Even though the Phillies clinched the East relatively early in 1993 - they eliminated the Expos with five games to play - a lot of fans were still muttering, "Holy bleep, I still don't believe it.'' That's because Jim Fregosi's Band of Brigands never really drew a troubled breath after their amazing 45-17 blastoff. The ease was why the bonus pennant of that bolt from the blue season was so hard to believe.
This could have been an easy one, as well. The Money Pit clubhouse could have featured a restrained group of athletes looking ahead to a postseason they had clinched at the beginning of the week or earlier. The smell of stale champagne would have just about faded into the carpeting. Charlie Manuel would have rested his regulars Sunday, playing an outfield of Greg Dobbs, Chris Roberson and Michael Bourn. Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard would have been the only regulars, the shortstop gunning for his 20th triple, the first baseman for the RBI title. The customers would have been more interested in their ticket-stub numbers on Fan Appreciation Day than the numbers on the out-of-town scoreboard.
If general manager Pat Gillick had cashed just a few of his off-season chips, his ballclub would have threatened 95 or more victories. Even if the Mets hadn't dug a latrine and crawled into it the final 3 weeks, the Phils would have won the East and led the National League in victories.
What were the odds on Opening Day that of Gillick's most important offseason moves, only Wes Helms, Greg Dobbs, Jason Werth and Rod Barajas would be on Manuel's postseason roster?
