Veterans Still Seeking Ring

Last month when the Phillies were about to clinch their 5th straight NL East title, I thought about whether or not they would partake in the usual champagne spraying celebration.  After all it was the 5th straight time they had won the division, and it was the first step of their ultimate goal of winning another World Series.  But after I saw newcomer Hunter Pence running through the clubhouse like a mad man it hit me; every year there is a new guy who has yet to taste the postseason.  Last year it was Halladay, this year it's Pence, and reaching the postseason should and always will be a huge deal.  And while the Phillies have already reached October baseball, there utlimate goal is to win the World Series and there are a lot of  players on this team who are still looking for their first title.  Let's take a look at some of the key guys who are still looking for a ring.

Cliff: Wow, a World Series Ring would be awesomeeeeee.
Roy: Yes it would Cliff, yes it would.

Cliff Lee:  Lee, a 10 year pro, has played in the last two World Series but each time he has come up short.  If Lee makes it back this year, it will be his third consecutive season and you have to believe that he is extremely hungry for another shot at the title.

Roy Halladay:  Halladay, a 14 year pro, got his first taste of the playoffs last year but the Phillies came up short against the Giants in the NLCS.  Although Halladay pitched a no hitter against the Reds in the NLDS, Halladay is still looking for that ring.

Roy Oswalt:  Oswalt, a, 11 year pro, has a bad taste in his mouth from the 2005 World Series in which he started and pitched in one game allowing 5 earned runs to the Chicago White Sox who eventually went on to win it in 4.

Placido Polanco:  Polanco a 14 year pro, made it to the playoffs twice with the Cardinals, and in 2006 lost to the Cardinals in the World Series.  Polanco needs a ring.

Raul Ibanez:  Ibanez has been in the league for 16 years and he is perhaps the most intriguing guy on the Phils who doesn't have a ring.  With Domonic Brown and John Mayberry Jr. rising to the big league level, the Phillies are not going to re-sign Ibanez so he knows that this is in all likelihood his last shot at the title.  Ibanez still has the bad taste of 2009 and 2010 in his mouth and he is going to give it his all for this team.

Hunter Pence:  Pence is still a youngster but this is his first taste of the postseason.  He is a competitor and is going to go all out for the crown.

Although a lot of guys like Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, and Cole Hamels all have their 2008 rings, a lot of the guys on this current team have never won a World Series title.  The Phillies will stay motivated through out this month not just from the guys who are still looking for their first title, but also from the 2008 veterans who want to go down in history as the best Phillies team ever.  The mix of guys who have been there and won it and the guys who have not won it will be huge for the Phillies down the stretch.