Say Your Not Scared: I Dare You

The "Big Three's" taken, so let's give that up. ESPN.com called them "The Firm," catchy and clever, bravo to the Worldwide Leader in Sports. The way I see it? It doesn't matter what you call them, they don't need a cliche nickname. All I know is that this post season, the Phillies are top dogs again, and this time it's not Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, or Jayson Werth. It's three pitchers who have had success, but together, rock the baseball world.

Us Phillies fans can replay it in our heads like it was yesterday. 2008. Cole Hamels staring cold into the glove of Carlos Ruiz, cool and confident that he would mow down the opponent, sizing up hitters with the eyes of a future champion. In that post season Hamels pitched in 5 games, threw 35 innings and gave up a mere 7 earned runs. When the Phillies celebrated the club's first crown in 28 years that October, it was Hamels' 4-0 record and 1.80 ERA that ultimately set them apart. Evidence? The MVP Awards of both the World Series and NLCS that Hamels took home when the team finally ran out of champagne.

In 2009. Hamels didn't give the follow up performance the crowd was looking for. His 10-11 record and 4.32 ERA fell way short of club and fan expectations, and by the 2009 trade deadline Cliff Lee was a Phillie and Hamels was no longer the team's number one. It took until 2010 for Cole to take that to heart. Reuben Amaro acquired Roy Halladay in the off season, and Cole wasn't on the hill come opening day at Nationals Park. Regardless, he saw 2010 as an opportunity to make Philly forget that he ever missed a beat. This year Cole has dazzled opponents start after start, and while his 12-11 record is a product of an inconsistent offense, his 3.09 ERA speaks volumes for itself. '08 form? Cole would say its just 2010 form, and the difference a year can make.

Reuben Amaro Jr. has always been a General Manager who doesn't shy away from assessing immediate team needs. This off season he sent Cliff Lee to Seattle in a three team trade that made Roy Halladay a Phillie, building one of the league's best one-two rotation punches. Halladay has displayed nothing short of greatness with a Cy Young worth 21-10 record, and four complete game shutouts, the last of which clinched the NL East. At this year's deadline Reuben was at it again, but this time surprised us all. Although a struggling and ailing offense was a major concern come late July, Amaro seized the opportunity to put another lights out starter in red pinstripes. Enter Roy Oswalt. Since joining the club, Oswalt's ERA has dropped almost a full point to 2.73, and his 7-1 record has dictated much of a 19-6 team run.

The Phillies clinched the top spot in the National League earlier this week, and that allowed them to set up their three man rotation for the NLDS. While the other teams may need to focus on getting in themselves, you can't help but wonder how well they are sleeping. With Hamels, Oswalt, and Halladay on the play bill, teams know what to expect; a struggle. While hitters may have to face them, pitchers need to oppose them. Going into a game knowing that giving up three runs puts your team in a bad position, raises the stress level of opposing rotations immensely. Have a thing for sheer dominance? Take a look at the combined 13-1 record these guys have posted in September. That doesn't get you going? Just stay tuned, the fun is yet to come.

JD