This is the best time of year for Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles fans.
The Phillies just clinched the National League East championship and seem to have a legitimate shot at winning the World Series for the first time since 2008.
The Eagles, fresh off winning the Super Bowl, are off to a 2-0 start in their bid to become the eighth team to win first team to win back-to-back titles since the start of the Super Bowl era in 1967.
The Phils owned a 90-61 record after 151 games, leaving them with the second-most wins in baseball behind the Milwaukee Brewers (91-59) entering Tuesday’s action.
They stand a great chance of earning one of the N.L.’s two first-round byes and thus avoid the Wild Card series.
That could prove crucial, for it will give veterans a much-needed rest while giving the Phils extra time for shortstop Trea Turner and third baseman Alex Bohm to work themselves back into shape.
Turner, who leads the N.L. in batting average (.305) and hits (179), is sidelined by a right hamstring injury while Bohm is dealing with left shoulder inflammation.
Having them back in the lineup would bolster an already-solid batting order that features designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, first baseman Bryce Harper and centerfielder Harrison Bader.
Schwarber entered Tuesday’s action leading the majors with 128 RBIs and topping the National League with 53 home runs. He has a shot at threatening Ryan Howard’s team record of 58 homers set in 2008.
Bader has been extremely impressive since arriving in town via a trade with the Minnesota Twins on July 31. He entered Monday with 16 hits in his last seven games and boosted his average to .288.
The key for postseason success, however, resides in their pitching staff.
Losing ace Zack Wheeler for the rest of the season with a blood clot was a huge blow. They now have rely on Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez and Jesus Luzardo to keep pitching well and hope the inconsistent bullpen can come through with help for closer Jhoan Duran.
The Eagles (2-0) enter Sunday’s game with the Los Angeles Rams with an eight-game winning streak dating back to last season and have won 18 of their last 19.
Critics will point out that they haven’t looked dominant in the early going this season, but they don’t award style points in the NFL.
Ugly or not, they are 2-0 with wins over the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs.
If they can avoid any major injuries, the Eagles have to be considered among the top teams in the NFC.
RIP Mike Brestle
The local high school sports and boxing communities are mourning the loss of one their biggest supporters.
Michael Brestle, a former Holy Spirit High School football player and popular boxing executive, passed away unexpectedly last weekend.
Brestle, 52, was a 1992 Holy Spirit graduate who played linebacker for a Spartans squad that went a combined 21-1 his junior and senior seasons. In the fall of 1990, under the guidance of the late coach Ed Byrnes, Holy Spirit went 11-0 and won the Cape-Atlantic League American Division and South Jersey Non-Public A championships.
After playing for Rutgers University, Brestle eventually became president of Calvi Electric, which is an avid sponsor and supporter of local sports.
His longtime association with boxing led to him joining with Holy Spirit graduates Leo Hamlett, Jim Kurtz, Brian Little and Mike Holland to form Spartan Promotions in 2010.
For the last six years, the Margate native and Linwood resident has lent support to current super-middleweight boxer Thomas LaManna and his mother, Debra LaManna, in Rising Star Promotions.
Local NFL update
Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back LeQuint Allen (Millville High School) had two carries for 13 yards in a 31-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday.
Defensive tackle Austin Johnson (St. Augustine Prep, Galloway Township) had one tackle for the Jaguars.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (Cedar Creek High School, Mays Landing) registered two tackles in a 27-22 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
Melton’s older brother, Green Bay Packers cornerback/wide receiver Bo Melton, missed the Packers 27-18 win over the Washington Commanders last Thursday due to a shoulder injury.
Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (Vineland) had 10 carries for 22 yards and a 7-yard reception against the Eagles.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points.
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