The Phillies' Edge

The makeup of the Phillies' rotation with Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt as the first, second, and third starters respectively makes it obvious that this is a team built for the postseason, and that if the Phillies win the division or wild card then they will thrive in the playoffs. 

But the Phillies' edge in the postseason is not limited to their physical ability. This team has a state of mind of a playoff mentality that is evident throughout the season.

On August 23-26, the Phillies were swept in a four game series at home against the Houston Astros, a team that is currently ten games below .500. Many ridiculed the Phillies' for laying down, taking those four games off against an opponent who they deemed not worthy of a complete effort.

The Phils answered that challenge in the following week, going 6-1 on west coast road trip, including a sweep of the San Diego Padres, who have the best record in the National League.

The difference between these two scenarios is obviously the level of competition, or rather how the Phillies approach different levels of competition. It seems when the Phils are placed in a playoff atmosphere, in a series against one of the best teams in the league, they rise to the challenge and play as if it were the postseason. In a series against a lowly team like the Astros, who will be watching the postseason from home, the Phils don't always seem to show up.

The Phillies clearly have a playoff mentality throughout the season; a hunger to get to the postseason and be successful when they get there. And if their wild card lead holds up or if they overtake the Braves and win the division, you can expect to see their physical makeup and strong mentality combine in October to create another World Series run.