the Philadelphia fan. So take solace in the fact that we are the first set of Phillies fans to ever witness this type of sustained success. Feel thankful that this organization is firing on all cylinders, and is set up perfectly to do so for a very long time.

But do not be disappointed if you don’t quite feel the same excitement as last year. It’s not possible. It’s not coming.

Rather, cheer on your beloved Phillies as they take another step towards becoming one of the most successful franchises in American sports this decade. Watch anxiously as this team comprised of pure grit and talent closes in on dynastic status.

But most importantly, get used to this feeling of success, because the end is nowhere in sight.

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Phillies: Eerily Familiar, Predictably Resilient, Phils On The Brink Yet Again

Can someone take their finger off the replay button? Last year is over.

Sure, it was a great run. We get it. It was a run even Dr. Seuss couldn’t have conjured up in his wildest dreams.

The golden left arm of Cole Hamels, backed by the indelible offensive onslaught pushed the Phillies to a level unseen in Philadelphia in over a quarter century.

The clincher was magical. The parade was dizzying. The feeling was indescribable.

But that’s all over. That was last year. That kind of run doesn’t just happen every year. A performance such as that cannot, or at least should not, be feasibly replicated.

Somebody forgot to tell that to the Phillies.

This team overcame the laxity of a comfortable September. This team ignored the calls for panic in the bullpen. This team put the clamps on the hottest team going into the playoffs. And now this team is poised to prove all the “experts” wrong, again.

They said the Dodgers had the hotter starting pitching, more consistent lineup, and stouter bullpen. They said Joe Torre had the moxie to keep his team firing on all cylinders. They said this team simply had too much talent to fold.

It was believed that the bullpen would be the Phillies’ undoing. It was believed that their streaky bats would disappear at the hands of two Phillies castoffs. And it was believed that Charlie Manuel wouldn’t be able to pull the rabbit out of his hat again.

They were wrong.

Thus far, Cliff Lee has been every bit the pitcher the fans clamored for at the trading deadline. The bats—for the most part—have been strikingly consistent.

Charlie Manuel has orchestrated his band to a nearly perfect tune. Heck, if Brad Lidge continues on his current path of success, it could be the single greatest postseason turnaround in the history of the sport.

Everything has fallen into place beautifully. Ruben Amaro looks more intelligent every day.

One day, Cliff Lee is throwing a complete game gem in Game One of the NLDS, the next day, Ben Francisco, a throw-in in the Lee deal, is making what could have amounted to be one of the most significant catches in the Phillies’ postseason history.

All of this is so familiar though. It all seemed to work out so well last year…too well. I bet few could have predicted a similar ride.

But that’s exactly what October has been this year, possibly even better up to this point.

So, to those of you who shake this off as yet another lucky streak, I beg you to look again. This sustained, continued success is no accident.

The fact that Matt Stairs started Game Four’s rally is no coincidence. That Chan Ho Park has played an integral role, good or bad, in this series is no mistake. Everyone is here for a reason; everyone plays a role.

And to those fans who still fear absolute acceptance of having a true winner in this town: stop! Stop doubting. Stop worrying.

These are not the ’04 Eagles. They aren’t the ’01 76ers. This isn’t the ’93 Phillies.

This is the 2009 Philadelphia Figthin’ Phillies; a team full of character, leaders, and oozing with resolve.

So, we thought the ride this team took us on last October was the end of an unbelievable season. But is it possible that it was only the beginning of a run the likes of which Philadelphia has never seen before?

Is it possible that last year was simply the first in a long line of success stories?

It may very well be, but even if it’s not, enjoy the ride. They rarely come this often.

 

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It Ain’t The Same Without The Amazins

In Philadelphia, the mercury reached nearly triple digits today. In the world of baseball, the Phillies find themselves in yet another scorching pennant race atop the NL East.

Coming off a humbling three game sweep at the hands of the Florida Marlins, the Phillies were suddenly back in the position they found themselves the past two seasons.

Only this year their main adversary was not their friends from up north.

The intense rivalry that reached its fever pitch last September has been belittled to nothing. The New York Mets are not an obstacle for the Phillies this year on the road to another October.

For that, I am sad.

The late inning rallies. The bullpen implosions. The dominating pitching performances. The never ending trash talk.

You couldn’t help but get caught in it.

