Those Amazin' Phils

Simply Amazin’.

On Sept. 13, the Phillies were 7 games behind the Mets in the National League East.

They had just been crushed by the Rockies, 12-0. They were dead in the water. The front-running Mets were a mirage off in the distance. Even the wild card looked improbable, with the Phils 2 and a half games behind the Padres, tied with both the Rockies and Dodgers.

Fast-forward exactly 15 days. This morning the Phils are tied with the free-falling Mets for first place in the National League East.

That great sucking sound you hear coming from the Big Apple is the Mets and their fans trying to keep their lunch down.

They are in the midst of an epic collapse, reminiscent of the Phils’ memorable implosion in 1964.

Consider this. The Mets had been alone in first place since May 16. They were 7 games up with 17 to play. But they promptly lost 10 of 14 and seven straight at home.

Now both teams have three games left. The Phils are home for three with the Nationals. The Mets will be ensconced at Shea for three with the Marlins.

The two teams may face each other again in a playoff on Monday.

Just for good measure, the Phils remain a game back in the wild-card race, along with the spiraling Mets and red-hot Rockies. All three are now a game off the pace of the Padres.

Just how electric is the region this morning?

Consider this. The Eagles play the hated Giants in a nationally televised game Sunday night. Anyone care? Anyone remember when the Eagles operated completely in the Phillies’ shadow?

Didn’t think so.

Phillies Fever. Catch it.

Post-season, here we come.

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