By Michael Rushton
For just the second time in franchise history, the Philadelphia Phillies will enter a season as defending World Series Champions.
It had been a long drought for the City of Brotherly Love. Twenty-five years and 100 seasons between titles, the Phillies gave their city its first championship since the Philadelphia 76ers in 1983. It was also just the Phils second title since forming in 1883 and first since 1980.
Not that it came easy.
After overcoming a seven-game deficit with 17 games to play in 2007 to win its first National League East title since 1993, Philadelphia was swiftly bounced out of the playoffs in the first round.
Last season saw much of the same. Philadelphia again trailed the New York Mets heading down the stretch, finding itself 3 1/2 games back on September 10. Doubters will say the Mets collapsed for a second straight season, but optimists counter with the fact that the Phillies won 13 of their final 16 regular-season games to secure their second straight NL East title.
Philly didn't slow down in the postseason either. Behind a strong rotation, consistent hitting and one of the top bullpens in baseball, the Phils went 11-3 in the postseason and captured the title with a Game 5 victory over the surprising Tampa Bay Rays.
The good news for Phillies fans is the club returns basically the same squad that won it all just one season after becoming the first franchise to reach 10,000 losses.
It had been a long drought for the City of Brotherly Love. Twenty-five years and 100 seasons between titles, the Phillies gave their city its first championship since the Philadelphia 76ers in 1983. It was also just the Phils second title since forming in 1883 and first since 1980.
Not that it came easy.
After overcoming a seven-game deficit with 17 games to play in 2007 to win its first National League East title since 1993, Philadelphia was swiftly bounced out of the playoffs in the first round.
Last season saw much of the same. Philadelphia again trailed the New York Mets heading down the stretch, finding itself 3 1/2 games back on September 10. Doubters will say the Mets collapsed for a second straight season, but optimists counter with the fact that the Phillies won 13 of their final 16 regular-season games to secure their second straight NL East title.
Philly didn't slow down in the postseason either. Behind a strong rotation, consistent hitting and one of the top bullpens in baseball, the Phils went 11-3 in the postseason and captured the title with a Game 5 victory over the surprising Tampa Bay Rays.
The good news for Phillies fans is the club returns basically the same squad that won it all just one season after becoming the first franchise to reach 10,000 losses.
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