But as much as the Phillies wanted to focus on this year, the link to last season's postseason flop would remain inextricable - until, that is, they managed to succeed in their 15-year quest to win another postseason game.
Yesterday, they did just that. They got the shutdown performance from their ace lefthander, the timely hit from their All-Star second baseman, and the game-saving ninth inning from their high-priced closer.
With Cole Hamels leading the way, the Phillies beat the Brewers, 3-1, and took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five NLDS.
"We're one game closer to where we want to be at this stage," Rollins said afterward. "We were on the other side of that last year, so we kind of got over that hurdle in a sense."
Game 1s are always big, but they are bigger in best-of-five series in which the most dominant pitcher in the majors is scheduled to pitch for the opponent in Game 2.
This was the situation in which the Phillies found themselves yesterday, with Brewers lefthander CC Sabathia and his 1.65 ERA set to pitch tonight. But they had an answer, and it was a very un-Phillie-like one: defense and pitching and nary a home run.
Hamels was brilliant, making a lineup of major league hitters look as if it was seeing a changeup for the first time. He struck out nine, walked one and allowed just two hits. Only one Brewers baserunner reached second against Hamels, and none reached third. Hamels was perfect through 4 2/3, and near-perfect after that.
"Just watching him was a lot of fun tonight," said closer Brad Lidge, who allowed one run and had the tying run in scoring position before striking out Corey Hart to end the game.
As impressive as Hamels' performance was, it was a disciplined offense and a three-run third inning that provided the first real indication that a second straight postseason disappointment was not in store.
