It happened. No, really. The Philadelphia Phillies completed one of the most miraculous comebacks earlier today when they defeated the Nationals 6-1 in front of a packed house at Citizens Bank Park to clinch the NL East on the final day of the season.

Only 18 days ago, none of this seemed possible when they trailed the New York Mets by seven games.

But Charlie Manuel’s gritty resilient bunch never gave up winning 13 of their final 17 while Willie Randolph’s club managed to fumble away that huge lead by losing 12 of their last 17 during the same stretch.

The remarkable Philly comeback was made possible by a three-game sweep at Shea on Sept. 14-16, allowing them to take the last eight games against the Mets in the season series.

It’s hard to really fathom that this could’ve actually been possible. Especially with the Mets having what was perceived to be an easier schedule down the stretch against the Nationals and Marlins plus a make up game against the Cardinals.

Instead, they dropped five of six to Washington and a week after reviving themselves with three of four in Florida, they dropped two of three to finish off a dreadful final week at home in which they went only 1-6 against teams they were clearly better than.

In the end, that didn’t matter because for whatever reason, they played uninspired baseball committing 21 errors in their last 17 games including a club record 10 in two straight losses to the Phils and Nats a couple of weeks ago which really was where it started to unravel.

Suddenly, the Mets stopped executing. Mental lapses such as David Wright forgetting to cover third for a double play in Friday’s loss to Florida became common.

There was the continued lack of hustle from a lifeless Jose Reyes who along with not running out balls or getting to balls in the field he normally would became undisciplined at the plate hitting just .214 with 15 strikeouts the final month. The 24 year-old shortstop who bats leadoff and is the sparkplug suddenly heard boos.

If you want to point to what was wrong with this team down the stretch, look no further. After a great first half in which he hit .307 with a .387 OBP, Reyes dropped to .255 and .321 OBP in the second half.

Most baffling was the sharp contrast in the one category he’s better than anyone else at. Speed. After swiping a season high 23 bases for the month of August, he only stole five more the rest of the way while being caught almost as many times (4).

Maybe worst of all was the silly celebration he and younger teammate Lastings Milledge took part in after the rookie’s second dinger in a 13-0 laugher a day earlier which was probably what angered the Marlins and ignited a near brawl with Miguel Olivo challenging Reyes who pointed at him after Florida threw at teammate Luis Castillo twice.

Whether it was because they were retaliating for Hanley Ramirez being plunked or because of a ridiculous dance which could’ve been translated as showing them up, Florida players were hot afterwards with their shortstop even going as far as to say “they hated the Mets.”

It might help explain the seven runs they put up in a shocking start to today’s game against Tom Glavine knocking the classy starter out in maybe his worst outing in a brilliant 20-year career. It may very well have been his final game as a Met. What ashame.

Just how brutal was it? After giving up a two-run double to Cody Ross, Glavine even poured gasoline on the fire by misfiring to third trying to nail the Marlin who came around to score. Before most of the sellout Shea crowd had gotten in their seats, their club was down four and the collective gasps and moans had already started.

It only got worse as Glavine loaded the bases and then plunked Dontrelle Willis on a 1-2 pitch to force in a run ending his day. Two batters later, Dan Uggla’s two-run double down the left field line off reliever Jorge Sosa put them down a touchdown before they even came to bat.

What a sharp contrast it was compared to how well John Maine had pitched yesterday in flirting with the franchise’s first no-hitter while fanning 14 to keep his team very much alive with the Phils losing and the very prospect of a one-game playoff set for Monday if both held serve.

Not even Mets’ detractors could make this up.

Instead, they were behind the eight ball right away after taking a standing eight count. So, did they respond? Sure. Willis was shaky in the three innings he pitched even loading the bases twice including once in the first where he was all over the place.

After forcing in a run on a wild pitch though, the Florida starter got the biggest out when Ramon Castro sent a 2-0 pitch which he thought was out but instead the wind kept it in the park allowing Florida’s Jeremy Hermida to harmlessly snag it to end the inning.

If it travels 15 more feet, it’s 7-5 and a completely different game. Unfortunately for Mets fans, this was just a tease for what was coming. On a day they stranded 14, New York also left the bases loaded in the third when pinch hitter Paul Lo Duca bounced back to Florida reliever Logan Kensing.

Amazingly, it was their last big threat as they managed just two more hits the rest of the way against five Florida relievers.

The Marlins would tack on one more run on a fifth inning Alejandro De Aza double which basically finished the Mets. As the SNY team of Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling with Gary Cohen pointed out after the awful beginning, they had to have the pen hold the Marlins to seven.
When Florida closer Kevin Gregg got Castillo swinging, it was mercifully over.

Almost as if fate, only a couple of minutes later Brett Myers got Wily Mo Pena looking to finish off the comeback pumping his fists as Phillie teammates mobbed him.

Maybe finally the baseball gods wanted the 1964 Phillies out of the record book. Or maybe NL MVP candidate Jimmy Rollins was prophetic when he proclaimed that “the Phillies were the team to beat in the East” before a pitch was thrown back in April.

Whatever the explanation, this we know from interviewing Staten Island Yankees.

“Baseball is a funny game.”

The players would usually add the word “momentum” and the Phillies had it.

That’s all we got. The Phillies played great ball down the stretch and deserved to win a division the Mets led since mid-May and had control of but never could put it away blowing two seven-game leads.

