Sixteen games have been played this season. At this time last season, Cleveland was leading the Central, while Detroit was two games below .500. The Reds would have won the Central, while the Cardinals were barely .500. And the Colorado Rockies were running away with the NL West. In fact, Had the season ended after the Phillies 16th game last season, the NLDS matchups would have been Rockies vs. Marlins and Phillies vs. Reds. Three of those teams finished sub-.500 last year. The AL matchups would have been been murkier (but closer to reality), with Cleveland winning the Central, either Anaheim or Texas taking the West (with a wildcard battle between the west loser and Kansas City), and the Yankees winning the East. While watching the Phillies the past couple of weeks has been painful, perhaps these trials are a lesson that will make thmem stronger, and (other than the 2009 Yankees), the World Series has been won by teams that have fought tough battles to get there- last year's Cardinals won the wild card on a wild final day of the season, the 2010 Giants won the West on the season's last day after chasing down the Padres,and the Phillies clinched the East in 2008 in the last weekend of the season. Maybe living through the tough stuff and finding ways to succeed gives these teams an edge that lets them face adversity when it happens in the post season knowing they can rise to the challengs. The Phillies teams that made it to the World Series were both .500 at this point after starting the season sub .500. This team will be fine!