For most of us, having our team be 5 games back and pulling off one of the biggest trades of the season to give our team the most dominant 1-2-3 starters in the league would be all we could hope for.  Certainly, Atlanta, who leads the Phillies by 5 games, must be concerned.  And, odds makers somewhere just changed the betting line on whether the Phillies will return to the World Series.  If Philadelphia makes it back, it will be the first time in about 70 years since a National League team made 3 appearances in a row.

If I were sitting in the stands last night or today in Philadelphia, I would be so unbelievably excited.  After all, I want my team to win.  The baseball season is growing old, and the time to make the push is now, and finally, the Phillies seem to have the guys running the show that want to win as much as I do.   What more could a fan want?

Roy Oswalt was acquired for JA Happ, a young pitcher with a high-ceiling who has been injured so much this year, if I’m a Phillies fan,  I haven’t really gotten to see him pitch.  I don’t really know what he can do.  The Phillies also gave up two guys I haven’t even heard of.  Its seems brilliant.

And it could very well be.  The Phillies, if they make it back to the World Series this year, could ride this run for a couple of years.  Oswalt along with Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels are under contract through 2012.  That should make a lot of Phillie fans feel secure.  But the Phillies traded away Cliff Lee last off-season because they were concerned about their minor leagues and concerned about payroll.  Adding Oswalt, who is making more than Lee cannot help that latter concern.    And Oswalt is older than Lee.  By 2012, the Phillies will no longer be that really young scrappy team.  With several Octobers notched on their belts, those veterans will have played considerably more games than any other players and a much more intense and stressful level.  These guys are going to look old.  And will the organization have the money to fill in the holes around them and survive season-ending injuries?

Again, it comes back to short- and long term decision-making.  While in some ways, the trade of Cliff Lee and then the acquisition of Roy Oswalt might actually be a balance of both- with the acquisition of younger players for Lee- one has to ask if the team has just boxed it itself into a win now at all costs approach.  It might be the right thing to do, because  the reputation the team is building over these past three years can carry them into sold-out houses for some less than successful years.  And hopefully, the team can rebuild quickly during that time with these young players they are filling their system with.

But if I am a fan of the Phillies today, I don’t care about next year.  I really don’t care about two years from now.  Of course, its nice to be able to say my team is building a winner responsibly- but that doesn’t really help you in October.  Today, Phillies fans should rejoice.  The odds just tipped in their favor.  Lunch is free for now.  The Fighin’ Phils have the best 1-2-3 punch in the National League.