I have had a few days to take in the Phils' win and it still seems surreal. Every store is packed with Phils World Champs gear, and it almost seems like a dream everyone is trying to wake up from.

Still, it was a heck of a 7-month ride. The World Series meant a lot to people, especially as it relates to fathers and sons, grandfathers and grandsons, etc. For me, my father, my cousins, my young sons and our many friends in this area, this is something we can all share.

As it happens, the Phillies are 43 games over .500 with a World title in the year and a half I have lived here. I dream of a world for my kids where the Phils are not a constant disappointment to everyone around them......

The Phillies had more people at their parade than the Rays had watch their team all year, so you know it was their time.

I was very emotional when Harry Kalas walked across that stage at the ballpark after the parade. You can't help but wonder if he was ever going to get to broadcast a World Series winner. (For those who remember, local radio was barred from doing World Series games in 1980. The uproar by Philly people re: Kalas was the driving force in changing that rule.)

Cole Hamels said he wants to have parades again and again and again. That would be terrific, but there is a lot of work to be done first.

Hamels, Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard stand to get rich in arbitration, but all of these guys should get real deals. Hamels played for fractions of what Adam Eaton was paid this year, and Eaton was not even allowed to help warm guys up in the playoffs. Eaton is one of the worst signings in baseball history and a total waste of money.

All three of those guys will likely set records for their positions in arbitration hearings, and Ryan Madson won't come cheap either.

Then there is the Pat Burrell situation. I want Pat to stay. I remember when I interviewed him the day he got off the bus in Clearwater, Fla, after signing his first deal out of The U. Who knew that a decade later, his double would lead to the winning run in a World Series.

Today, it did not sound like Ruben Amaro Jr was focused on resigning Burrell. I hope that was a ruse or a misinterpretation on the part of myself and the radio hosts.

Pat is a good clubhouse guy and a solid hitter. He batted .249, sure, but he drives in runs and is always a threat to go deep. Conventional wisdom says the Phils will scale back by putting Jayson Werth in LF and Victorino in RF, with Greg Golson in CF.

And what about Jamie Moyer? If he wants to come back, I would sign him to a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2010. That way it is a low risk situation for a guy who is 46.

I think this World Series title will mean more in a couple of years when I can reflect back to it. So soon after, it is hard to contemplate what these men did for this city and its many fans. The thing I do know, though, is that Philadelphians will be able to name the 25 guys on this roster forever, because this was a special team.

I was privileged to be a part of this season. Now, let's get to the hot stove and see if the Phillies can cook something up for a repeat in 2009.