Philadelphia Phillies: Can Anyone Slow Them Down in the Postseason?

Can anyone slow the Philadelphia Phillies down in the postseason—a fair question, don't you think?

The more I think about it, the more I find myself giving the same answer, which is why I am putting this all into a slide.

There are three teams that I will focus on, due to each team's chances being very high to make the postseason: Atlanta, Milwaukee and Arizona.

Each team is very talented, and each team will offer up an excellent challenge, but again, can they slow down the Phillies?

For that answer, you'll have to read further.

The Atlanta Braves

The Braves are a very scrappy team who know this Phillies squad all too well, but whether it is enough to slow the Phillies down is another beast.

The Braves have a scary pitching department and they have a hitting squad that is better looking on paper than they have been in the regular season, thanks to inconsistency.

Atlanta has enough talent to try their hand at stopping the Phillies, but they don't have the elite level of play to actually execute such a feat.

Verdict: Won't slow them down, if they do wind up facing them.

The Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee is a very scary team indeed. They have veteran players all over the place, a solid rotation and a dangerous hitting squad that is terribly difficult to beat at home.

However, that's just it—at home. 

The Brewers' main Achilles heel this season has been their level of inconsistency on the road when compared to their home success; and in the playoffs, you need to be consistent no matter where you play.

Again, they have the talent to slow the Phillies, but not the experienced consistency to beat Philadelphia with more games in Philly than in Milwaukee.

Verdict: Yes, anything can happen, but the Brewers won't slow the Phillies.

The Arizona Diamondbacks

The D-Backs are a very tricky team that is very similar to last year's Giants.

They are a true nine-inning team, they don't usually go away without a fight—and sometimes they just don't go away—and they are filled with talent all around.

They are just as good on the road as they are at home; they have equal amounts of wins against quality teams as they do against lesser teams, and have proven they can ball with anyone.

So, does this mean they can slow the Phillies?

Yes, it does. It means they have the talent and balance to slow the Phillies down, but it doesn't necessarily mean they can beat them for the right to go to the World Series.

Don't misunderstand me here, I am not flat out saying they can't do it, just that I believe they won't—if it comes down to these two teams, of course.

The Phillies have one aspect over the D-backs that we have all seen as the extra factor in the postseason: Experience!

The D-Backs will certainly put up a fight no matter where in the postseason they face the Phillies—if they do—but I just think that the experience factor will be the one elevating aspect the Phillies bring to the table that will help them rise above each competitor they face en route to what I believe will be another World Series appearance and win.