Phillies claim NL East crown

As with everything else about the 2009 season, it wasn't easy or predictable as the Phillies clinched the National League East title last night with a 10-3 win over the Houston Astros.

If that description seems too dramatic for a season in which the Phils led the division since late May and secured their third consecutive title with a cushion of four games to play, you weren't paying attention.

Even though their division championships in 2007 and 2008 weren't assured until the final weekend and required them to catch and overtake a front-runner, this title might have been even more of a struggle.

"I think we've had a lot more decisions than last year, more injuries than last year," manager Charlie Manuel said. "This year seems like it's gone by quick."

It has seemed that way because nearly every day presented a new set of problems to solve, a new sheaf of medical reports to sort through, and a new leak that needed to be plugged.

"We've been banged up and things haven't been going good for us in some ways," Manuel said.

In other ways, however, they were just fine. So, last night, when they fell behind by 3-1 and it looked as if their celebration might be delayed for a day, or as if they might have to enjoy the lukewarm champagne of backing into the title, things eventually turned out just fine.

If you want to be technical about it, they became the division champions when the Florida Marlins finished off the Atlanta Braves one minute before the last out at Citizens Bank Park, but the Phillies were just one pitch from their own win by that time.

This was their 92d victory of the season, matching their 2008 win total, and the team finally had earned the right to cavort around the clubhouse, spraying champagne and beer and enjoying the moment.

"It goes right back to our players. They're the ones playing the game," Manuel said. "Who we have is the reason why we're capable of doing this three times in a row. It speaks volumes, and I tell them that. I'm proud of who they are and how they play . . . of their character, the fact they are resilient, that they stick it out. That's my compliment to them."

Their character carried them through three rounds of postseason play in 2008 and to only the second world championship in franchise history. A year earlier, with essentially the same core, the Phillies were bounced in the first round having made barely a whimper.

The drama of finding out which result they will get this time will begin to unfold on Wednesday. If the standings were to freeze right now, that journey would start at Citizens Bank Park against the wild-card Colorado Rockies, the same team that eliminated them so hastily two years ago.

That still could change, and the Phils could open on the road against the Western Division champion Los Angeles Dodgers, but the outcome of the postseason depends more on how the Phillies play than whom they play.

"If we play like we can, we can beat any of them. I look at those three teams and it don't make any difference who we play," Manuel said, referring to Colorado, Los Angeles, and the Central Division champion, St. Louis. "I think we've got the best team in the league."

At times, that has been true. The Phillies' offense leads the National League in runs, doubles, home runs, runs batted in, total bases, and slugging percentage. With that kind of power, the Phils have been able to overcome or mask serious problems on the pitching staff.

No problem has been bigger than the hole at the back end of the bullpen, a spot filled perfectly last season by Brad Lidge and much less so this season. Lidge has saved 31 games, but also failed to come through in 11 other save opportunities. The search for a solution to his inconsistency lasted all season, and the search for a replacement has been ongoing as well. Ryan Madson, who has emerged as a late candidate for the closer's role, has six blown saves. Taken together, the bullpen has blown 22 saves.

"Hell, we should have won 100 games easy," Manuel said. "Just give me half of those [blown saves], and we'd have won 100 games."

But this season wasn't going to be easy, just as the final week contained some tension that wasn't expected, either. And the tension has just begun. Sorting out the bullpen, winnowing the postseason roster, finding out who is healthy for the most important month of the season - all of that needs to take place before the roster is submitted Monday.

Getting this far is more than half the battle, though, and the Phillies were able to complete that journey last night on a tart evening as September bent into October and they were reminded of the sweet taste of last year's wine. It was a memorable vintage, one they would like to bottle again.

The 46-year-old lefthander suffered two torn tendons in his groin area. Sports, E4.