On the heels of a World Series victory, this year, more than ever, set up the Phils and Mets for a pressure packed September.

Unfortunately, the most the Mets can hope for is to play spoilers.

Of course, how could anyone expect the Mets to compete with several of their top players such as Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, JJ Putz, and Carlos Beltran all firmly entrenched on the pine with a litany of injuries?

A season is obviously wasted when Jeff Francoeur is second in ABs for those Mets.

The intense play on the field was obviously the spark that started the flame between the two passionate fan bases. The smack talk only further perpetuated the rivalry.

But that was September. That was the pennant race. That’s what baseball was all about.

A game that is innately flawed – teams threw the World Series, mounds were raised, balls were juiced, players were juiced – all of it was forgotten for a few balmy, September nights.

Nights that transformed to pure symphonies for one fan base, and for the other, well, good luck sleeping.

In a game of monotony, the rivalry was out of the norm. It increased the intensity. It drew media attention. It made the game fun.

Now the Phillies find themselves hoarding off the likes of the Marlins, who couldn’t draw 30,000 fans if they gave away the tickets, and the Braves, who simply don’t have the firepower to compete for the top spot.

The Mets were the perfect partner for the Phillies. The close proximity and relatively evenly matched teams made for a poetic war. A war I hoped to enjoy at least one more year. A war that made for dramatic ending after dramatic ending.

A war that will hopefully spill into next season.

Dear Mets, please come back.

It’s a Good Time to Be a Phils Fan

Not long ago, the Phillies became the first team in the history of North American sports to be on the wrong end of game 10,000 times. Sure seems like distant history now.

On the heels of a Jayson Werth walk-off home run, the Phils extended their win streak to 10 straight games. They sit a lofty 6.5 games up on their nearest competition, the Atlanta Braves, and their lead over their supposed foremost competition coming into the season, the Mets, is as long as their win streak.

While the calendar has yet to turn to August, the Phillies are certainly in a prime position to capture their third straight NL East title.

Management is aware of the position they find themselves in. Roy Halladay has been dancing inside the minds of Phillies fans for the past several weeks. Visions of trotting out Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay in a playoff series has much of the Philadelphia area thinking repeat.

Even better, the Phils are in a unique position to both have the minor league arsenal to meet the demands of the Blue Jays, and take on the ace’s salary for the next year and a half.

The Phils are in a position to take on additional salary to an already franchise high payroll because those turnstiles at Citizens Bank Park won’t stop turning. Nobody in baseball has bought more fans to the ballpark then the Fightins.

In what seems like a blink of an eye, the Phils transformed from eternal laughingstock, to major league powerhouse. This Philadelphia franchise is now firmly entrenched in the upper echelon of major league teams. They have joined the likes of the Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals, and Dodgers as the pillars of this suddenly surging league.

Upper management has much to do with the brand revival. From the job of the GM, the scout team, the marketing department, and the sales and promotional managers, the Phillies are elite. Away games are now littered with red pinstripes.

Home games are now no longer occupied by Eagles fans watching Phillies games. The town has been painted red.

Simply put, there may be no better time than right now to be a Phillies fan.

From top to bottom, a franchise notorious for their frugality and scrupulous approach, has become a beacon of light from which other bottom-dweller franchises can take their cue. 

Yes, the likes of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels, and Charlie Manuel certainly make it easy to see why they are in such a fortuitous position. But after their miraculous division comeback in 2007, this team seemed poised to make their mark in the playoffs.

However, like many a team past, they faltered, losing three consecutive games at the hands of the Colorado Rockies.

Since that NLDS ousting, the franchise has grown in leaps and bounds and now sit in a perfect position to contend for a third World Series ring.

To be a Phillies fan over the past quarter century has certainly taken some years off of many peoples’ lives. But their is no more Wild Thing, no more Scott Rolen, and no more Larry Bowa.

Gone are the days of that constant hollow feeling. The feeling that pierced the heart, that awakened you at night—that constant reminder that ultimately, the Phils will fail.

Right now there is hope. Right now there is opportunity.

Right now there is optimism, talent, and a chance to be unforgettable.

Home Visit From the Doc: Why Halladay Makes Sense For the Phils

Notice to Ruben. The pitcher you’ve openly pined for is on the block. The arm you so desperately need is there for the taking.