Give Manuel’s players a lot of credit. Still, they needed help and got plenty from inspired Mets’ opponents who took joy in beating them. Could it be the immaturity of a Reyes and Milledge which rubbed those teams the wrong way? Or maybe it was Friday’s goat Oliver Perez’ leg kicks after giving up no runs.

There has to be a reason that Darling would point out during today’s final telecast of a disappointing conclusion that “teams in the NL hate the Mets.”

Pretty strong word. It definitely couldn’t have helped a fading team which lacked confidence as well as killer instinct.

I’ve seen this happen on many levels and it’s not pretty. You know you’re better than the opposition such as a basketball team who beat another school twice without a problem during the regular season. Then builds up a big lead and thinks they have it won but lets down. And before they know what hits them, it’s gone and they lose in gut wrenching fashion.
That’s essentially what happened to a team whose slogan was “Your Season Has Come.”

Now there will likely be serious changes to their roster.

One thing we know is certain. They’ll have to wait another year to make this awful ending go away. Especially for their fans who supported them till the bitter end.

It’s all on the line today at Shea. The Mets are tied with the Phillies for the NL East after getting a huge performance from John Maine yesterday who flirted with a no-no before it was broken up on the luckiest of bounces with four outs to go.

The starter came up big for his team striking out a career high 14 Marlins including seven straight at one point.

Meanwhile, the Mets’ offense exploded for 13 runs including two homers from rookie Lastings Milledge for his first career multi-homer game. Luis Castillo also had a big day as a looser Met ballclub teed off to break their five-game skid and snap an eight-game losing streak at home.

The Phillies obviously felt the pressure later after seeing the score as they only managed two runs (both solo homers) off Matt Chico and three Nats’ relievers in a 4-2 home loss.

Down two, their defense did them in as Ryan Howard fumbled a ground ball at first and was unable to throw home as the Nats tacked on two more key insurance runs for a 4-0 lead.

It would prove large because Aaron Rowand and Howard hit solo shots in the seventh and eighth to slice it in half but Chad Cordero retired the side in order to close the door.

And so after fighting so hard to make a miraculous comeback from seven down to take the lead on the Mets with two games left, Philadelphia felt the pressure that their rival felt and now they’re all even again setting the stage for today.

Will their be a big one-game playoff tomorrow in the city of Brotherly Love to decide things?

All depends on today’s outcomes. The Phillies will know as they take the field that the Mets with it all on the line that they have somehow fallen behind 5-0 to a motivated Marlins team due to a near brawl yesterday where they felt shown up.

The game is still in the first inning with Florida batting and Tom Glavine booed off the mound which really stinks for the classy veteran.

Dontrelle Willis will get the lead when the Mets bat.

Jamie Moyer will be going for Philadelphia probably hoping he doesn’t have as bad an inning as Glavine. Especially with Charlie Manuel using his pen early and often yesterday.

There’s also a slim chance for a crazy four-way tie between the Mets, Phils, Rockies and Padres for the wildcard which San Diego leads by a game as they try to wrap it up half an hour from now in Milwaukee for the second consecutive day after Trevor Hoffman blew the save with two out in the ninth.

The three teams trail San Diego by a game. So the formula is pretty simple. They need to win their games and hope for a Padres loss. That would setup a wild mini-playoff tournament with the Mets and Phils playing for the division Monday (looking unlikely at the moment as the Mets now trail the Marlins by a touchdown in the first inning). The loser would then play against the Rockies and Padres to decide the wildcard, meaning that the NL postseason wouldn’t start until Thursday at the earliest.

The Mets trail the Marlins 7-0 as they bat in the first against Willis. We’ll update what happens later with this game as well as the other big games today.

Last night, we took a look at Week 4 of the NFL season as the first month comes to a close.

What did myself, Rob, Jeff and John think will happen later today?

To find out, please check out our show archive below:

NFL Week 4

Here are a few of my picks on an NFL Sunday:

BILLS over Jets

Seahawks over 49ERS

FALCONS over Texans

GIANTS over Eagles

-Well, it appears the Mets aren’t going to roll over just yet. They already have seven runs on the board and it’s only in the third inning against the Marlins.

They’ve already delivered clutch two out hits for five of the seven. How big has Luis Castillo been? While Jose Reyes continues to be MIA, the hobbled veteran second baseman who was picked up from the Twins has been right in the middle of his team’s big day at Shea with two hits, a stolen base and two runs scored. Actually, scratch that. Make that 3-for-3 as his ground rule double scored John Maine to make it 8-0. They definitely should try to re-sign him. He’s played his ass off.
Lastings Milledge also has a two-run home run as the Amazin’s have gotten two in the first and three in each of the next two frames as they build a huge lead in hopes that they can win this one and tomorrow’s season finale against Dontrelle Willis- this way they can apply pressure on Philadelphia to win their last two games.

What’s the noticeable difference in these Mets today? They look much more relaxed. Almost like a heavy weight has been lifted off their shoulders. The only problem is they still need help even if they do win their final two which you’d have to believe they’ll do. They now know they got nothing more to lose. The worst has already happened.

The big question which comes in less than two hours is how will the Phillies respond? Being the hunted is a little different than being the hunter like they were for almost the entire season. They know the Mets will probably win big and must hold serve much like a tennis player with a set on the line.

