Coming off a World Series win in 2008, the Philadelphia Phillies were focused and determined to repeat as champions the very next year. Everything appeared to be going as planned as they cruised through the 2009 regular season with a 93-69 record while making quick work of their opponents during the first couple of rounds in the playoffs. However, the Phillies ran into a hot Johnny Damon and the New York Yankees in the 2009 World Series.
During that fateful championship matchup, Damon quickly became the nemesis for the Phillies as he went into beast mode to help the Yankees prevail. In what turned out to be a six-game series, he batted a stellar .364 with an .895 OPS, along with six runs scored, four RBI, three stolen bases, three walks and three strikeouts in just 22 at-bats. Damon was instrumental in constantly setting the stage for the heart of the order while wreaking havoc on the base paths. In the end, he proved to be too much for the Phillies as they ultimately fell 4-2 to the Yankees, ending their dream of a repeat.
Phillies' 2009 World Series nemesis Johnny Damon ‘rooting’ for them to upset the Dodgers
Moving forward more than 15 years later, Damon may actually be a fan of the Phillies now. Despite the Los Angeles Dodgers being the odds-on favorite to win it all again in 2025, he believes that the Phillies pose the biggest threat to dethrone the NL West juggernauts. In a recent interview with DJ Siddiqi of RG, Damon even went as far as willing to ‘root’ for Philadelphia to make it happen.
"The team that would scare me with the Dodgers would be the Phillies," Damon explained. "I've been rooting for them, I love the way they play the game. I love their manager, Rob Thomson, and their hitting coach, Kevin Long ... I'm rooting for Philly, but you gotta go through the Dodgers and hopefully they can do it."
The Phillies may not have made the massive moves the Dodgers have so far this offseason, but they have filled many of their needs entering the 2025 season. Philadelphia has reeled in Max Kepler to upgrade their outfield picture, brought in Jordan Romano and Joe Ross to be part of their retooled bullpen, and acquired stud starter Jesús Luzardo to give the Phillies perhaps the best starting five in all of baseball. Added to the star-studded group of Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and company already in place, Philadelphia should have a lineup that can match up against any team in the league, including the Dodgers.
As a result, if even Damon, a two-time former World Series champion and former Phillies nemesis, believes in Philadelphia in accomplishing the improbable, we should also believe in them to do the impossible.
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