Philadelphia Phillies Head to the NLCS Riding the Long Ball

We knew that we’d be here, right? Was there any doubt that the Philadelphia Phillies would advance to the NLCS after beating the Milwaukee Brewers? I didn’t think so. My initial attraction to the Phillies was their similarity to my hometown teams, the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants. Yes, I know they’re quite different, but it’s what they had in common that made me an instant Phillies fan. Just like my hometown teams (ahem, when they’re playing well), the Phils are the underdogs of their division. No matter how good they are, there’s always a cloud of doubt hovering over the team and I am a sucker for an underdog. Another shared quality is their ability to thrill and frighten me within a three-hour window. Take today’s Game Four, for instance. The Phillies won 6-2 and yet the fear of a Brewers comeback would peek in every time a big hitter like Ryan Braun stepped up to the plate.  While I was positive the Phillies would win, my mind ... (link)