We’ll see how Adam Eaton fares today against the Nationals.

-Meanwhile, the NHL is back and already there was an issue. In the first ever game at London between the Kings and defending champion Ducks, the opening regular season tilt for the 2007-08 season was delayed half an hour. For what you ask? Faulty lighting!

Gotta love it. Could this happen to any other league?!?!?!?!?!

Early observations:

A.Gary Bettman’s mere presence has influenced a penalty fest. There have already been 12 combined power plays.

B.The Ducks miss Scott Niedermayer and Teemu Selanne, especially on the power play where they’ve gone 0-for-5 while the Kings have converted three on the PP in seven opportunities. Try telling the nimrods who update the online boxscores that fact. They only have L.A. for 1 PPG and somehow new captain Rob Blake scored shorthanded on the doorstep with five guys out there to Anaheim’s four.

C.Kings 19 year-old rookie netminder Jonathan Bernier looks really sharp but also has gotten help from a D which has gotten in the path of shots. If he gets his first career shutout in his NHL debut, will he get a second start tomorrow? We’ll see.

-Notre Dame scores an offensive touchdown in the third quarter at Purdue to make it 23-6. Stop the presses!

-It says here that C.C. Sabathia would be our choice for the AL Cy Young but we see Josh Beckett winning due to winning 20 for AL East champion Boston. Fausto Carmona and John Lackey are also in the mix and Chien-Ming Wang will probably get some consideration. It’s almost as compelling as the NL MVP race yet nobody discusses it. Who would you choose?

-It’s still hard to believe what’s happened to the Mets. Even facing the prospect of being out of first for the first time since May 15 couldn’t inspire Willie Randolph’s stumbling club to pull out a win against the hapless Marlins. Instead, they dropped yet another at Shea falling 7-4 Friday night.

Coupled with the Phillies’ 6-0 shutout thanks to a brilliant 13 strikeout performance from ace Cole Hamels, the Amazin’s now trail the Phils by a game with just two games left this weekend as they now try to save their season.

How bad are things for the Mets? They’re now 0-5 on the final homestand which could be shattering the hearts of many fans in Queens who have sat and stared in disbelief at what’s transpired since Sept. 12 when their team was comfortably in front of Philly by seven games with a second consecutive division within sight.

If you’ve seen The Wizard of Oz, then you should be very familiar with Judy Garland’s infamous Dorothy character where she clicks her heels together in red slippers and says, “There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.”

Unfortunately, it doesn’t apply to the Mets who have now dropped their last eight at Shea during this epic collapse which has seen them lose 11 of 15.

“I think it’s embarrassing,” Met third baseman David Wright said after being unable to step on third for an unusual 5-2-5 double play in the second which cost his team a run. “It’s pretty pathetic that we have this division within our grasp with seven home games and we can’t find a way to win one of them. It’s a bad feeling.“
After being shutdown by Boston reject Joel Pineiro a night prior, this time the Mets allowed BJ Kim to somehow get through five innings and pickup a win for the Marlins. They did get all four of their runs (3 ER) off the journeyman but it wasn’t enough due to a lack of control from Oliver Perez.

The unpredictable southpaw who was so clutch against the very same team last weekend going eight strong for his 15th victory was dreadful when his team needed another big outing. Instead, he got off to a bad start giving up a first inning two-run home run to Jeremy Hermida which gave Florida the lead for good silencing the Shea supporters who turned out and supported their team unlike the previous night where you could hear a pin drop.

Even though the Mets got back in it and sliced it back to one thanks to a monstrous two-run shot from Carlos Beltran off the scoreboard, Perez just couldn’t get it together in the fourth, giving back the two runs thanks to a two out bases loaded two-run single by Miguel Cabrera which snuck under Jose Reyes’ glove. It ended Perez’ night as he exited to boos.
An inning prior with his team trailing 2-1, he forced in two runs with the bases loaded by hitting consecutive batters.

His final line: 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 HP, 4 K’s

In sharp contrast last weekend, he didn’t walk a batter giving up two runs (1 ER) while fanning eight.

Guess that’s how it goes when things are unraveling. Adding further insult to injury was light hitting Florida backstop Matt Treanor taking Orlando Hernandez deep to put the Marlins up four.

It was too much for the Mets to overcome as they only got a Wright fifth inning RBI ground out for the final margin as they were shutdown the final four frames by four Marlins relievers including ex-Met farmhand Matt Lindstrom, who escaped a first and third jam by getting Moises Alou swinging on a nasty heater downstairs to fan the side in the seventh.

It was the only serious threat the Mets had as they even couldn’t do anything with a leadoff hit from Reyes in their last licks as Florida closer Kevin Gregg got Luis Castillo, Wright and Beltran without any problem sending the fans home quietly.
“It’s hard to believe but it’s the reality,” a disappointed Beltran expressed in the loser’s locker room. “We haven’t been able to play the game the way we want to.“
Meanwhile, the Phillies had built a six-run lead on the Nationals in front of screaming and towel waving fans at Citizens Bank Park as they won their 12th in the last 15 to move into first.
The usual suspects were at it as the trio of MVP candidates Jimmy Rollins (two-run single), Chase Utley (RBI double) and Ryan Howard (two-run home run) drove in five of the six runs with Hamels knocking in the other to go along with his remarkable start in which he blew away 13 Nats in the first eight on 116 pitches.

