1.5 and 8.
Those are really the only numbers you need to know today.
The Phillies are now 1.5 games behind the Mets in the National League East race. But that's not all. Courtesy of a Padres loss (finally) Friday night, the Phils also are now an equal 1.5 games back in the Wild-Card race.
The Phils have two more games this weekend in Washington, then come home next week for two final stands, three games apiece against the Braves and Marlins.
Something tells me we are going to be sitting on the edge of our seats next Sunday, juggling the remote between the Phils, Eagles and Mets games on TV.
Surely the baseball gods could not take us to the edge of the post-season, only to push us off a cliff again. It's one thing to lose out on a Wild-Card spot, as the Phils have done the past several years, in the last week of the season. To lose out on two different post-season possibilities might be too much for this aging heart.
But I've been thinking that karma might actually be working for us this time.
Listen closely to what is going on about 100 miles north of us on I-95. Look closely. Strain your ears. What you hear is the ghost of 1964, long the albatross of Phillies fans, finding a new home.
Even with their win last night, the Mets could be on the verge of a historic collapse. All we need now is for someone to cost them a game by stealing home. Chico Ruiz's daring steal started the Phils freefall from being 6 up with 12 to play. The Mets seem intent on doing the same thing. After coasting along comfortably in first place all summer, the New Yorkers and now in danger of a collapse to rival anything the Phils did in '64.
This could be the year when we finaly break free of the yoke of that terrible fall from so long ago, a memory that continues to scar us today.
We know all too well what Mets fans are dealing with. And enjoying every precious moment of it.
1.5 out and eight games to play.
Post-season here we come.
Those are really the only numbers you need to know today.
The Phillies are now 1.5 games behind the Mets in the National League East race. But that's not all. Courtesy of a Padres loss (finally) Friday night, the Phils also are now an equal 1.5 games back in the Wild-Card race.
The Phils have two more games this weekend in Washington, then come home next week for two final stands, three games apiece against the Braves and Marlins.
Something tells me we are going to be sitting on the edge of our seats next Sunday, juggling the remote between the Phils, Eagles and Mets games on TV.
Surely the baseball gods could not take us to the edge of the post-season, only to push us off a cliff again. It's one thing to lose out on a Wild-Card spot, as the Phils have done the past several years, in the last week of the season. To lose out on two different post-season possibilities might be too much for this aging heart.
But I've been thinking that karma might actually be working for us this time.
Listen closely to what is going on about 100 miles north of us on I-95. Look closely. Strain your ears. What you hear is the ghost of 1964, long the albatross of Phillies fans, finding a new home.
Even with their win last night, the Mets could be on the verge of a historic collapse. All we need now is for someone to cost them a game by stealing home. Chico Ruiz's daring steal started the Phils freefall from being 6 up with 12 to play. The Mets seem intent on doing the same thing. After coasting along comfortably in first place all summer, the New Yorkers and now in danger of a collapse to rival anything the Phils did in '64.
This could be the year when we finaly break free of the yoke of that terrible fall from so long ago, a memory that continues to scar us today.
We know all too well what Mets fans are dealing with. And enjoying every precious moment of it.
1.5 out and eight games to play.
Post-season here we come.
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