Phils go back to back to back

As Harry Kalas said after the Phillies won the World Series last season, let the city celebrate.

Tonight was a night of celebration as the Phillies clinched their third straight National League East Division championship.

Unlike the last two seasons when the Phillies played catch-up down the stretch and won the division in the final weekend, the Phillies cruised to the title this year, although it seemed like the day would never come.

While the Atlanta Braves got red-hot, the Phillies have struggled.

But the night finally arrived.

As Charlie Manuel brought Brad Lidge into the game with two outs in the ninth, the Florida Marlins closed out their win over the Braves, making the Phils title official. Minutes later Lidge got Lance Berkman to ground out to Ryan Howard.

With four games remaining, the Phillies will have a chance to rest some of their regulars and set up their rotation for another run at a championship.

It will also give the Phillies a little bit more time to get Lidge going. The Phillies closer/former closer, who was a perfect 48-for-48 last year has been terrible this year. He lost his closer job to Ryan Madson and who knows what his role will be in the postseason.

But for one night, Lidge stood on top of the world, recording the last out to clinch the division. It was an extremely classy move by Manual to bring in Lidge for the last out.

One week from tonight the Phillies will either open at home vs the Rockies or on the road vs the Dodgers. Let's hope they win a few more games and the Cardinals lose a few. This would allow the Phillies to have home field advantage vs the Rockies. It is also possible they could catch the Dodgers and have home field advantage through the playoffs.

The ultimate goal has not yet been reached. There is a ways to go.

But for one night, we can do what the late Harry Kalas told us to do - let the city celebrate.

High Hopes heading into MLB playoffs

Going into the playoffs last year I had extremely high hopes but very low expectations for the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies had gone 28 years without a championship and beyond the title they won when I was a baby, the only true excitement they provided in my lifetime was a trip to the World Series in 1993. Of coarse, that ended with disappointment as every other Phillies season had.

But the Phillies wrote a new ending last year, winning the first championship for any major sports team in Philadelphia that I was able to experience (the Sixers won the NBA Championship when I was three).

As far as sports go, it was the best day of my life as a fan. The excitement was amazing, the feeling different than I had ever had. It was hard to believe.

After driving 7 1/2 hours back to Philadelphia the next day, standing on Broad Street for the parade the day after that was a dream come true.

The Phillies had won a World Championship. I had to pinch myself to make sure I was not dreaming.

This year has a different feeling. I know what it is like to experience the joy of your team winning a title.

I tasted success and I loved it. Now I want more.

So heading into the playoffs this year I once again have high hopes. But this time I have high expectations.

Sure, the doubt I have had every year for every Philadelphia team is still a part of how I feel. One title in all of these years does not make that feeling just go away.

But they are the defending champs. Nothing less than another title will be considered a success.

Expectations are a funny thing. I can logically know that the odds of the Phillies repeating as champs are slim. The last National League team to accomplish this feat was in the 1970's.

However, the overriding emotion is one of hope, desire, and expectation for them to repeat.

Once you get the taste of something good, you want more. Nothing less than another championship will be satisfying to me.

The playoffs are just around the corner. For the first time in my life not only are the hopes high, but the expectations are even greater.

Phils have major problems heading into playoffs

I don't know about you but I sure am concerned about the Phillies. I have absolutely no confidence in them winning any close games.

The Phillies have tried Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson in save situations. Both have been terrible.

Tonight it was another pitcher.

Tyler Walker, who has been fantastic as of late, gave up a 2-run homer in the bottom of the ninth tonight for yet another late-game meltdown for the Phillies.

Walker had been considered a replacement for the closer roll.

Now what?

The Phillies should not have even been in this situation in the first place tonight after jumping out to a 4-0 lead. A Jimmy Rollins error in the 6th cost them two runs, allowing Milwaukee to tie the game.

Philadelphia has lost three of four and the Atlanta Braves have won five in a row.

Althought it is unlikely the Braves will catch the Phillies (they trail by five with eight games left, things are not looking good for the Phillies heading into the playoiffs.