Not too shabby for a 22 year-old who at one point fanned 10 of 13 striking out the side twice.

So, with wildcard leader San Diego winning 6-3 in Milwaukee to take a two-game lead over both the Mets and Rockies (lost 4-2 to Diamondbacks) with two days left to decrease its Magic No. to 1, the big question is is New York finished?

It will all depend on how John Maine and the offense performs later today. Only difference is now, they need help to get in. The Phillies and Padres must cooperate for that to happen.
-Kudos to Lou Piniella on getting the ship turned around at Wrigley. With a 6-0 shutout in Cincinnati, the fiery skipper got the Cubs back to October for the first time since Steve Bartman in 2003. No. Unlike most Cub fans, we don’t blame the poor fan for what transpired. It’s old news.

The Cubs couldn’t have won the NL Central without Alfonso Soriano (leadoff home run) having a big final month slugging 13 of his team leading 32 homers. The big money free agent who went 40/40 last year in the nation’s capital finally paid off after having a disappointing start to his Cub career.

They also got a big performance from ace Carlos Zambrano, who tossed seven scoreless to earn his 18th win. If they’re to make this a memorable postseason in Chicago, the good Zambrano must show up like last night.

Derrek Lee also hit his 22nd home run and the resurgent Jacques Jones doubled in two more as the Cubs clinched the division thanks to the win along with Milwaukee’s home defeat to San Diego.

If a Cub fan is looking for reasons why this team turned it around coming from eight and a half out in mid-June to make the postseason, look at Jones’ second half:

.319, 22 extra base hits, 45 RBI’s

Note: The average should have gone up based on Jones’ three hits last night.

We’re fairly certain a stat-sessed Stanford student is chopping at the bit here.

It’s hard to fathom what’s happened to the Mets. Once a virtual postseason lock, they’ve seen a seven-game division lead just over two weeks ago (Sept. 12) evaporate.

As they were being baffled by Joel Pineiro in a 3-0 blanking at Shea for their seventh consecutive home loss, the surging Phillies meanwhile put up six on John Smoltz taking advantage of a couple of errors before hanging on for a 6-4 victory to stunningly tie for first with only three games left for each club this weekend.

It’s the first time since May 15 that Willie Randolph’s struggling club hasn’t led the NL East. To put into perspective what kind of collapse this would be if they fail to make October which now is actually possible because the Padres at last check were up on Milwaukee 9-5 in the eighth, no team who held a seven-game lead this late in the season has ever failed to win a division.

The most stunning aspect for the Amazin’s is that their offense has supplied plenty of runs. Before being silenced tonight, they had averaged close to seven runs during a skid that’s seen them lose 10 of 14 to give the Phils life.
It’s as simple as the pen can’t get anyone out. Just ask the Nationals who visit Philadelphia in one key series this weekend after scoring 32 runs in a three-game sweep in Queens. Manny Acta’s ballclub ranked dead last in the majors in offense. Yet they had no problem hammering Mets’ pitching in taking five of the last six against the Mets in the past week, outscoring them 57-39.

Austin Kearns wore out the Mets’ staff going 7-for-21 with three dingers, 10 RBI’s and nine runs scored. The left fielder slugged two of those home runs and drove in seven the past three days. Before the past week, he had two homers and five knocked in the previous 11 against them in the season series.

He wasn’t the only one to hurt New York. In three games (all wins) in which his team outscored the Mets by a combined 34-14, Washington outfielder Ryan Church was 6-for-11 with two homers and eight RBI’s. In fact, five of his six hits were for extra bases. What’s even more daunting is that he only started twice in those three games, also coming on to hit a pinch hit two-run home run in a 12-4 win Sept. 17.

Second baseman Ronnie Belliard also got in on the act hitting in five of the six contests with a homer, four doubles and nine RBI’s for the former Cardinal.

Even washed up Tony Batista did damage against Tom Glavine with a solo shot for his second home run of the season the other night plus light hitting catcher Brian Schneider drove in six including a couple off struggling closer Billy Wagner.

Wednesday night was probably the low point as the Mets sent out pitching prospect Phil Humber for his first major league start. Carlos Beltran (2 HR) and Moises Alou (HR to extend season best hit streak to 30 straight) supplied the former 2004 third overall selection with a 5-0 lead off Barry Bonds’ victim Mike Bacsik. But Humber and Met rookie reliever Joe Smith couldn’t hold it giving up seven runs in two frames including a five-run fifth which allowed the Nats to rally from four down to take a 7-6 lead on Wily Mo Pena’s two-run double.

Maybe that inning took the air out of the Mets’ balloon because they haven’t scored since the fourth of that game, going silent the last five against a hittable Washington pen which they got six off of in a gutwrenching 10-9 defeat Tuesday.

The hitters certainly had to be overly frustrated by the Mets’ pen’s inability to hold onto the leads that they’ve built during this stretch. A three-run lead is never safe for this team. Not with the starters unable to go deep into games and give a fatigued pen a blow.

Who would you trust? Guillermo Mota makes Kyle Farnsworth look good. Pedro Feliciano who is one of Randolph’s better options suddenly can’t get righties out. Last night’s goat Smith looks every bit like a rookie who has hit a wall after closing games in A ball last year for the Cyclones in an abbreviated season in the NY-Penn League. Jorge Sosa has been overused by Randolph and can’t be trusted. Aaron Heilman is probably their best but has a penchant for walking guys and occasionally gives up the big home run.

