Nov 13th 2008 12:00PM by Josh Alper (author feed)

As you could probably tell from the parade down Broad Street, everything came together for the Phillies in 2008. Cole Hamels made the leap from No. 1 starter to shutdown ace, Brad Lidge didn’t blow a save from April to October and the big three in the lineup kept on churning until the Rays were dispatched and Philadelphia rejoiced for the first time in 25 years.

Hamels, Lidge, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley will all be in their familiar roles when next season opens. No matter what the Mets do, that nucleus should make the Phillies the favorites in the NL East, not to mention the two steps beyond that, before next season. That doesn’t mean there isn’t work to do.

You don’t need to look any further than Pat Gillick’s retirement and Ruben Amaro’s ascension to general manager to see how little time there is to celebrate a title before thinking about next year. The Phillies don’t need any wholesale changes, but they can’t stand pat either. Like sharks, baseball teams need to keep moving or they’ll die where they sit.Continue Reading