Photo with permission from Laura Perlberger
Perhaps snowballs really would be able to survive in hell. After all, the chances you would give one of those icy spheres was about the same most of us gave the Phillies of making the playoffs not too long ago. As a matter of fact, as of September 12th, Baseball Prospectus estimated that the odds of the Mets losing the NL East were 500-1.
At some point, even the most optimistic of fans had to doubt the Phillies. Injuries, roster flaws and -- most significantly -- history, where not on the their side. It all just seemed too much, and being human, we put our defense mechanisms up and resigned ourselves to defeat at least one time or another. Heck, even though they would never admit it, nor should they, there had to be a time when individually, privately, the Phillies themselves suspected it might not happen.
But the most important thing is that when it counted most, in the last two weeks of September, when they were down seven games in the standings to the Mets on September 12th, they didn't give up. The Phillies led the league with nearly 50 come-from-behind victories. They never gave up. Never.
When it mattered most, on the final day, native son Jamie Moyer allowed just one unearned run, nearly 27 years to the day he went to the Phillies World Series parade. When it mattered most, Jimmy Rollins willed his way around the basepaths to score runs and drive in teammates the way Jack Nicklaus willed in side-hill five-footers at Augusta.
New Yorkers will remember 2007 as the year the Mets collapsed the way few others ever have in the history in baseball. True, they folded, but the Phillies had plenty of reason to fold long before in the season, but instead, they won 13 of their last 17 games and seized the NL East season title.
Now, it's on to the postseason, and, lets just say that the Phillies lose the first two games of the divisional series. Will you count them out? After what we've just seen, you'd be a fool to do so.
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Ever since Cap Anson began rotating his pitchers in the 1880's, baseball discussions have gone on about how much of an effect managers have on their teams. It's impossible to quantify, but if you can point to one manager in baseball this year that had his players ready to play every day better than Charles Fuqua Manuel in the face of never-ending adversity, I'll buy you the beverage of your choice.
Along those lines, was anyone in baseball ready to play everyday more than Jimmy Rollins? He played in all but 17 innings this season and accomplished historic statistical totals at the plate and played a very efficient shortstop, the most difficult position of those facing the same direction as the pitcher.
Manuel and Rollins deserve Manager of the Year and Most Valuable Player.
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Nomination for quote of the day on Sunday comes from The Missus during the late innings: "I've never seen so many smiling Philadelphians."
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While the Phillies celebrate and rest on Monday, the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres will play an extra game to decide the Wild Card after tying during the regular season.
Who would you rather the Phillies face on Wednesday, the Rockies or the Padres?
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Finally, go to Flickr.com and view photos tagged "phillies". The celebration is a sight to see.
