There’s a great quote from Andrew Grove, one of Intel’s founders, on the subject of maintaining a successful run. The Phillies will be wise to take heed:

“Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive.”

The journey to win a World Series provides plenty of built in motivation that needs no additional stoking. Jamie Moyer’s long, twisting journey to a Game 3 start in his hometown. Pat Burrell’s redemption. The team’s collective desire to create their own legacy. Those feelings only happen once. Which makes coming back for the 162 game grind the following year all the more difficult. The Phillies still have champagne in their systems. The trips to the late night shows are still fresh.

All this while their rivals gnash their teeth at home. Annoyed. Frustrated. Motivated.

Which brings us back to Grove’s quote. The only way to maintain a successful edge is to stay on your toes. Put down the press clippings. Don’t return Letterman’s phone calls. Grab a bat and go hacking in the cage. The Phillies need to be paranoid this year. A healthy paranoia. But paranoia.

Paranoid that everyone in the NL East improved in the offseason. Paranoid that every team will circle the Phils on their calendars this year. Paranoid that folks will be expecting them to regress in ‘09.

And yes, paranoid about the Mets. There should be no taking the team from Flushing lightly, and the Phils need to forget about 2008 after getting their rings on April 8th, and start playing like they have something to prove right from the get go. To prove that 2008 wasn’t a fluke. To prove that the NL East pennant goes through Citizen’s Bank Park.

The Mets are doing a phenomenal job of helping the Phils maintain their edge. Newly-minted closer/windbag Francisco Rodriguez, as well as Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran have all spoken up in spring training’s early days to opine on everything from “pimping” home runs to “killing” Cole Hamels to recycling the “team to beat” mantra.

Is there anything more empty than a Met stating that they are the “team to beat”? When Carlos Beltran was told that Francisco Rodriguez declared the Mets as the NL East’s favorite, Beltran replied that he agreed. Good thing, too, since Carlos is so good at handicapping these races during spring training.

The lack of respect from our rivals to the north helps fill the void left by winning the Series last year. Post those ill-advised Mets quotes, Phils. Stay sharp. Paranoia doesn’t always destroy ya.