It can't be this easy can it? Well, with last night's 10-2 stomping of the Tampa Rays, it may be this easy.
This series is over. Mark it down. The Rays are not coming back from the 3-1 series deficit and if Joe Maddon's press conference after last night is any indication then he doesn't even think they can do it.
You know a team is bound to win it all when their pitcher (Joe Blanton) pitches a magical game and becomes the first pitcher in over 30 years to hit a homer in a World Series game.
And, it happened to be his first career homerun.
For a little while last night this was a game-for the first 3 1/2 innings. Then at the top of the 4th, the Rays made it 2-1.
The game was officially over after the Phils knocked in three runs in the bottom of the fourth and officially ended their drought within a drought-knocking in runners in scoring position.
Despite going 1 for 28 with runners in scoring position in the first two games the Phillies are dominating the Rays in this series. And, it's because of the pitching.
Yes, they scored 10 runs last night and pulled off a stunning win on Saturday night, but these are the key numbers in this series: TWO, FOUR, FOUR, and TWO. They've allowed just 10 earned runs in four games thus far, good for a 2.50 team ERA and that's why they will win the World Series.
Great pitching is a team's best friend and the equivalent of a shutdown goalie in hockey or a great defense in the NFL or NBA.
The Phillies may not have had great overall pitching in the regular season, but in the playoffs they've had it, just like the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006.
Now, we can finally put to rest of the demons of Edmonton in the 80's, Toronto in 1993, Detroit in 1997, LA in 2001, Tampa in 2003, Tampa in 2004, and Jacksonville in 2005.
And, it couldn't be more fitting that the Phils will end the drought in Philly-the way it's meant to be.
On May 31st 1983 the Sixers won the last title in LA.
Now, it will happen on the other side where it belongs.
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