Red October!

 We interrupt your regularly scheduled broadcasting to bring this important message:

We don't know if they'll win the division yet (most likely will) or how far they'll go in the playoff. But for the third year in a row, the Phillies are going to the postseason! 

NLCS!

The Phillies are back in the NLCS for the second straight year. It's the first time they have consecutive NLCS appearances since they had three straight from 2008-2010. And the fact they defeated the hated Marlins in the Wild Card series makes it sweeter. And then defeating the no-class Braves (making multiple comments about both Phillies players and Braves - and let's not forget them trashing their own field...again) makes it the sweetest one yet. 

Nick Castellanos, Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suárez all deserve huge props.

Interestingly enough, with all those home runs the Phillies hit, the guy with 46 during the season (Kyle Schwarber) didn't hit a single one. But he did have a few other hits though. 

Anyway, could this be the Phillies third golden age? I sure hope.

First golden age:

1976- NL East Champions

1977 - NL East Champions

1978 - NL East Champions

1980 - NL East Champions, NL League Champions, World Series Champions

1981 - NL East Champions (first half - they had odd rules that year where they split the first half of the season and the second half)

1983 - NL East Champions, NL League Champions

Second golden age:

2007 - NL East Champions

2008 - NL East Champions, NL League Champions, World Series Champions

2009- NL East Champions, NL League Champions

2010 - NL East Champions

2011 - NL East Champions

Third golden age?

2022 - NL Wild Card (third spot), NL League Champions

2023 - NL Wild Card (first spot)....How far will they go?

Phillies

Okay, so the Phillies clinched a playoff spot a few days ago. It is the first time the Phillies have ever been in the playoffs for 5 straight years. However, they haven't clinched the division yet. Their magic number is 1. That means either they have to win 1 more game this season or the Braves (who are in 2nd place in the divison) have to lose 1. I don't see how they can't clinch. No way the Phillies are going to lose every game left AND the Braves are going to win every game left. Anyway, if they win tonight or the Braves lose, they win. Of course winning would be better. Face it. You don't want to clinch by having another team lose. It's just lame. Roy Oswalt is going on the mound tonight. Kind of nervous. He's been facing a lot of injuries this season and just has not been the same pitcher he has been in years past. He has a losing record this year. But he has won some games. Let's see if he gets it. Go Phillies!

Phillies

The Phillies were on a four game losing streak. 2 to the Braves and then both games of a short 2 game series to the Cardinals. But finally, in game 1 of another short 2 game series, the Phillies beat the Rockies. About time. For whatever reason, their offense has just disappeared. I'm not even sure when the last time was they scored more than 3 runs in a game. It's horrible. Luckily, the did this last year and wound up in the playoffs anyway. So hopefully, they can do it again. Though maybe they can go a little further in the playoffs this year. But that's still a long way off. Let's just worry about winning the current games. Pitching is there, but offense needs to come back. Come on Phillies! Let's sweep this 2 game series.

Heartbreaker

Friday night was a real heartbreaker for Philly sports fans. The Flyers were swept and are now done until next season. Crushing. Then there's the Phillies. Cliff Lee stroke out 16 batters. That ties him with Steve Carlton for most strikeouts by a lefthander in Phillies history. However, the Phillies scored 0 runs. That's right. Nothing. Despite striking out 16 batters, Lee got the loss. And that's the number that really matters. (Sigh.)

Some more Phillies

Okay, it's been about a week since my last post. Today is about the Phillies again. They played their 30th game of the season tonight. They won, making their record 21-9. That ties them with the Cleveland Indians for the best record in baseball. Raul Ibanez seems to be coming alive. 2 home-runs in the past 2 games. Cole Hamels seems to have returned to his World Series MVP 2008 form. He has been dominant. Roy Halladay pitched another gem in tonight's game. Vance Worley, a call-up for the injured Joe Blanton, has been really impressive. In fact, he's pitched better than Blanton. The batting order has been adjusted and it seems to be working out great. Let's go Phillies!

Sunday sports

How about that? Roy Halladay shut down the San Diego Padres for Antonio Bastardo got the final out in Sunday's game. It was the first time the Phillies swept a four games series at the Padre's ballpark since 1979. Only took 32 years.
In hockey, the Flyers beat the Sabres 5-4 to force a game seven. It will be played on Tuesday night. Let's go Flyers!