Limited Production and Increased Production

So, while I daughter was taking a nap, I took part in a Bucanero Crew cigar...and I started to reminisce...I started to wish there was a Brick & Mortar that sold Bucanero cigars around here. Now, I found this box in the bottom of Penn-Ohio Cigars, and now and then, I'll purchase one. George, the proprietor, says they don't sell...and I can understand that. There are a lot of big boys in the business, and very few people will step out of their comfort zone to buy one...but hey, if you see any cigar made by Bucanero...pick it up. I definitely reccomend the "Salsa."

Anywho, my mind left that arena and moved to baseball. The Playoffs are coming up, and my Philadelphia Phillies are kicking ass and taking names...and I look back on earlier in the season, when they were shut out for a four-game series against the New York Mets...and couldn't hit...and something clicked with me as to why.

A team always plays to the skill-level and enthusiasm-level of it's leader...not it's best player, but the person who is perceived by the locker room to be in charge, after the coach. For the longest time, that was Bobby, "I'm Afraid of the Wall," Abreu...but when he was let go, it became a race between Jimmy "Streak" Rollins and Chase Utley...and even during their World Series year...it seemed that Utley was leaning to Rollins...

...however, two possibilities have sprung into my mind...and I'd like some feedback on this. Either...

1. Jimmy Rollins' injury + Placido Polanco + Wilson Valdez being a great defensive replacement for Rollins = Chase Utley and Polanco overruling Rollins.

or

2. Cole Hamels is actually the locker-room leader of that team.

I'm leaning towards 2...because Cole Hamels, since the All-Star Break, has been one of the top three pitchers in the Major Leagues...and since he's stepped it up, cut his hair a bit, and gone from hippie-surfer Cole back to World Series Winner Cole...the team has started hitting...and maybe that's because he would have lost his #2 pitcher spot to Oswalt if he didn't...but he's become an ace again...and I truly think that some of the guys, especially Ruiz, Werth, Victorino, and even Utley and Howard truly feed off of Cole Hamels.

I might be totally insane believing this...but when Cole is dominant, the Phillies Rotation is better, their Bullpen gets more rest for three starts instead of only two or even 1.5 starts...and the team wins.

Thoughts? Comments? Follow me and I'll listen.