So I was having this conversation on the radio about two weeks ago, shortly after the Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants in a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

I believe the question was something along the lines of, "What did we learn most about the Phillies in the Giants series?" To help jog your memory, the results went like this in that series: 1-0 Phils, 4-0 Giants, 2-1 Phils.

My answer: other teams have the rep, but I think the Phillies also have the talent to out-pitch another team in a playoff series.

I threw that answer out there again while talkin' ball with some fellow beat writers at a local watering hole in Houston, and one guy actually rolled his eyes at my observation.

So, let me bring my point back up, and present two pieces of evidence: Mr. Pedro Martinez and Mr. Cliff Lee, a pair of former Cy Young Award winners.

Lee fired his second complete game since joining the Phils Tuesday night in a 5-0 win over Washington. It was the reigning A.L. Cy Young Award winner's second shutout of the season.

Lee's masterful outing came one game and two nights after vintage-Pedro blanked the Mets for eight innings before Ryan Madson slammed the door in the ninth.

The back to back shutouts were the first for the Phillies in six years. In April of 2003 (on the 27th and 28th), the Phils blanked the Giants and Dodgers on consecutive days.

You probably remember the first game - it was Kevin Millwood's no-hitter. The second was a combined shutout from Brett Myers, Dan Plesac and Jose Mesa.

Enough with the history lesson...


The last two games show the Phils, who already sport an offense with six current or former All-Stars, can throw some high-potent talent at anyone in the playoffs, talent that can match the Carpenter-Wainwright, Lincecum-Cain, or whatever other combo you want to throw their way.

Lee, Martinez and reigning World Series MVP Cole Hamels.... strong and steady Joe Blanton... and J.A. Happ, a National League Rookie of the Year Candidate with the fifth best ERA among all pitchers in the league.

Mr. Lee?

“It’s the defending World Champions – it’s basically the same team with a couple of additions,” Cliff Lee said. “If we take care of business, it doesn’t matter who we face…

“(Other teams) might have a good one-two punch, but I think we are, from No.1 to No.5, as good as anybody. I don’t think you have to have a 1-2 punch. We have a 1-2-3-4-5 punch, that’s never-ending.”