Standing on the Brink of Improbability
In case this city had forgotten what it feels like to have baseball joy, this Phillies have single-handedly revived it. Injuries, combustible pitching staffs, untimely slumps be damned — every game has meaning and, for once, it actually appears the Phils are in control of their own destiny. Better, this is a team finally infused with the one ingredient that’s been missing from the also-rans of previous years: character.
Last night the team staved off headaches and heartbreak again, beating the Braves 6-4 in front of a frenzied, towel-whipping crowd that’s willing this team to keep on winning while also keeping one eye on the scoreboard to make sure the Bastard Mets continue to ungracefully fall. They did. Now both teams sit atop the National League East with three games to play.
The Mets season means nothing anymore — the Phillies snared momentum, share the top spot, and are (finally) the team to beat that Jimmy Rollins claimed they were. Crazy.
The National League games this weekend have all the drama and urgency of the NCAA Tournament, with so many teams teetering on playoff execution with one loss. If you’d forgotten how great baseball is, come on back. The next three days could change your life.
Onto the Nationals.
Phillies Win! Mets Lose! Division all tied up [Beerleaguer]
Your National League East Leading Phillies [The700Level]
PHOTO: Daily News
