Bring On October

After all the ups and downs, the inconsistent offense, and the at times streaky pitching, the Phillies clinched the N.L. East Division title for the 4th consecutive season on Monday night with 8-0 victory over the Washington Nationals. After dropping 2 out of 3 to the Mets, the Phils entered the Washington series with their magic number at 1. The stars aligned on Monday night for a magical division clinching game. Roy Halladay would be pitching and with the Braves game delayed due to rain, all the Phils had to do was win and the division title would be theirs once again. Roy Halladay didn't mess around. He pitched a 9 inning, 2 hit, complete game shutout. The offense didn't mess around either as they exploded for 8 runs, 4 of which came in the top of the 9th. When Halladay threw the final strike to secure the victory, it really occurred to me just how good this team truly is. This team has been able to win 4 consecutive division titles, 2 consecutive pennants and 1 world series title. They have been able to accomplish all of this through their offense and the scary thing this year is that not only do they have offense, but they also have the best pitching staff in the MLB. When you look at the past post-season pitching staffs, they look like this. In 2007, when the Phillies got swept in the NLDS by the Colorado Rockies, the Phillies started Hamels, Kendrick, and Moyer. Not the best staff in the world. In 2008, the Phillies were able to win it all behind Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton. Even though Cole Hamels was unreal during the entire post season, the Phils once again did not have that great of a staff. They won by their offense, plain and simple. Last year the Phils starting staff was Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Pedro Martinez, and Joe Blanton. Cliff Lee was outstanding, Pedro and Blanton were ok, and Hamels was non-existent, once again not the greatest staff. Now flash forward to post-seson 2010. The Phils will send Roy Halladay, a hot Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt, and Blanton as your fourth to the mound. The Phils have a great pitching staff during the regular season, but in the post-season they have an unreal pitching staff. Every night in a series your either going to be facing Oswalt, Halladay or Hamels, an ace every night. The playoffs are set up so that you can get by with only 3 starters, something the Phils definitely plan on doing. This post season, the Phils finally have the offense combined with the pitching. If the Phils were able to win the world series in 2008 with Moyer, Myers, Blanton and Hamels, there is no doubt in my mind that the 2010 Phils with the killer 3 will be able to bring us a parade down Broad Street. Get ready Philadelphia, it's going to be another exciting October.