Sept. 27 -- NL EAST CHAMPS

BY SCOTT LAUBER

So, it wasn't as easy as we thought.

Brad Lidge, the unflappable closer, allowed a rare ninth-inning run and was in jeopardy of allowing at least one, maybe two, more. But Jimmy Rollins dove and knocked down Ryan Zimmerman's grounder up the middle, then gathered himself and flipped the ball to Chase Utley, who pivoted and threw a strike to Ryan Howard for the double play that saved the day in a 4-3 victory that clinched the Phillies' second straight NL East title.

I'll bet 6-4-3 never looked so good on your scoresheet.

To me, the postgame celebration was more subdued than last year. Sure, Pedro Feliz rode a police bicycle on the field, and Brett Myers lifted Rollins over his shoulder. But most players that I talked to, from Rollins and Utley to Jayson Werth and Myers to Cole Hamels (the likely Game 1 starter) and Jamie Moyer said that winning the division isn't enough. Not this year. Not after getting swept in three straight games last season. Nothing short of advancing to the World Series will suffice.

The journey begins Wednesday.

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So, would you rather see the Phillies play the Brewers or the Dodgers? Regardless of the opponent, here's the best-of-five NL Division Series schedule (game times to be announced):

Game 1 -- Wednesday at Philadelphia
Game 2 -- Thursday at Philadelphia
Game 3 -- Saturday at Milwaukee/Los Angeles
Game 4 -- Sunday at Milwaukee/Los Angeles
Game 5 -- Tuesday, Oct. 7 at Philadelphia

The Dodgers, meanwhile, have partially set their playoff rotation. RHP Derek Lowe (14-11, 3.24) will start Game 1 followed by RHP Chad Billingsley (16-10, 3.17) and RHP Hiroki Kuroda (9-10, 3.84). Joe Torre said he hasn't decided if Lowe will pitch on short rest in Game 4. RHP Greg Maddux (1-4, 5.71) could be a candidate to make that start.

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More tomorrow from the Bank on Shane Victorino's bruised shin. Expect to see a lot of Greg Golson and Lou Marson in the season finale. Kyle Kendrick will get the start before he heads off to Clearwater, Fla., to develop his changeup while pitching for the Phils' Florida instructional-league team.

Also tomorrow, we'll take our best guess at the Phillies' playoff roster, and with any luck, we'll have an announcement on the playoff starting rotation. My guess: Hamels for Game 1, Myers for Game 2, Moyer for Game 3, Joe Blanton for Game 4.

For now, enjoy some pictures from the celebration.