Philadelphia Freedom

Yesterday, as ESPN's Tim Kurkjian noted during last night's Sportscenter, Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley, Eric Lindros and Donovan McNabb and Mitch Williams (who gave up the Series winning home run to the Blue Jays Joe Carter in the 1993 World Series) are off the hook. In the most unlikely World Series match up ever, the Philadelphia Phillies knocked off the upstart Tampa Bay Rays in five games winning 4-3 after a two day suspension. The Phillies last won the World Series back in 1980.

In recent Series, stars like Ramirez, Ortiz, Jeter, Rodriguez. Pujols and Holliday have taken center stage. This year, new faces to the Series included Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Pat Burrell, Even Longoria and BJ Upton.

The story for the Rays was remarkable, the first team since the 1991 Braves to finish last in their division and make it to the World Series. A team that shocked the world, and moved past the defending champion Red Sox and the struggling Yankees, to win the AL East and knock off the Chicago White Sox in the Division Series and the defending champion Red Sox in the League Championship Series, overcoming a run by the Sox to push the series to a Game 7.

In that Game 7, the Rays ended the Red Sox 9 game winning streak in playoff elimination games.

A team that may lack in well-known stars, has developed stars of the future, proof positive by Longoria and Upton's performance in the playoffs. Longoria hit six home runs and Upton with seven, equaling the mark set by then Angels first basemen Troy Glaus.

Not only in hitting, did the Rays excel, but through their pitching, the trade for Delmon Young to Minnesota brought in American League Championship Series MVP Matt Garza to the rotation, not to mention former all-star Scott Kazmir and a solid bullpen led by newcomer and recent feature on ESPN 360 David Price, Dan Wheeler and the closer behind the 2002 World Champion Anaheim Angels Troy Percival.

Let's not forget, manager Joe Madden, who brought together this rag tag group of guys, implemented the 9 for 8 philosophy and almost pulled off the unthinkable. I don't think Madden should have to wait, he was clearly the Manager of the Year.

What does the future hold, as far as free agents, the Rays only have Cliff Floyd and Rocco Baldelli on the chopping block, meaning their nucleus will remain intact, but will their success continue next season, who knows?

For the Phillies, they were a team on the brink of another regular season setback, until a last minute surge and yet another collapse by the New York Mets, caused the Fighting Phils to win the NL East title and knock off the Milwaukee Brewers in the Division Series and the Joe Torre-lead LA Dodgers in the League Championship Series.

The Phillies did in fact struggle on offense, their stars Howard, Utley, and Burrell had a rough time at first, but brought in runs went in counted.

The top story for the Phillies, this year was the performance of closer Brad Lidge, a guy who was suffering from "Mark Wohlers" syndrome, after giving up the backbreaking home run to Albert Pujols in the 2004 NLCS, pulled off a remarkable season saving all 41 games he pitched with an ERA of 1.95, and saving all seven post season games he pitched, including last night's Game 5 clincher.

The only save he did blow, was this year's All-Star Game giving up the game winning sacrifice fly, to the Rangers Michael Young in the 15th inning of the last All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.

The MVP for the Phillies, the overall post season MVP was left hander Cole Hamels, who put on a performance that was equal to another Philly left hander Steve Carlton.

If it wasn't for the rain delayed Game 5, Hamels could have been the first pitcher in postseason history to win all five games he started, but the nonetheless a 4-0 record and an era of 1.80 earned Hamels both the NLCS MVP and the World Series MVP.

I commended Madden, but let's not forget Charlie Manuel, a manager who has managed his fair share of teams over the years, came to Philly and out the gate made waves by benching former NL MVP Jimmy Rollins for not hustling in games.Rollins took this to heart, and produced another solid season.

Ryan Howard led the National League in both Home Runs and RBI's and Chase Utley came off a career year with 33 home runs and 104 RBI's.

In this year's the Phillies set a mark equal to the 1999 New York Yankees by winning all seven of their post season games at home, the Yankees went 8-0. Another precedent set in this series was the suspension of Game 5 due to inclement weather, for the first time in Series history, the fans tuned on Wednesday night, to see middle relievers Grant Balfour (TB) and Ryan Madsen square off in the 6th inning, Phillie 3rd Baseman Pedro Feliz bring in the game winning run and see Lidge strike out Tampa Bay's Eric Hinske to seal the deal for the Fighting Phils

What to expect for next year, as much as the series was great and all, I don't see either team coming back next year, not if the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers and Cubs have anything to say about it.