Getting Their Phill

The Phillies are champions of baseball ... wow ... did not expect to say that on Opening Day 2008.

Some fun things to think about in brief.

• Point of criticism that will be debated tomorrow: Joe Maddon elects to let J.P. Howell hit and keeps him in to face Pat Burrell, fearing a left-hander throwing sliders to the right-handed slugger will end badly. Well, letting the righty Howell go didn't help much. Burrell doubled, leading to the game-winning run.

Was it the wrong move? No way to tell. But if it were me, I'd want the ball in the hand of the guy with the best stuff. David Price is that guy.

• If you're one of the people lauding Francisco Rodriguez for the American League MVP, you better be voting for Brad Lidge on the NL ballot.

Lidge: 92 Ks, a 1.95 ERA and 41 saves in 41 opportunities. If it weren't for Lidge, the Phillies would not have even been in the playoffs, topping the Mets by just 3 games. The Angels cruised in on a 21 game cushion. And I know the postseason doesn't count, but come on.

• 25-year-old Cole Hamels received the World Series MVP trophy, but made his first mistake of the postseason — revealing his wife's age (30?!?!) on national television. Just give her the car keys to that newly-won Camaro, Cole, and you might make even it back into the house tonight.

• Why do network anchors get to serve as emcees for the postseason celebration? They're usually painfully awkward and tonight was no exception.

• Interesting choice of words by Phils' manager Charlie Manuel during the post game interview: "I thought we could beat anyone in our league." Unsaid by Charlie Manuel: "But since I'm sane, at no time did I ever think we could beat someone from the American League."