Philadelphia Phillies Will Repeat as Champions

This team is not a one and done championship team. The Phillies are here to stay—and for a while.  The reason very simple: the team plays as a TEAM. 

I followed this team thoroughly during their championship run and everyone contributed to their success, not just the All Stars.

For example, how about Brett Myers' walk against the best pitcher in the league at that time, C.C. Sabathia? That game ended up with Shane Victorino's grand slam and blew Game Two open. 

How about Geoff Jenkins lead off pinch-hit double in the World Series to give the Phillies the edge they needed to win? 

I could go on and on about clutch hits, catches, and steals, but the fact of the matter is that the Phillies won their championship because of teamwork—not just Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and Cole Hamels.

The Phillies have every element of the game to proceed as repeat champions.  Their lineup has extremely strong hitters from top to bottom.  If someone wants to say it's because the Phillies only rely on the home run ball, that's not true at all.  Only one game in the World Series was won off the long ball. It doesn't matter how a team scores runs as long as they can get the job done when they're in the clutch. 

Arguments that the Phillies were only good because they play in a hitters park, Citizens Bank Park, are illogical because the team hit about 50% of their home runs at home and 50% away.

Besides their run production, the Phillies have a vital skill with their extremely solid defense.  Pedro Feliz is a wall at third base, Rollins has been nothing short of Gold Glove-worthy at shortstop, and Utley and Howard have both drastically improved over the past seasons. 

In the outfield, Jayson Werth is a solid defender in right and Victorino (The Flying Hawaiian) has made numerous game saving plays out in center.  Raul Ibanez is okay, but he will do what needs to be done.  Carlos Ruiz has been a rock behind the plate all year, especially dealing with Lidge's brutal slider.

Their pitching staff and bullpen has been nothing but spectacular late in the season last year and during the playoffs. Their starting rotation was solid the entire year anchored by their horse Cole (Hollywood) Hamels.  The Phillies bullpen during the playoffs was almost perfect with the rotation of Romero (7th), Madson (8th) and Lights out Lidge to close them out.  

As anyone can see this team is not just made of a few All Stars; this team is built around each other. That's why the Phillies will be repeat champions next year and solid contenders for many years to come.