Philadelphia Phillies: The NL Champs Will Get To the World Series Again

The MLB playoffs are almost here and teams are closing in on clinching their playoff spots. The Philadelphia Phillies seem poised for a deep postseason run for the third consecutive season. 

They have really taken off since the acquisition of Roy Oswalt, as well as the more obvious reason of having their star players return from injury.

The Phillies, when healthy, have arguably the best roster in the National League. Here are five reasons that Philly fans should be confident that their team will make it to its third consecutive Fall Classic.

Experience

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

WASHINGTON - AUGUST 01: Manager Charlie Manuel of the Philadelphia Phillies watches the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 1, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

A majority of this Phillies roster has been together for the past few years and knows what to expect as the postseason gets closer. Although they are competing against a team that is led by Bobby Cox, a manager that has been to the postseason on numerous occasions, the Braves’ roster has guys on it that haven’t been to the postseason or have been minimal contributors on those postseason teams. 

The Phillies are also led by one of the more experienced managers in the National League in Charlie Manuel.

If the Phillies were to make the playoffs in 2010, it would be their fourth consecutive appearance in the postseason. 

Lineup

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 02: (Front row L-R) Jimmy Rollins #11, Chase Utley #26 and Ryan Howard #6 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate with their teammates after their 8-6 win against the New York Yankees in Game Five of the 2009 MLB World Series at Ci

The Phillies, as they have for the past few seasons, sport one of the best offenses in the National League. Any lineup featuring Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Jayson Werth should never be overlooked. Those five guys can cause serious damage with one swing of the bat. 

The loss of Rollins is unfortunate for the Phillies, but their offense is so good that it is only a minor speed bump in their path to the Fall Classic.

Since the All Star Break, this Phillies offense leads the National League in runs scored and RBI, is fourth in batting average, and fifth in home runs.  This lineup is always dangerous, especially in a short playoff series where one swing could dictate the entire series.

Rotation

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

NEW YORK - AUGUST 14: Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies delivers a pitch against the New York Mets on August 14, 2010 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Roy Halladay, American League CY Young Winner. Cole Hamels, NLCS MVP and World Series MVP. Roy Oswalt, 150 career victories.

Those types of career accomplishments are not usually found within the same rotation. Usually guys with those types of high praise are on separate teams. The Phillies have somehow managed to have all three in their rotation and it has done nothing but give them arguably the best rotation in the National League.

Phillies fans are probably still upset that they gave away Cliff Lee, but Roy Oswalt’s success in Philadelphia has definitely made it easier to forget. Since coming over to bolster the Phillies rotation, Oswalt is 7-1 with a 1.94 ERA. Not to mention his record in the playoffs is 4-0 with a 3.66 ERA.

Roy Halladay has never pitched in the postseason, but baseball fans everywhere have seen what he can do in the regular season so to think that it wouldn’t carry over into the postseason is crazy.

Although Cole Hamels has had rocky times in Philadelphia, his performance in the 2008 postseason will never be forgotten. His second half stats this season are nothing to scoff at either: 4-3 with a 1.96 ERA.

Jimmy Rollins, Anybody?

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

WASHINGTON - AUGUST 01: Jimmy Rollins #11 of the Philadelphia Phillies rounds third base and scores in the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on August 1, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Look what this Phillies team is doing without Jimmy Rollins in their lineup.  He has been out of the Phillies lineup since September 8, having problems with his hamstring.

The Phillies have been one of the hottest teams in the league since the All Star Break and have won eight of the nine games that Rollins has recently been sidelined for.

He is a spark plug and leader for this Phillies offense. He also plays excellent defense at the shortstop position.

With the extent of the hamstring injury not definitive at this point, who knows what toll that will take on Rollins’ ability to participate in a potential postseason run. The thing that Phillies fans should be excited about is that their team is already one of the best without him, so the thought of him returning should generate an even greater buzz about this team.

Philadelphia Phillies + Short Series = Nightmare for Opposing Teams

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 21: Fans celebrate the Philadelphia Phillies defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-4 to advance to the World Series in Game Five of the NLCS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park on October 21, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pen

The combination of experience, offensive fire power, pitching depth, and potential for a superstar shortstop to return to the lineup will make any team that has to play the Phillies in October tremble. 

The prospect of facing Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt twice each if the series were to go seven games would strike fear into the eyes of every lineup. In a sport where it seems that pitching dictates the way the postseason plays out, the Phillies are in a prime position to dominate.

Add their explosive offense to the mix and you got yourselves a tough team to beat.