The Homestretch, Day 26: It Pays to Play

The NL bullies finally sealed the deal tonight in Washington. Surprise, surprise, right?

You could see it in the celebration near the mound following the game. The Phillies knew this moment was coming. It was never a doubt in their minds. A fourth consecutive NL East title, captured mainly by a man whom many sought but only one team landed.

Roy Halladay.

And that was the Phillies MO this season: to buy themselves a division title. The Yankees and Red Sox operate that way every year, so it was only fair that an NL team got in on the action. That team was the Phillies, who gave up a very very good pitcher to get....someone even better. Halladay is undoubtedly one of the best pitchers of the decade, and the Phillies snatched him from the jaws of the AL giants this winter. Then they went out and got the best free agent pitcher available at this year's deadline - Roy Oswalt. Combine that with the Phillies' potent lineup and the resurrection of Cole Hamels in the second half, and the Phillies look like geniuses. But they're really not. They played it safe. They went for proven talent, and paid a big price for it. I said the same thing when the Twins gave Joe Mauer that huge extension back in April. The Twins played it safe too. And now they're division winners as well.

I've said before that in free agency, there are no guarantees. Roy Halladay might be the closest thing to it. He's been spectacular for the Phillies this season, and 21 wins later, he fittingly delivered the Phillies another division title. The Phillies paid to play, and playing they are, right into October. So are the Yankees, who always shell out the dough in the winter. And the Rays, who splurged for a closer. And maybe the Giants, who went for quantity, not necessarily quality. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, remember? These teams won. And they're still winning. They bought their wins, and that's one way to do it. Or you can do it like the Padres and live in subsistence the entire season, scraping by on Chris Denorfia and Aaron Cunningham. But that's not the Phillies' way.

And it's paying off.