How Bout Them Phillies

As a fan of Philadelphia sports I've learned never to count my chickens before they hatch. Never get too excited. There have been way too many close calls and heartbreaks over the years for me to get too hype about a season. But when the Phillies clinched their ticket to the World Series beating the Dodgers 5-1 I was, forgive the cliche', cuckoo for cocoa puffs. The Phighting Phils are going back to the fall classic for the first time since 1993.

The city of Philadelphia definitely needs a title. The last title one of the four major sports teams won was the Sixers in 1983. I was eight years old. The city is due. We've had the '93 Phillies who came up short. The 2001 Sixers lost to the Lakers in five games. And in 2004 the Eagles couldn't finish the job against the Patriots. That one was the most disturbing because they had them, but let them off the hook. But this group of Phillies are the ones to get it done.

They have a great pitching staff led by ace Cole Hamels. And the lineup is one of the best in the league. There are no easy outs with the Phillies. Jimmy Rollins is a solid lead-off batter. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard can change games with one swing of the bat. And Shane Victorino has been clutch throughout the postseason. The Phillies can win with the long-ball or as they've shown this postseason they can beat you with small-ball and pitching. They have a realistic shot a bringing home the title and I know the city is off the hook right now.

So bring on Boston or Tampa Bay. I don't think any team can stand in the Phils way right now.