Philadelphia: Could They Possibly Score a Double-Crown in 2011?

Keep in mind as you will hear this phrase used over and over again in this article: "We know this is Philadelphia, so keep in mind to be prepared for the worst."

This is a question in every Philadelphia fans' mind right now.  Do both the Phillies and Flyers have what it takes to make 2011 the first time in history that two Philadelphia teams parade down South Broad St.? 

For the Philadelphia Phillies, it is still far too early to tell, but all signs lead to them being the odds-on favorites going into Spring Training.  This is the most highly-anticipated Philadelphia season possibly ever, even topping the past few for the Phillies and the Eagles' 2004. 

In re-acquiring stud pitcher Cliff Lee, hence making him a No. 2 starter, it's safe to say that the Phillies are deep.  If their offense gets back to consistency, that would be a major key for them, as it was a missing ingredient in 2010.  Both pitching and defense may win championships, but with a lineup like the Phillies have, it will be imperative that they start to hit consistently.

Again I say though, "We know this is Philadelphia, so keep in mind to be prepared for the worst."

Before we get all riled up again, as the Phillies are only about two weeks away from reporting to Clearwater, Florida.  Whether you're a Phillies fan or no, you must admit that you've likely never seen a pitching rotation quite like this.  Think about the luxury that Charlie Manuel has this season (barring injury, of course). In a four-day span, he will send Roy Halladay, Lee, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels out to the mound.  Mind you, when they hit, he also has one of the game's best lineups.   

In the back of our minds, though, does there always need to be that letdown factor??  If so, well then I guess that 2011 could go a lot differently.  Let's just say that the Flyers continue their dominance in the second half and then falter early in the playoffs under the pressure of the Presidents' Trophy?  Unlikely scenario, but,  "We know this is Philadelphia, so keep in mind to be prepared for the worst."

Then, in perhaps an even bigger surprise, do the Phillies crumble under all of their pressure to succeed?  This is (supposed to be) "their year" as they have spent a ton of money to keep the proverbial window open.  The thing is, though, there's six months of baseball to play, plus the playoffs in October.  A lot can go right/wrong in that amount of time.

Are we all being fooled?  Is 2011 merely a farce?  A tease?  We're Philadelphians, what else is there for us to think?  Why have the sports gods been so kind to us as of late?  There must be a reason. 

For now, the Flyers are indeed flying along.  They are the best team in the league at the All-Star Break, leading the league with 71 points.  Is the Presidents' Trophy in their foreseeable future?  Does that even matter, as we've seen how teams that win that trophy perform poorly in the playoffs (i.e. San Jose, Washington)?

Well, the Flyers are not Washington; they have more than one scoring line.  And they surely are not San Jose.  Again, they have superior depth and are dealing with the Eastern Conference.

Now, open your eyes to the possibility that all of this hype is for good reason.  The Flyers are deep enough to last another four months and parade that precious piece of metal down Broad St. 

They have three scoring lines and a blue-collar fourth line that does its job. Mike Richards is the "ideal" Philadelphia captain as he was formed in the image of one Bobby Clarke.  The Scott Hartnell-Danny Briere-Ville Leino line has been one of the best in the NHL this season. 

Their defensive corps might be the best in hockey today and gels well with the offense.  Chris Pronger is the perfect, nasty veteran defenseman that this defense needs.  Without him, this team has a glaring omission that can't be filled.

In net, Sergei Bobrovsky and Brian Boucher have been more than the Flyers could've ever asked for. 

The Flyers have been virtually unbeatable at times this season.  Often, they've just been far too complex for many East teams to contain.  This much is evidenced by their 27-8-2 record in the conference.  Not to mention that they're 12-2-1 in the Atlantic Division, which they still lead comfortably by five points over Pittsburgh.

All that being said, could Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter want to plan ahead?  The possibility of TWO parades is quite appealing and one that he has to be considering for 2011.  Philadelphia has already allowed their beloved Mummers to do their annual strut on the first of the year, so I say make room.  Make way for the Flyers and Phillies to launch on floats this summer and fall respectively. 

For once, Philadelphia, it just might happen that way.  A double-crown is not a crazy proposition by any means.  It's not 1980, but it's pretty close.  Then again, always remember that "We know this is Philadelphia, so keep in mind to be prepared for the worst."