World Series Here We Come!!!!!!!

The last time the Philadelphia Phillies were in the world series, I don't remember a thing about it. I was only three years old. All my life, I have been a die hard fan. I've showed up at least a few times every year to the stadium to watch and support the Phillies. I remember the dark days when Wayne Gomes, yes Wayne Gomes, was our best reliever. The teams that I've seen have been just absolutely painful to watch. There have been great players come through this city who have never been able to reach the pinnacle that these 2008 Phillies have just gotten to. Scott Rolen, one of the best third basemen of our time, never got to a world series with us.

You think this city wanted this to happen? Right now i have the perfect proof. I'm looking out of my window and all I can see is people flowing down Cecil B. Moore Ave towards Broad St. I say they're flowing because from a distance it looks like a river of Red and White running downstream. Mayor Michael Nutter was seen going just as crazy as anyone at Chickies and Petes in South Philly.

C-O-L-E H-A-M-E-L-S! Really, thats the only thing needed to be said. Cole has been the man in this postseason. He pitched another seven unbelievable innings tonight. His only blemish was a Manny Ramirez homerun. And how ironic was it that the only run that Cole gave up all night was to Manny Ramirez. The player who single-handedly brought the Dodgers to the playoffs and to the NLCS. This performance cemented Hamels as one of the most clutch players in today's game.

For the second time in a row, Jimmy Rollins leads off the clinching game of the playoff series with a homerun. Jimmy had struggled mightily this series hitting only .143, but in the clincher, J-Smooth was 1-4 with two runs scored. Another big contributor tonight, no pun intended, was Ryan Howard. The big man was 3-4 with a walk an rbi and a run scored. The biggest stat for Howard, NO STRIKEOUTS!!!!!!!

The turning point, at least I feel, is the two error play by Rafael Furcal where Chase Utley showed his non-stop, no holds barred hustle by scoring from second base on an error by the shortstop. Howard and Burrell moved up to third on the play. That made the score 4-0, and with Cole pitching the way he was, there was just no hope of the Dodgers making a comeback in the game.

Two players who will really savor this win have to be Jimmy Rollins and Pat Burrell. Pat was the first overall pick for the Phillies in the 1998 draft. Rollins was a second round pick in the 1996 draft. They both debuted in 2000, when the Phillies were struggling to win games. They were here for the bad times and now they're reaping the benefits of the high points in the organization who they've dedicated their entire careers to.

Rollins and Burrell coming up through the farm system is a theme for this team. Most of the big contributors have come been drafted by the Phillies or came up through the system in some capacity. But the finishing touches to this year has been the addition of Brad Lidge. Blown saves was a problem for this team last year with Tom Gordon early in the season, and Lidge came in and changed all that. He's been the definition of perfection this year. And the Mets, they had all sorts of problems closing out games.

How could you not be happy for Geoff Jenkins? He hasn't been the best contributor to the team this year, but he'd been toiling away in mediocrity in Milwaukee for 10 years. He had given his entire career to the Brewers, and they hadn't been able to put a team around him. He comes to Philly to be a part of a winner and now is in the World Series. This is the dream season that any player dreams of.

I'd also like to thank the Dodgers organization for this victory. They were bigger contributors than they even realize. Three of the main components to our team came from their farm system. Shane Voctorino, Jayson Werth, and Carlos Ruiz were all in the Dodgers organization at one point. Victorino came back to LA and had himself a huge series. Other than Cole Hamels, he was the MVP for this team.

All I can say now is congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies on their first World Series appearance in 15 years. Also to Cole Hamels on being named the MVP of the NLCS. Lets go Phills!!!!!! Bring one back to Philly boys. Its been a long time coming, we need this as a city.