Philadelphia Philies' World Series Championship Caps Off Entertaining Season

The 2008 MLB season was one that many won't forget. A season that opened up in Tokoyo, Japan finished up tonight in a windy, 50-degree night, with the Phillies winning 4-3 in the resumption of Game Five that was suspended two days earlier. This reporter reflects on what has to go down as one of the more memorable seasons in recent memory.

As Spring Training started, the talk was that of a very intriguing 2007 season. It seemed that 2008 would have little chance of capturing the excitement that was the 2007 season.

With several milestones being set, including Alex Rodriguez's 500th home run, and improbable playoff runs by the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks, it seemed that 2008 had a lot to live up to.

And then along came the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays.

10 years in existence, all seasons under .500, in fact, so far below that many people in Tampa probably were unaware that there was even a team yet. Joe Maddon and his crew came out of nowhere to claim their first season over .500, a division title, and a World Series appearance.

Everyone loves an underdog, and this season proved that every dog, or in this case, every Ray, has its day. Evan Longoria's long-awaited arrival did not disappoint, as he burst in to the scene, getting his first of most likely many All Star appearances. The Rays showed once again that you don't have to spend to win, and that team chemistry carries a team a lot further that egos.

Baseball had two great comeback stories. 28 home runs later, in round one of the 2008 Home Run Derby and the Rangers right fielder Josh Hamilton was everyone's hero. It's hard to not feel for this guy. A once-promising talent selected in the first round fell victim to his own self-destruction, landing himself in drug and alcohol therapy. 

Hamilton was able to kick the addiction and turned his therapy sessions into home-run trots and by the All Star break had reasserted himself as a one of the game's superstars.

Let's not forget about the N.L.'s Comeback Player of the Year of 2008. With one home run off the bat of Albert Pujols in the 2005 ALCS, it looked like Brad Lidge would never be the same.

2007 was unkind to the veteran, but with a new team and newly found confidence, Lidge became the game's best closer, converting every save and delivering in the postseason giving the Phillies their second championship in 126 years of existence. Lidge has once again put his at the top of feared closers.

Some teams were not so lucky. Anyone remember the Detroit Tigers? The team with Mags, Miguel Cabrera, D-Train, Curtis Granderson, and company. Well, it's hard to get off to a good start when you lose 13 to start.

Even with signs of success later in the season, the Tigers never seemed able to rebound.  They finished well out of playoff contention, but you haven't heard the last of them. Gary Sheffield will also start the 2009 season with 499 home runs.

The Seattle Mariners garnered the worst record with a payroll over $150 million and canned their manager shortly after the season's start. Once again though, Ichiro Suzuki put up another 200-hit season, his eighth consecutive.

Seriously, is there anymore of a pure hitter in the game today? Other things to remember from this season; the Brewers ended a 26-year playoff drought, garnering the 2008 wild card, the Yankees closed the book on Yankee Stadium, as well as their consecutive playoff streak, which dated back to '94.

The Mets closed the doors to Shea Stadium and suffered another late-season collapse to miss the playoffs once again. Fransisco Rodriguez set the league record for saves in a season. Joe Torre guided the Dodgers to a playoff appearance in his first year, proving that he can without the Yankees, and...Oh yeah, a certain team from Chicago will have to wait for their 101st season to get back to baseball's promise land.

All in all, it was a great season. 2009 promises to be a great season and will kick off with the second running on the World Baseball Classic, as Japan will defend its title.