Major League Baseball

Phillies focused on another trip to World Series

Published Apr. 1, 2010 5:15 p.m. ET

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Losing the World Series only made the Philadelphia Phillies more determined to go back and win it again.

From the start of spring training, it was clear these Phillies aren't a complacent bunch. Winning the championship for the second time in three years is everyone's goal.

``The success that we've had in the last three years, let's make it greater,'' manager Charlie Manuel told his players. ``We can do it. We've got a chance to do something real special here, and we want to continue it with the team that we have and there's no reason why we can't.''

After beating Tampa Bay to win the franchise's second championship in 2008, the Phillies fell two wins short of repeating last season, losing to the New York Yankees. Now they're trying to become the first NL team in 66 years to capture three consecutive pennants. The St. Louis Cardinals earned two World Series titles when they did it in 1942-44.

How hungry is this team?

Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and other regulars showed up early for spring training. The veterans are focused on winning and have set an example for the new guys and younger players.

``It's kind of having the mindset of having unfinished business,'' Howard said. ``Last year didn't go the way we wanted it to. It's tough because you never want to be that team on the losing side. Congratulations go out to the Yankees, they outplayed us. There's no excuses. They won, they were the better team in the series and they get all the congrats and all the glory. This year is a new year and hopefully we can get out there and try to right the ship.''

One new player on the Phillies is still looking for his first taste of the postseason. Pitcher Roy Halladay had spent his entire career in Toronto, looking up at the Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the standings.

Halladay had a tough time watching the Phillies play against New York last fall, knowing he was that close to wearing red pinstripes. A midseason deal that would've brought the ace right-hander to Philadelphia fell through, and the Phillies acquired Cliff Lee instead. In December, the Phillies finally got Halladay and shipped Lee to Seattle.

``It was harder than most years watching. Just seeing the way things unfolded,'' Halladay said. ``For me, it was wondering how I would do, how I would stack up. Are you going to handle this and how fun could it be? I watched kind of what-if more than with interest of who actually was winning.''

Halladay was a six-time All-Star and won the 2003 AL Cy Young Award with the Blue Jays. He enjoyed his time in Toronto, but relished an opportunity to pitch for a contending team.

``For me it was never about changing teammates or environments or changing cities,'' Halladay said. ``It was about wanting to pitch in October. That's what I look forward to here the most. There's no guarantees, but based on what they've done in the past and the guys that are in that clubhouse, I look forward to having that chance.''

Halladay gives the Phillies arguably the best pitcher in baseball. He also helps take pressure off Cole Hamels, the postseason hero in '08 who struggled last year. Hamels arrived at spring training in the best pitching shape of his career. He's worked on adding pitches to his repertoire, and seems poised to regain his old form.

Halladay and Hamels head a deep starting rotation that includes Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ and 47-year-old Jamie Moyer, though Blanton went on the disabled list and could miss three to six weeks after he strained a left oblique on Wednesday. If needed, Kyle Kendrick could step in after a having solid spring and losing out to Moyer for the last spot.

The bullpen is the team's main concern. Closer Brad Lidge, coming off an awful year, and J.C. Romero will start out on the disabled list. Both relievers are vital to Philadelphia's success.

Scoring runs shouldn't be a problem. A star-studded lineup that features Howard, Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez improved when Placido Polanco was signed to replace Pedro Feliz at third base. Polanco, who'll hit second, balances the top of the order and Shane Victorino, who'll drop to seventh, strengthens the bottom part.

``If everyone has career years, then it will be a pretty fun time,'' Rollins said. ``If everyone has a solid year and everyone takes a turn carrying the team and no one really gets cold, that's a lot of wins. We can do a lot of damage. But you want to be at that point coming into October. If it doesn't happen in September and you find a way to get to the playoffs still, as long as you get there in October, we'll be all right.''

For the Phillies, playing - and winning - in October is what it's all about. Anything less doesn't cut it.

``We know what it takes to win,'' Manuel said. ``We know it's not easy. Teams are gonna be gunning for us. Nothing about it is easy. It's never, ever easy. Just as soon as you think it is, that's when you're gonna have all kinds of problems.''

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