Like a good play-by-play broadcaster (we miss ya, Harry), I'm not going to waste too much space here rambling on about the Phillies journey back to the World Series.

There's a whole week to talk about that.

You can read about Wednesday night's Game 5 in the Daily Times -- on your newsstand and at delcotimes.com

Since there's a tent out beyond center field with a cold beverage and some free food with my name on it, this will be brief.

The Phils have completed their spring training goal of returning to the World Series. At this point - can you bet against them?

The bullpen looks solid. Brad Lidge looks resurrected. Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth are the Bash Brothers, reincarnated (and clean).


Here is a sampling of the sights and sounds from the ballpark.

Enjoy this team, fans. This is the best era in Phillies history.


Jayson Werth, whose first-inning home run set the tone for the night: "We know where we’re going and we know what we have to do. Right now we’re going to soak it all in and enjoy the moment. But we want to do it again. We have a job to do."


Brad Lidge, who recorded the final out in a 1-2-3 ninth, on winning back-to-back NL pennants for the first time in franchise history: "It’s amazing. This stuff doesn’t always happen. We have to take a lot of pride in this and celebrate for a couple days. This is pretty awesome right here."


Ryan Howard, whose RBI barrage helped him earn NLCS MVP honors: "It’s a great accomplishment, a great feeling. Now I want to go and help my team get to the next step."



Ruben Amaro Jr., the first-year GM who made the right moves in adding Raul Ibanez and Cliff Lee, among others: "I love my home town and I love my hometown fans."


Jimmy Rollins, on the Phils chance to earn national respect in the World Series: "You want people to look back at your team and your players and say, 'You know what? That team was pretty good. Everybody knows about the Yankees and Boston and all the great players. Obviously, we want that here. When people refer to Philadelphia, it will not be as the team that was the first to lose 10,000 games, but the team that was able to play with the best in their time."


Charlie Manuel, the only manager in Phils history to guide the team to back to back World Series appearances: "We'll play anybody, anywhere, anytime."