Phils Boast Most Talent in MLB

Take a step back from the regular season and begin to think about playoff baseball.

It is about power pitching, experience, defense, and timely hitting. Most of all, it is about match-ups and I will take the Phillies roster over any team in the playoff picture. Needless to say, I really like the Phillies chances of repeating as World Series Champions.

Starters: Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, Joe Blanton, and Pedro Martinez.

The Cardinals have a nice one-two punch with Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter but luckily the Phillies will only face them in a seven game series were depth players a larger role.

Line-up: Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Raul Ibanez, Pedro Feliz, and Carlos Ruiz. The first six batters on the team have made an all-star team, five did so this season. Speed. Power. Average---they've got it covered. Utley and Howard will likely finish in the top 5 in MVP voting.

Bench: Matt Stairs and Greg Dobbs (lefty), along with John Mayberry and Ben Francisco (righty), have the pop needed in the late innings from both sides of the plate.

Bullpen: No, I will not even attempt to make an argument for the Phillies bullpen as the best of the playoff teams but I do think it is definitely strong enough to accomplish the job. All they have to do is stay healthy and get mentally prepared for the most important month of the season.

Defense: Pedro Feliz, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Shane Victorino should all be in consideration for a Gold Glove. Carlos Ruiz, Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, and Jayson Werth are all solid at their positions as well. No Pat Burrell liability on this squad.

Here are my playoff predictions:

National League
Phils over Rockies Cardinals over Dodgers

Phils over Cardinals

American League
Yankees over Twins (or Tigers) Red Sox over Angles

Yankees over Red Sox

Philadelphia Phillies over New York Yankees

Bring on the Yankees...then Alicia Keys and Jay-z can change their song "Empire State" to "Keystone State" and every time they say New York we'll say Philly.

Other Philadelphia teams:

Flyers are 2-0! A shutout in the first game and then 5-2 win over the Devils...it will be a good year on Broad Street.

Eagles should have two easy wins coming their way against Tampa Bay, followed by Oakland.

Sixers start their preseason schedule tomorrow.