Wagner’s troubles have been well documented. It was evident that the ex-Phillie had nothing when he came in Wednesday trying to keep it a one-run deficit for Randolph. He better find it in time for this weekend cause the Mets are going to need him probably even against the Marlins.
How crazy is it? When Scott Schoeneweis suddenly is throwing strikes and working scoreless frames despite a rough season, you know it’s gotten bad.

The Mets can take solace knowing El Duque got back out there and gutted out a scoreless seventh Wednesday despite walking two. It looks like that’s where you’ll see the veteran the rest of the year. It certainly can’t hurt their chances because like Pedro Martinez, he knows how to pitch.

What might be most disturbing about the Mets’ tailspin is they couldn’t even get a lift from their inspirational leader who after giving up three runs (2 ER) in the first three frames tossing over 50 pitches put up four straight scoreless and K’d eight on 105 pitches (73 strikes).

The Mets’ offense was kept off balance by Pineiro who used a fastball which reached 94 along with a wicked slider (87) which had batters swinging over to go eight scoreless permitting just four baserunners (three hits) all night. In fact, he used just 93 pitches (60 strikes) and went to two three ball counts before ex-Met Jason Isringhausen shut the door by retiring the top of the order 1-2-3 without a hint of trouble.

One would’ve thought Pedro’s performance in which he got better in his fifth start would be enough to turn the tide and get his teammates’ bats going. But they just seemed in a collective daze as Pineiro dominated. He easily could’ve gone the distance which was brought up by exasperated SNY tandem Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling. A graphic then came up showing that there have only been 112 complete games this season as compared to over 500 two decades ago. The shrinking number inspired by pitch counts had the former ‘86 Mets attention.

As Hernandez pointed out, “It’s Pineiro’s last start of the season. Why not have him finish it?”

But that’s just how it is these days where even when you have a pitcher in complete control without throwing a ton of pitches, they still come out. It’s why you see starters unable to go deeper into games and then you have taxed pens like the Mets are experiencing as they limp to the finish line.

So can the Mets recover from this awful skid which has seen the Phils make up seven games? All depends on what their psyche is? They looked pretty shot the past two nights. They do get the Marlins who they knocked around taking three out of four in Southern Florida last weekend.

Aside from Dontrelle Willis who’s going against Tom Glavine in the regular season finale Sunday, the matchups tend to favor them with Oliver Perez facing B.J. Kim Friday night and John Maine Saturday against Chris Seddon.

Meanwhile, the Phillies who got home run No.44 from Ryan Howard and a two-run shot which proved to stand as the winner from resurgent left fielder Pat Burrell (30th) will have to deal with those pesky Nats this weekend.

They’ll get plenty of support from a fanatic crowd who’s starved to see their team’s first October since 1993. The white towels will continue to be waved. You have to wonder if on the contrary, some Mets fans have tossed theirs in with so many empties the past couple of nights despite announced paid attendances of 40,000 plus.
The Phils will send ace Cole Hamels to the mound Friday against Tim Redding. Adam Eaton goes against Matt Chico Saturday and Jamie Moyer opposes Jason Bergmann in the season finale Sunday.

In the event the two teams finish in a tie after Sunday, the Phillies would host a one-game playoff the following day to settle it.

If you’re a Mets fan, knowing the history of the Phils’ epic collapse in 1964, you probably are hoping it doesn’t get to that point. But here’s something interesting. While their team can’t seem to find the magic winning formula at Shea, they own the majors’ best road record finishing 47-34.

We’ll know soon enough if it gets to Monday.

What’s more? With the wildcard leading Padres winning again in Milwaukee to stay a game back of Arizona, their 88-71 record is one better than both NL East competitors- meaning it’s now entirely possible that the NL East loser will miss out on the playoffs.

With the red hot Rockies at last check leading the Dodgers 6-3 in the seventh thanks to a two-run homer from Todd Helton in search of their 11th consecutive win, it’s possible they could remain tied with both the Mets and Phils a game behind the Padres.

There’s even a crazy scenario where you could have all four teams finish tied on the final day with a mini-playoff tournament possible.

Still, what are the chances that will happen? Who can tell in this wild year?

In the mean time, we’re going to find out plenty about the Mets starting later tonight. Fasten your seatbelts!

It was a wild ride but the Yankees are back where they usually are at this time of year. In the postseason for the 13th consecutive season.

They deserve a lot of credit for how they played the last three months, making up a ton of ground after a brutal start which saw them 21-29 at one point, 14 and a half behind the Red Sox. Though Joe Torre’s club won’t make up the ground to win another AL East, just to get this far his team had to play lights out. Including tonight’s 12-4 wildcard clincher over the D-Rays in St. Petersburgh, the Bronx Bombers have posted a major league best 53-26 record since July.

They needed to play that kind of baseball to reach another October, leaving an emotional Torre reduced to tears about how much it means to once again be playing meaningful baseball for the 12th straight season since he took over in the dugout.

Not surprisingly, the celebration which included many key young players such as Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera, Shelly Duncan and Joba Chamberlain was chaotic. The youngsters who played pivotal roles in the club’s remarkable turnaround had plenty of fun in the Yankee locker room interrupting Kim Jones’ interviews during the raucous celebration by dousing teammates with champagne and making about as much noise as you’d hear at a frat party. If you’ve seen the energy Duncan brings, it’s no surprise that he was leading the charge in the fun.

