For the first time since 2011, the postseason will feature the Philadelphia Phillies.
With a win last night in Houston, the Phillies clinched a Wild Card spot, effectively eliminating the Milwaukee Brewers from playoff contention.
The Phillies won their fifth straight NL East title in 2011 and had the best record in baseball with 102 wins.
They matched up with the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS and were knocked out in excruciating fashion Game 5, when Chris Carpenter pitched a 1-0, complete-game shutout.
Since then, the Phillies haven’t tasted October.
FOX Sports tweeted a graphic that illustrates just how long it’s been since the Phils last tasted October.
11 years ago… pic.twitter.com/XyX3UwTFMk
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 4, 2022
How Time Flies
As the graphic shows, a lot has changed.
Moneyball had only just come out in theaters.
It was also the first year of Snapchat.
“Moves Like Jagger” was the No. 1 hit and Rebecca Black released the song, “Friday.”
It’s been 11 years since all of that took place.
The Phillies have been away for quite some time.
But they finally have punched their return ticket to the postseason.
No remaining members from the 2011 team are still on the roster now.
The Phils’ rotation consisted of the late Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels.
Everybody from that team has either retired or gone on to play elsewhere.
But it almost seems like it was just yesterday when the Phillies were so dominant.
It’s crazy how time flies.
This year, the cast of characters is completely different.
But the goal remains the same, and that is to bring a title back to the City of Brotherly Love.
If the playoffs began today, then the Phillies would travel to St. Louis and match up with the very same Cardinals that eliminated them all those years ago.
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