These Phillies Are Off The Chain...

Prediction, if the Yankees and the Phillies meet up in the World Series, the score of the games will look like an NFC East battle between the Giants and Eagles. These boys can hit. The Phillies didn't just beat the Dodgers in 5 games, they slugged their way past the boys in blue. The Phillies outscored the Dodgers 34-15 in their 4 victories. (8.5 runs/game)

The crazy thing is that none of the Fightins' weaknesses showed their head in this series, the bullpen never got put into a precarious situation except for Game 2, which they lost 2-1. Their ace, Cole Hamels, simply has been a dead fish so far on the mound. My boy, and Phillies homer, Reverend Paul Revere said that, "It's no secret that Cole Hamels hasn't quite been himself this season, and he certainly hasn't duplicated his incredible performance last October this time around. Such a feat would be difficult to replicate, but tonight, Cole does have a chance to do what he did last year: Simultaneously send the Phillies to the World Series and the Dodgers home for the winter."

Well, Cole didn't really help the cause, giving up 3 HR's in 4 1/3 innings and I believe that if the Phillies are going to win the World Series, they're going to need a gem from him. Cliff Lee has been superb, and might now be considered the ace of the staff. Pedro looked like he went back to 1998 with the Jheri Curl and was wheeling and dealing for the Phillies. Philly's closer, Brad Lidge hasn't given up a run so far in the postseason but hasn't been tested either. We all remember the meltdown he had against Albert Pujols in the '05 NLCS when he was with Houston...

As an avid Phillies hater (Go Braves) I've got to admit that this team is beasty when they get to the plate. They had 7 players with double-digit home runs and 4 players with 20+ SB over the season, and they are truly loaded from top to bottom. J-Roll's setting the table (and getting random kisses on the field from women, the credits say an "unidentified woman" but I'm hoping that this is his wife lol), Flyin' Hawaiian Shane Victorino is setting the table, and Utley, Howard & Werth are cleaning them up. Ibanez, Feliz, and Ruiz have stayed in their lane and come to play as well. Truly a ferocious group from 1-8.

But the question is, can they win (defeat the Yankees in) the World Series? They've got the lineup to do it? Do they have the pitching? Can the starters be continually great? (Looking at you Cole Hamels) Can the relievers hold up? Like I said, Lidge has not been tested, and in Game 2 they lost the game for Pedro in an epic performance by Martinez. Can Charlie Manuel stay awake to witness all of this happen? I don't know.

But I do know this...if the Yankees do make it to the World Series, I think I'll be rooting for the Fightin' Phillies. To my buddy @IAMLadybug, I'm sorry but...EFF THE YANKEES!

CAN THE PHILLIES WIN IT ALL? HOW WILL THEY MATCHUP WITH THE YANKEES? (OR THE ANGELS, BUT THEY AIN'T COMING BACK) WILL YOU ACTUALLY WATCH THIS SERIES? LET US KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS!

-Ed.
www.edthesportsfan.com