They have a ton of injuries and are not capable of closing out games. That is not a good combination for the post season, which often consists of close games.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel gave every opportunity to Lidge that he could, but enough was enough. Lidge has 11 blown saves.

Madson has been just as bad in the 9th with six blown saves.

Walker has closed before but proved tonight he can not be trusted.

The only answer I see is Brett Myers, but he has been hurt and there is a good chance he will not be able to pitch every night when he returns.

The Phillies are throwing away a chance to have some sort of home field advantage in the playoffs as they trail both the Dodgers and Cardinals.

There is not much time to figure it out and I'm not sure how much more there is to figure out.

The players need to dig deeper, play with more intensity, and get the job done.

If that does not happen it could be a quick October for the Phillies.

Eagles road to the Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles were less than impressive during the 2008 regular season, finishing 9-6-1. However, they got hot at the right time and made it to the NFC Championship for the fifth time in the past 10 years.

Another season is upon us and the question still remains - will Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb ever win a Super Bowl in Philadelphia?

Let's take a look at the road to Miami.

at Carolina
I don't like this game start to the season. Carolina was a very good team last year with 12 wins and the Eagles typically start off slow. Coupled with Carolina's amazing run game highlighted by D'Angelo Williams and the fact that most of the Eagles regulars have not had a chance to gel due to injuries, I am picking the Panthers to win this one.
0-1

vs New Orleans
The Saints have a prolific offense, led by QB Drew Brees, but their defense is not that good. This game will be a shoot out but count on the Eagles winning their home opener.
1-1

vs Kansas City
All of the focus will be on Michael Vick coming back from his suspension. Vick probably won't play too much, but it won't matter. The Eagles will demolish the Chiefs.
2-1

BYE

vs Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is not the same team that did battle with the Eagles earlier this decade. The Bucs won 9 games last year but have questions around their offense. The Eagles will be on a roll and pull out a close one.
3-1

at Oakland
Another blowout for the Eagles.
4-1

at Washington
The start of division games begins for the Eagles and these games are typically not easy. Washington is the worst team in the division and the Eagles will win this one.
5-1

vs NY Giants
The Giants are not the same team without Plaxico Burress, but they have a dominating defense. The G-Men will come into Philly and take this game.
5-2

vs Dallas
Three straight division games. The last time the Eagles met the Cowboys a playoff spot was on the line and the Eagles embarrassed the Cowboys, 44-6. Eagles take this one as well.
6-2

at San Diego
San Diego was the best team in the AFC West last year, despite finishing 8-8. Remember the last time they played and how the Eagles completely shut down LT? Not going to happen this time. A long trip out west will result in a loss as San Diego will be a much better team this year.
6-3

at Chicago
The Eagles should have beaten the Bears last year but struggled big time in short yardage situations. The Bears should be a better team this year with QB Jay Cutler, but I like the Eagles to win this game. They will not have short yardage struggles this time around.
7-3

vs Washington
Eagles sweep the Skins.
8-3

at Atlanta
Matt Ryan had a great rookie year last year and it was no fluke. The Falcons will be in a playoff hunt and take this one at home.
8-4

at NY Giants
This series will be split. I have the Giants winning the first game, so the Eagles take this one.
9-4

vs San Francisco
The 49ers are terrible. This will be an easy one.
10-4

vs Denver
Brian Dawkins will receive the loudest cheer of the day despite being in a road uniform. Beyond that, it will be a miserable day for the Broncos.
11-4

at Dallas
The Eagles demolished the Cowboys in Philadelphia in the last game of the season last year. This year the game is in Dallas. Cowboys take this one.
11-5

Playoffs
At 11-5, the Eagles will win the NFC East and have a first round bye.

Call me crazy, but I like the Eagles to win it all this year. They were not that good last year and made it to the NFC Championship game, a game in which they should have won.

The Eagles have always lacked offensive firepower under Reid, but with the off season additions they made to that side of the ball (Jason Peters, Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, Mike Vick) I think they will finally put everything together.

See you on Broad Street for the parade in February.