That’s something that’s made this team different than past ones. When you see the ultraserious Mike Mussina even getting into the act with Duncan, you know it’s been very positive for this club which prides itself on winning and going about its business on and off the field.

Sometimes, youthful energy can rub off on veterans. It sure looks like that’s happened with this club. You’ve seen this team have more fun during games. Cabrera’s recent walkoff hit at The Stadium was greeted by buddy Cano and A-Rod who all jumped up and down playfully around him.

There’s been a lot more of that than in past seasons which has to be good for team chemistry.

The Yanks might have the highest payroll but without Joba (Jaw-ba) and some of those other kids coming up and playing roles, there probably isn’t a 13th straight postseason which is just one short of Atlanta’s ML record of 14 (1991-2005).

Of course, you can’t say enough about the performance of A-Rod, whose 53 home runs and 151 RBI’s in 156 games is one of the most remarkable seasons in Pinstripe history. The third baseman came in with much to prove this year and has been extremely focused and put together an amazing summer which will become his third AL MVP season and second as a Yankee in three years. You can tell just from his response to Jones that he knows it’s not done yet and there’s still something bigger coming starting next week.

You saw the same expression on Derek Jeter, whose sixth 200th hit season is two fewer than all-time great Lou Gehrig’s major league record eight.

He talked about it not being easy to be this consistent year after year despite the talent they have and gave credit to Brian Cashman for some of the call-ups such as Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy.

Of course, the Yankee captain’s right. It’s not easy to be one of those eight teams. Just ask the Mets.

They know they’ve done something very nice already but the goal becomes bigger with the Indians looming in the first round probably next Tuesday.

The Yanks were written off many times this year including by WFAN’s Mike Francesa, us and even fans. They never gave up and believed in each other enough to get the job done.

It was a team effort. Jorge Posada has had perhaps his best season. Cano is six RBI’s short of 100 after a brutal first half and Bobby Abreu who he doused during an interview is one shy of the century mark. Johnny Damon who has come on strong down the stretch had his share too. Hideki Matsui had a tough first half too but has rebounded to knock in his usual 100-plus. Valuable players have come off the bench and chipped in such as Doug Mientkiewicz, Wilson Betemit, Duncan, Jose Molina and even Jason Giambi.
This is part of why Andy Pettite and Roger Clemens returned. Now comes the bigger test where recent Yankee teams have failed to deliver.

In an ultracompetitive AL where all four teams (Boston, Cleveland, Angels and Yankees) are only separated by three total games, there’s no such thing as a gimme in the first round. Whoever comes out of the AL and takes the pennant will really earn it.

The Yanks have gotten to Part I. They should be commended for how they played with little margin for error. Now comes the real challenge.

If ever a pic was symbolic, then this one probably sums up the Mets’ pitching problems. Despite a pen which can’t get anyone out (just ask the least NL offensive Nationals), Willie Randolph’s club which is trying its best to give away the division still sits in first two ahead of the Phillies with five to play.

Despite Tom Glavine serving up three bombs for the first time all year and a couple of mental mistakes turning it into a seven-run deficit, the Amazin’s nearly pulled one out of the magic hat with a six-run ninth but Carlos Delgado struckout and Paul Lo Duca popped out to end the comeback as they fell 10-9 to the Nats at Shea.

Manny Acta’s ballclub has now taken four of the last five against the Mets whose Magic No. is down to four because the Phils lost 10-6 at home to the suddenly resurgent Braves. Mark Teixeira hit his 15th as a Brave and Chipper Jones hit a two-run shot as Atlant got a huge win. The Phillies had fought back from a 4-1 deficit to take a 5-4 lead but Jamie Moyer and Geoff Geary couldn’t hold it as Atlanta got four in the sixth to take the lead for good.
That’s right. Atlanta who was once written off is just two behind Philly. The problem for them is that the Giants’ pen failed to shut the door on San Diego, who rallied for four runs in the ninth including a go-ahead two out three-run home run from Brian Giles to pull out a huge come from behind 6-4 victory.

It snapped a four-game skid and put the Padres a game up on the Phillies for the wildcard and kept them two in front of red hot Colorado who won a seesaw game 9-7 against the Dodgers, taking their ninth straight. Rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzki hit his 23rd homer and Todd Helton had three hits and drove in a couple as Colorado improved to 85-72, tying the Phils just a game behind San Diego.

Meanwhile, the Padres are two behind Arizona who fell in Pittsburgh 6-5. That’s the kind of night it was. In the AL, the Yanks failed to clinch their 13th consecutive postseason blowing a 5-0 lead, falling in extras 6-5 to the lowly D-Rays thanks to a walkoff home run from ex-Yank catching prospect Dioner Navarro.

The dinger off Jeff Karstens completed a nice comeback as Tampa improved to 8-8 against New York for the season series. And that right there is why the Yanks won’t be winning another AL East as Boston reduced its Magic No. to three with a win over the A’s. David Ortiz went yard and Manny Ramirez returned after missing 24 games getting a hit and playing five before being pinch run for.

The highlight for the Yanks was Alex Rodriguez’ grand slam for his major league leading 53rd giving him 151 RBI’s for the season.

