With the Phillies preparing for their sixth World Series appearance, we’re looking back Phillies World Series history.

The Phillies started the second decade of the 1900’s a struggling franchise, finishing in anywhere from fourth through sixth in the decade’s first three years.  Then hope sprung in 1913, when the Phillies finished in second place.  Tom Seaton led the pitching staff with 27 wins, and Gavvy Cravath, Fred Luderus, and Sherry Magee pounded the ball at the plate.  There was hope in Philadelphia.

They weren’t able to build on this in 1914 primarily due to the start of the Federal League.  Pitchers Seaton and Ad Brennan, infielders Otto Knabe and Mickey Doolan, and catcher Bill Killefer all joined the Federal League, and the Phillies finished a disappointing 74-80, 20.5 games behind the champion Boston Braves.

1915 was a different story. With new manger Pat Moran, and led by the pitching of the great Grover Cleveland Alexander (led the NL with 31 wins), and the National League’s premier power hitter …

With the World Series only five days away, ideas are beginning to be tossed around about who will be the team’s designated hitter in Game 1, be it in Tampa or Boston. The obvious choices would be Greg Dobbs, Geoff Jenkins, or Matt Stairs. They are currently all valuable assets off the bench for pinch hitting duties and each one could step into the lineup and find success as a designated hitter. Unfortunately they are all left handed hitters and struggle against left-handed pitching. So when the Rays Scott Kazmir or Red Sox Jon Lester takes the mound, manager Charlie Manuel might find himself in a bit of a jam as he turns to a right handed hitter.

If there’s one weakness on the Phillies, it’s a right handed bat off the bench, which consists of Chris Coste, Eric Bruntlett, and So Taguchi. While Coste is the better of the three, he’s also the backup catcher. Should an injury occur to …

With Game 1 less than 24 hours away, word is the roster is set.  Since the Phillies have until 10:00 am tomorrow to submit this final roster, it’s not official, but here’s how it’s shaping up:

Starting Pitchers

Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton

No real surprises here. Kyle Kendrick, who’s spent a majority of the season in the rotation is in Clearwater at the Florida Instructional League.  Hamels, Myers, & Moyer will be starting the first three games.  The use of Blanton really depends on where the series is at on Friday when they travel to Milwaukee.

Relief Pitchers

Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, Chad Durbin, Clay Condrey, Scott Eyre, J.A. Happ

The biggest surprise here is Happ making the cut.  He’s the third lefty in the bullpen, but when the Brewers biggest bat, Prince Fielder, is a lefty, so having an abundance of southpaws in the bullpen is never a bad thing.  Given that fact he’s a starter, Happ gives the Phillies a long …

Left fielder Pat Burrell was seen whining this afternoon while taking batting practice in what has been described as lower back discomfort. Burrell felt something in his back during a swing, and promptly headed to the dugout.

This is terrible news for the Phillies who are counting on Burrell’s clutch bat in the playoffs.

Burrell’s status for tomorrow’s Game One of the National League Division Series is up in the air. He will be re-evaluated prior to Charlie Manuel filling out his lineup card, and if he can go, he’ll be in left field. Should Burrell be unable to go, expect Matt Stairs or Geoff Jenkins to take his place.

The Phillies Brad Lidge was the recipient of the 2008 National League Comeback Player of the Year. Lidge was stellar for the Phillies this season going 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA. More importantly he was 41 for 41 in save opportunities, making him the first Phillie in the 125-year history of this franchise to have more than 20 saves in a season and not record a blown save. Lidge beat out Cubs closer Kerry Wood and Cardinals outfielder Ryan Ludwick.

The obvious criteria to win Comeback Player of the Year you have to come back.  That’s exactly what Lidge did.

It wasn’t that long ago the Lidge was on top of the world. In 2004 he took over the closers role from Octavio Dotel in Houston and flourished. In a little over half a season Lidge recorded 29 saves and posted a 1.90 ERA. More impressive was his 157 strikeouts in only 94 innings.

In 2005 Lidge started the …

With Game 1 of the NLDS starting tomorrow at Citizens Bank Park, manager Charlie Manuel has announced his starting rotation for the series. Cole Hamels will pitch the opener tomorrow, with Brett Myers on Thursday, and Jamie Moyer on Saturday in Milwaukee. The Game 4 starter is still unannounced.  This depends on if there is a Game 4, and what the Phillies situation is. Should the Phillies be up two games to one, Joe Blanton would most likely get the nod. Should they be facing elimination, Hamels could return on three days rest with Myers pitching Game 5 (if necessary).

