Philadelphia Inquirer/Sheridan: Phils showing how hard it is to repeat

The team that won the World Series last year was fueled by a fascinating combination of strong self-confidence and a burning need to prove itself. The confidence is still there. The need to prove something is not burning quite so bright.

Take away games against the Nationals and the Phillies have a losing record. They just went 1-8 in front of sellout crowds at Citizens Bank Park on this homestand. They take false comfort in maintaining first place in the National League East, as if they deserve credit for the scuffling Mets’ inability to make a move on them.

It is true the Phillies had a losing record in June last year and then went on to win the World Series. It doesn’t follow that a losing record this June means another championship.

During the long, mostly dreadful history of this franchise, plenty of bad Junes have preceded disappointing Septembers and idle Octobers. Last year’s result was the exception, not the rule.