The lowlight was the Yankee pen as both Edwar Ramirez and Brian Bruney couldn’t throw strikes with a five-run lead giving up six in the sixth with the big blow coming off the bat of journeyman Jorge Velandia whose grand salami was his first career homer to give Tampa its first lead.

Though Derek Jeter remained hot extending his hit streak to 12 straight with an early RBI double and the resurgent Johnny Damon had five of the Yanks’ 12 hits while stealing two bases (25, 26) and scoring two runs, it wasn’t enough because of the pen’s inefficiency.

Torre decided to let some other guys pitch and see who he could consider for the postseason roster. With two K’s in a scoreless eighth, everyone’s favorite Kyle Farn$worth looks like he’ll make the cut. Ron Villone and Jose Veras each worked a scoreless frame and could be vying for spots.

Keep a close eye on Ross Ohlendorf. The 25 year-old former Princeton standout who was drafted in the fourth round by Arizona three years ago before coming over along with Luis Vizcaino as part of the Randy Johnson deal has looked sharp since coming up allowing just a hit (HR) in three-plus while fanning six. His control also hasn’t been an issue walking only one unlike so many other teammates.

If he gets into a couple of more games (why not) with the Yanks needing just one win or a Tiger loss to wrap up the wildcard, it wouldn’t be surprising if Ohlendorf made the cut.

If he performs like he did as part of the Yanks’ rookie hazing where they dressed up like characters from The Wizard of Oz, there will be even more to smile about this October.

In case you’re wondering about the Cubs, they were shutdown by the Marlins and Dontrelle Willis, who went the first eight allowing just two hits (Craig Monroe two-run homer in eighth) while striking out seven for his 10th win in maybe his last start in Florida. He could be on the move this winter along with star third baseman Miguel Cabrera. Some things never change for that pathetic franchise. Even with the two World Series championships, it’s no wonder they can’t get anyone to come to games and were outnumbered badly by Mets fans who made it sound like Shea this past weekend.
The Cubs’ loss allowed the Brewers to cut a game off their lead. They won easily for a second consecutive night in St. Louis slugging four home runs in a 9-1 rout. Prince Fielder hit two more for his NL leading 49th and 50th to become the youngest player at age 23 to ever reach 50. His 50th also helped him make history as the first father/son combo to each hit 50 in a season. Dad Cecil did it with the Tigers in 1990 when he paced the AL with 51.

The Brewers are still alive two back now. But they’ll need more help.

It should be interesting to see how Mets’ pitching prospect Phil Humber fares in a pressure packed start later tonight in his major league debut. Hey. Can he do any worse than Mike Pelfrey and Glavine?

The third overall selection in the 2004 draft went 11-9 with a 4.27 ERA in 25 starts with Triple-A New Orleans this summer. He hasn’t pitched since being recalled earlier this month. So we’ll see how he does.

Does anyone else think the Mets can’t wait not to see Austin Kearns in the batter’s box anymore?

Our video of the day comes courtesy of Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy, who justifiably defended his quarterback Bobby Reid after The Oklahoman’s Jenni Carlson’s negative column about his player referring to why a QB change was made.

The coach didn’t take well to the article in question and brought it out in the open during a recent press conference. Here’s what it looked like:

Oklahoma State Football Coach Mike Gundy Defends Player

Sometimes, this kind of stuff happens. I like the fact the coach defended his player. He obviously didn’t agree with what was written by Carlson, claiming that 3/4 of it was inaccurate. Who knows what the truth really is?

One of Carlson’s colleagues defended her in another piece entitled, “Gundy was out of bounds in rant.”
They had a solid relationship with both parties. But by writing a piece like this, doesn’t it just make it worse? It’s probably best being left alone.

What do you think?

-The baseball playoff picture is clearing up. With the Mets taking yesterday’s final game at Florida 7-6 in extras thanks to NL MVP candidate David Wright’s clutch RBI single while the pesky Nats held on to defeat the Phillies 5-3, New York is looking good to take their second straight division with a week to go.

Willie Randolph’s club entered tonight’s opening game against Washington with a two and a half game lead. Though they’re on the verge of dropping the opener trailing 10-3 with Mike Pelfrey roughed up and Guillermo Mota drawing more boos with another brutal performance, they would still lead the Phils by two games with six left for each club.

The Amazin’s Magic No. is five. They’ll face the Nationals twice more, then play a make up game at Shea against the Cardinals before finishng up with three against the Marlins. Meanwhile, Charlie Manuel’s resilient Phils finish up with six at home but must host the Braves for three starting tomorrow before the Nats come in for a weekend series.

It won’t be easy to break their 14-year playoff drought since the 1993 Phillies fell to the Blue Jays in six on Joe Carter’s memorable ninth inning home run.

They do trail the Padres by half a game for the wildcard. San Diego begins a three-game series in San Francisco tonight before wrapping up with four at Milwaukee.

The Padres are coming off being swept by the Rockies who have now reeled off eight in a row and are just a game and a half back (game behind Phils). San Diego will try to rebound despite losing outfielder Milton Bradley who tore his ACL in bizarre fashion while protesting vehemently and being spun around by manager Bud Black and falling awkwardly.

Could only happen to a hot head talent such as Bradley who’s worn out his welcome in other places but was a catalyst for San Diego after they picked him up from Oakland. He’s just not smart.

