Philadelphia Phillies' Keys to Success

The Philadelphia Phillies are world champions.

Say it again. World champions.

It's been 25 years since the city of Philadelphia has had a champion of its own. 25 long and painful years. 98 seasons. The Curse of William Penn. And now the Phillies are champions.

This is what a championship feels like. Unreal.

What a season it was.

So many memories.

J-Roll saying, “We're the team to beat in the N.L. East.” The Mets' second consecutive collapse in September. The amazing bullpen. Let's look back at the top 10 reasons the Phillies were able to win it all this season.

1. Keeping the nucleus of the team intact.That would be Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels, and Shane Victorino. The big bats and the ace of the team. These guys are vital to the success of the Phillies. You won't find a better 1B-2B-SS combo than these guys.

2. Cole Hamels. Simply the best left-handed pitcher in baseball down the stretch—better than Sabathia. Hamels was simply phenomenal in all five of his postseason starts for the Phillies, taking home both the NLCS and World Series MVP awards.

In his final 16 starts of the regular and postseason, Hamels gave up two or fewer runs in every start but one. With his unhittable changeup, Hamels looks to be the ace of the staff for many years to come.

3. The little things. Matt Stairs. Greg Dobbs. J.C. Romero. Jayson Werth. The guys that no one wanted. Stairs, who was traded for after the trade deadline,and hit one of the biggest home runs in the history of the franchise. Dobbs, the best pinch-hitter in baseball, whom Seattle let go after the '06 season.

Romero, who has been dynamic as a left-handed specialist in both '07 and '08. And Werth, the top home-run hitter against lefties this season and a speed demon on the basepaths.

4. Lights Out & The Bullpen. 89-0 when leading after eight innings. No blown saves in 48 regular season and postseason opportunities for Brad Lidge, who, along with his absolutely devastating slider, has become the best closer in baseball.

He may make things interesting, such as loading the bases in the division clincher, but the bottom line is, he's perfect, and no one deserved to get the final out more than Lidge.

And as spectacular as Lidge has been, his contemporaries in the bullpen—Romero, Madson, Durbin, Condrey, etc.—have been magnificent as well, giving the Phillies the lowest relief ERA in the majors this year.

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