Phillies Day of Reckoning

Today is a day of reckoning for Phillies fans.  Today is the day we realize we might have seen the end of this current Phillies Dynasty.  The 2012 Phillies are an old, injured team, and it sure seems like their best days are in the rear view mirror.  Two of the biggest pieces of this magical run may not be on the field for quite some time.

Now there’s the realization that Chase Utley’s career might be essentially over.  It’s not supposed to be that way.  33-year-old players should be in the prime of their career, not the tail end.  Chase Utley is supposed to go to the Hall of Fame as one of the best second baseman ever.  In reality, we can just hope to salvage some worth out of the $15 million per year due to Utley.

The 5 time division champs have been a special group, but most of those players from are gone now.  The players that remain are shells of their former selves, at least physically.  We are reaching the end of the tunnel with only a dim light at the end.

But all is not as bleak as it seems.  The Phillies still are the best team in baseball according to Vegas.    Pitching and defense win championships, and the Phillies have both.  We still have Halladay, Lee, and Hamels.  Those three give any team the chance to win.  Hey, the Giants' pitching led them to a World Series despite their offense ranking dead last in the league.

The Phillies very well could win the World Series at least a couple more times, but now they will have to fight for it.  Since 2008, the Phillies have been by far the best team in the National League and it just a question of what they would do when they made the playoffs.  Now they must earn it.

We’re under a dark cloud at the moment.  Now we find out what is behind that cloud.