They also could be without center fielder Mike Cameron who has a torn ligament in his right thumb after Bradley accidentally stepped on it while the ex-Met tried to make a diving catch on a Garrett Atkins inside the park home run. It looks like Cameron will only be available off the bench as a pinch hitter which could be a big blow to the Padres’ chances.

Meanwhile, the Cubs are in the driver’s seat having taken four in a row and leading the Brewers by three and a half to reduce their Magic No. to four as they head to Florida for three before concluding the season in Cincinnati.

They aren’t getting any help from the Cards tonight who at last check were being pounded by Milwaukee 12-2. Prince Fielder hit his senior circuit leading 48th dinger and certain NL Rookie of The Year Ryan Braun has his 33rd and driven in three.

In 107 games which includes tonight, the third baseman has 91 RBI’s to go with a .322 average and 85 runs scored. Just amazing numbers for the 2005 first round pick (fifth overall) out of Miami Florida. If he somehow got to 100 RBI’s and the Cubs collapsed, should he get MVP consideration? Why not. His situational numbers and splits are impressive for a first-year player. Don’t believe us? See for yourself:

Ryan Braun’s 2007 Splits

Braun’s 2007 situational stats

Definitely gives you some food for thought with Wright, teammate Fielder, Matt Holliday and Phillies Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and 2006 NL recipient Ryan Howard getting most of the attention.

It might all depend on how this final week plays out. It’s definitely one of the most exciting and unpredictable races we’ve seen.

Stay tuned. Expect the unexpected.

-With the Yanks falling at The Stadium to Toronto 4-1, the AL East is all but over. Unless Boston falls apart, they’ll win the division and the Bronx Bombers will settle for the wildcard. What’s unknown still is whether it will be the Angels or Indians in the first round. Just wait and see.

-The Giants showed an awful lot of resolve in yesterday’s 24-17 come from behind victory at Fed Ex Field over NFC East rival Washington. This was a real gutcheck for Tom Coughlin’s group who overcame a 17-3 deficit by getting three unanswered scores all in the second half while the Skins’ offense stalled.

Eli Manning didn’t have a great day turning it over three times (2 Ints, 1 lost fumble) but the Big Blue QB was money on third down at one point helping his desperate team convert seven consecutive times in those situations to keep drives alive. Along with strong second half by Plaxico Burress on a bad ankle, the two hooked up for the winning touchdown as Plax made the adjustment on a tough pass and took it to the house.

What we can’t figure out was why the Skins’ playcalling down the stretch was so brutal. With the ball inside the Giant 2 and still at least 55 seconds left, they chose to have QB Jason Campbell spike the ball and waste a down rather than run another play. The strategy made about as much sense as the rushed fourth down call to give the ball to Ladell Betts for a second straight time and watch him get dropped in the backfield as Big Blue held to earn the big win.

It was about as poor a last minute goal line series as you’ll see. Especially from what was an undefeated team.

You have to wonder how a Joe Gibbs overstaffed team (have you seen how many assistants they have) could have such poor execution in that situation against what had been a porous Giant D up until the final 30 minutes yesterday.

It doesn’t matter as the Giants will take it and try to carry momentum forward when they return home to host the Eagles who also got back on track with a blowout 56-21 win over another overrated unbeaten Detroit. Donovan McNabb threw for four touchdowns and 381 yards while Brian Westbrook had 221 total yards and three scores.

Andy Reid’s team did all this despite possibly the ugliest jerseys anyone’s ever seen:

As Shaggy in Scooby Doo would say, “Yiiiiiiikkkkkkeeeesss.”

Have you ever seen anything that ugly before? It even beats the old Islander Fishstick logos.

It’s supposed to be a 1933 throwback. Just pray they never wear it again.

-Meanwhile, the Jets also got their first win hanging on to beat division rival Miami 31-28 at The Meadowlands. Chad Pennington didn’t have great numbers but still accounted for three touchdowns including his a QB sneak for his first rushing score since 2004.

Leon Washington returned a kick for a 98-yard score and Pennington made two nice throws to Laveranues Coles and underrated tight end Chris Baker for passing TDs as Gang Green prevailed despite two late touchdowns by Miami which made things interesting before the Jets’ Eric Smith recovered an on-side kick with 70 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

More encouraging was running back Thomas Jones who broke out for 110 yards on the ground after a couple of quiet weeks. Eric Mangini’s club will need more of that type of production when they play winless Buffalo next week.

-If the Titans win this game at New Orleans, the Saints will be 0-3. They’re finding out just how tough it is a year later after being media darlings last year. Playing a first place schedule is much tougher and with it come loftier expectations for Sean Payton’s club who got all the way to the NFC title game before being routed by Chicago.

-Speaking of the Bears, with another brutal performance last night including three picks with one returned all the way for a TD in a blowout home defeat to unbeaten Dallas, Rex Grossman just might be finding a seat on the bench in favor of veteran QB Brian Griese. At 1-2, they’re already in some trouble.

-If anyone caught the nasty preseason tilt on Islanders TV between the Rangers and Isles, then you know what happened between Chris Simon and Ryan Hollweg isn’t over. For more on that game which featured a goalie fight between Rick DiPietro and Al Montoya, please check out our entries over at Battle of New York.

-As the NHL regular season inches closer, we should have a preview forth coming. Stay tuned.