Yesterday, in the City of Brotherly Love, the Philadelphia Phillies vanquished the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles in the National League Championship Series. It took only five games. The Dodgers had the best record in the National League this year, and therefore "home-field advantage" in the NLCS, but it didn't help. The Phillies are the defending World Series champions and look mighty good from where I sit. I wouldn't want my beloved Detroit Tigers playing them, that's for sure. I take heart in the fact that if (perish the thought) the execrable New York Yankees make it to the World Series, they will be defeated (roundly and soundly) by the Phillies. See here for a comparison of the 2009 Phillies with the 1929 Philadelphia Athletics. (Thanks to reader Frank for the link.)
Addendum: Are there any Phillies fans out there? I have lots of Yankee fans as readers; I have a couple of Rat Sox fans; I even have a fan of the drunkards up in Milwaukee. I am not aware of any Phillies fans. Identify yourself now. I do not want any johnny-come-lately, bandwagon-jumping, fair-weather Phillies fans after they win the World Series. Speak now or forever hold your peace.
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 