This is the most logical rotation, although, I was hoping Moyer would get the nod in the first game. He’s been the most consistent pitcher for the Phillies this season, and he’s not afraid to pitch on three days rest if needed (Hamels on the other hand is a different story). It would also set up Hamels to start …

And then there were two…

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies, who with a 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals, clinched their second consecutive National League East title. That leaves the Mets and the Brewers, both with identical records, fighting for the NL Wildcard.

Recap of Saturday’s Action:

The excitement was in the air at Citizens Bank Park, as the Phillies entered play one win away from winning the NL East. The scoring started in the fourth when Chase Utley and Ryan Howard started the inning off with back-to-back singles. Utley came around to score on a Pat Burrell sacrifice fly, and Howard followed on a Carlos Ruiz sac fly, giving the Phillies and early 2-0 lead. In the top of the fifth, the Nationals cut the lead in half when Anderson Hernandez’s two-out double scored Roger Bernadina. It didn’t take long for the Phillies to respond as Jayson Werth hit his 24th home run of the season (a shot barely clearing …

With only two games left in the regular season, it’s the Mets who wake up this morning and find themselves on the outside looking in, while the Phillies clinched a tie for the NL East, and the Brewers are one step closer to making the post season for the first time since 1982.

Recap of Friday’s Action:

On a misty night in South Philadelphia, the Phillies got on the board early. Ryan Howard’s three-run home run (his major league-leading 48th), in the first inning, gave the Phillies a quick 3-0 lead. The Nationals got on the board in the second when Elijah Dukes scored on a Luke Montz single, making the score 3-1. In the second the Phillies added to their lead when Chase Utley hit a bases clearing double, and scored when Howard doubled, giving the Phillies a commanding 7-1 lead. The Nats scored two more in the fifth (courtesy of a Ryan Howard error), and one in the six …

As we enter the final weekend of the season, all three teams fighting for the final two playoff spots are within a game of each other. While the Phillies had the day off, the Mets and Brewers both won, and like in any playoff race, they won in dramatic fashion. This will be the final series of the season for one of these three teams.
Recap of Thursday’s Action:
In Flushing, weather was a concern. A Nor’easter was rolling up the coast, threatening to postpone the game. Thankfully the weather gods held off so the Cubs and Mets were able to play, but this game will not be talked about not for what happened on the field (which we’ll get to shortly), but what happened before the game. When Brewers and Phillies fans got home from work, and checked the starting lineups for the game, the Cubs lineup looked a bit strange. Missing was Alfonso Soriano, Derek Lee, …

With only four days in the regular season, things are tightening up.  The Phillies, who lead the way, continue to struggle and have started to scoreboard watch. Fortunately for them, the Mets failed to capitalize, falling to the Cubs. The Brewers continued to stay hot and look like a different team then the one that took the field during the first three weeks of September. As we approach the final weekend of the season, three teams are within two games of each other.

Recap of Wednesday’s Action:

Brett Myers followed a poor start at Florida, with another poor start last night. Myers had no command of his fastball and gave up six runs on ten hits, in four-and-a-third innings, as the Braves beat the Phillies 10-4. Chipper Jones’ three-run pinch hit home run in the fifth inning, iced the game for the Braves. Although the Phillies lost, it didn’t mean there weren’t any fireworks. In the eighth inning with …

The race got a little tighter last night after the Brewers and Mets found victory, while the Phillies were never able to get the offense going.

Recap of Monday’s Action:

The Phillies offense finally took the night off, but some credit had to be given to Braves starter, Mike Hampton. Hampton allowed two runs on six hits, over six innings. Cole Hamels allowed three runs (two earned), and eight hits, over seven innings, but his box score doesn’t really reflect how he pitched. Hamels struggled through the first four innings, and his third inning throw into left field on an errant pickoff attempt allowed Kelly Johnson to score, giving the Braves a 2-1 lead.

The Mets bounced back against the Cubs in a big way. After finding themselves in an early 2-0 hole, the Mets scored two runs in the fifth and another four in the sixth, to beat the Cubs 6-2. Johan Santana was dominant, going eight innings, allowing two …

As the end of the season approaches, one team is rising above the remaining two. The Phillies September surge hasn’t let up as they’ve won 10 or their last 11 and are 14-6 in the month of September. The Mets have cooled, dropping their third straight game, while the Brewers gained ground, by not playing.

Recap of Monday’s Action:

The Phillies continued their hot play, as the Phillies beat the Braves 6-2. In the eighth inning, with the game knotted at two, Greg Dobbs (pinch hitting for Scott Eyre), singled up the middle. Dobbs was replaced by the speedy Greg Golson. Within two pitches Golson found himself on third base after Jeff Bennett’s pick off attempt sailed into foul territory. After Jimmy Rollins grounded out to second, Chase Utley was intentionally walked to set up a double play. The next batter, Jayson Werth, hit a hard ground ball down the third base line. Golson broke on contact, …