Five reasons for Phillies fans to give thanks

1. Cliff Lee: The guy is a big-game pitcher, maybe the best big-game pitcher in baseball. He has taken the last two teams he's pitched for to the World Series. And he probably won't even start Game 1.

2. Experience: No team has played more big postseason games than the Phillies over the last 3 years. That counts.

3. Benefit of the doubt: They've earned it. This will go down as the most talented team in Phillies history. Anything can happen in the postseason. The key is to enjoy it while it lasts.

4. Hunter Pence and John Mayberry Jr.: They have the most righthanded power they've had since Pat Burrell and Jayson Werth in 2008.

5. The Eagles play on Sunday.

For Paul Hagen's take on the Phillies recent slump, click here.