All J.P. Ricciardi needs is a phone call, an offer he can’t refuse, and the best pitcher in baseball is yours.

The naysayers will point out that the only reason the Phillies won last year’s World Series is because of home grown talent. But then where would they have been without team MVP Brad Lidge last year? Who’s to say a Joe Blanton-less rotation is good enough to parade down Broad Street?

Were these high profile type additions to the squad? Absolutely not,  but then again, last year’s team didn’t need a C.C. Sabathia type. All they needed was a boost.

Turn the page to July 7, 2009. The Phillies find themselves in yet another dogfight at the top of the NL East. Those pesky Marlins fought and clawed their way back up the standings. The Braves are within striking distance, and those Mets just won’t seem to go away.

The Phillies have been in search of a Brett Myers replacement since he went down. The spot has been filled by an overeager, fastball hurling gunner in Antonio Bastardo, and then by former AL ROY runner-up, turned journeyman, Rodrigo Lopez.

The rest of the rotation of course, still has its question marks. Jamie Moyer has been steady as of late, but is still liable to break down at a moments notice. Joe Blanton keeps chugging along; the ideal No. 4 in a rotation.

J.A. Happ has actually been their best starter in the past month, compiling a 5-0 record with a sub three ERA, but does author a slightly alarming K:BB ratio.

Cole Hamels hasn’t yet hit his stride, but if last night was any indicator of future success for Hamels, expect him to return to form sooner rather than later.

Now plug the Doc’ in that rotation and you’re looking at a very tough one-two punch in Hamels and Hallady. Can any NL team beat either one of these guys twice in a short five game series? My money would be on the Phils.

Furthermore, unlike the Phillies of old, they have the necessary cogs in their minor league system to pull of such a blockbuster. The likes of Carlos Carrassco, Joe Savery, Jason Knapp, Jason Donald, Lou Marson, Dominic Brown, Michael Taylor, and Kyle Drabek all serve as enviable players to many major league teams.

Many fear mortgaging the future for the present. But while those prospects are certainly bursting with potential, when it comes down to it, that’s all it is, a possibility, a chance that someday perhaps they’ll be great.

Roy Halladay is already great. A dominant pitcher in the AL East, the toughest division in baseball, and transferring to the suddenly offense depleted NL East? Sounds like a match to me.

The window of opportunity to win championships is only open for so long. The Phillies are in a great position to open that window a little wider this year.

Go get Roy Halladay, run away with this division, and in the playoffs, as we all saw last year, anything can happen.

The Leader, Silenced: Philadelphia Phillies’ Rollins Struggles Continue

He promised the Phillies were the team to beat.  He said they would win 100 games, then 112 games.  He said he would break out of his “slump” with a .400 May. 

He was wrong, at least on the last one. 

Phillies’ shortstop Jimmy Rollins is mired in a brutal early season “slump.”  But when does a “slump” become reality?

Thus far, JRoll has hit at .219 clip, with a pedestrian .259 OBP.  He’s sporting a nearly 50 percent flyball rate.  By comparison, the newly shelved Brett Myers was hitting .222, before injuring his hip.  

Rollins looks uninspired.  The same lazy swing has ended with the same maddening results through the first 53 games.  Early season struggles are no longer an excuse.  

It’s June.  We’re nearly 1/3 of the way through the season.  Rollins simply needs to start hitting.  

But let’s stop for a second and think about the career of Jimmy Rollins.  Prior to his 2007 MVP campaign, JRoll hit over .290 just once.  His OBP has never climbed over .350. 

His power has always been marginal at-best.  Simply put, Rollins is not an elite player.

Proven results create lofty expectations; Rollins has proven he’s elite just once in a nine year career.

So perhaps we’ve misperceived JRoll as one of the elite, a classification he just hasn’t earned. 

A terror on the basepaths he is.  A strong, vocal leader?  Without a doubt.  But is Jimmy Rollins a top 20 player in the Majors? No.

His MVP season has blinded all of us, including the shortstop himself, into believing he’s more than he is, which is an inconsistent, impatient, six or seven hole hitter, playing the part of a leadoff man.  

Jimmy Rollins is not as bad as he’s been thus far this season.  He’ll begin to hit soon enough, and with those hits will come more Phillies wins, but his career certainly indicates that perhaps we’ve relied too much on atypical results.

Maybe Jimmy Rollins is more talk than walk.