Phillies 10 Wins Away From Repeat Title

Hearing nearly 50,000 people chanting "Lee, Lee, Lee, Lee" in the 9th inning at Citizens Bank Park gave me goosebumps. It also helped the Phillies starting pitcher dig deep and finish off the Rockies in a 5-1 win after he threw 113 pitches.

If Harry Kalas were alive he might have said at the end of Game 1, "Cliff Lee, You are the MAN!"

Cliff Lee: 6 hits, 1 run (late in the ninth), 5 strikeouts, and (most importantly) 0 WALKS. Not to mention he went 1-2 from the plate and recorded the first stolen base of his career.

He got into a few jams throughout the course of the game but was able to work his way out of them. The key was that pounded the strike zone (113 pitches-79 strikes) and he avoided the big mistake or critical walk.

Trivia: In his first career game with the Philadelphia Phillies, Lee pitched a complete game in a 5–1 victory. In 2002, Lee was drafted and traded by the Expos along with Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore to the Indians for Bartolo Colon.

Cole Hamels goes tomorrow and the bullpen is fully rested (shhh...don't say it...don't even think it...have faith in them).

Phillies Offense:

Chase Utley is now 24-24 in steals in 2009. Taking into consideration all that this guy does, could he be the most underrated player in baseball? He very well may have a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger coming his way...and hopefully another World Series Ring.

Every single player in the Phillies lineup got a hit in the game, showing the depth of the lineup. The knock against the Phils has always been their inability to manufacture runs. Well, on a windy day in South Philadelphia this powerful group of hitters put 5 runs on the board without one home run.

Can't wait to see what these guys will do when they swing the bats at Coors Field.

Speaking of lineups--looking at the Rockies team you wonder how in the world this team made the playoffs...the Braves and the Marlins had much more talent on their rosters but that's the beauty of the Rockies playing the Diamondbacks, Padres, and Giants.

First Pitch: Geoff Jenkins threw out the first pitch to try and was greeted by the fans with great warmth. That goes to show you how one timely hit in the World Series can wipe away a season of below average play.

Count Down to Repeat Title: 10 more wins.

FLYERS

The Orange and Black are now 3-0!

First, a shut out. Then, a 5-2 win over the Devils. Tuesday, a 6-5 OT win over Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals.

Thursday, they face the interstate rival and defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins.

If you don't know about this Flyers team you better ask somebody.

Sixers

They started their preseason schedule and defeated the Toronto Raptors on back to back nights. The regular season starts Wednesday October 28 at the home of the defending East Conference Champion, the Orlando Magic.