If this is the way the National League East race is going to go down in 2009, the World Champion Phillies not only will take it...they'll take it in stride.
While the Phils were cooling their jets after a sweet-sweepola weekend in Washington, the hated New York Mets stunk out Dodger stadium in a 3-2 loss to L.A. The Mets' sweet, brief taste of first place ended with some sour sushi on their plate in Tinseltown. New York committed five errors (count 'em, five) in la-la land and blew the game in the 11th inning.
Now Phillies fans, get out your crying towels and summon forth those crocodile tears.
The Mets will be without cleanup hitter Carlos Delgado for quite a while because he needs hip surgery (aww). The Mets also lost utility infielder Alex Cora because of a torn ligament in his thumb (double aww). Cora had been backing up infamous shortstop Jose Reyes, who's been hobbled with a bad calf (aww shucks).
New York fans, no doubt, are having a cow!
So, with the Mets a mess, the Phillies leapfrog their way back into first place, albeit by mere percentage points. But, the way the Phils are hitting, and with Cole Hamels due to start tonight in Cincinnati, "big brother mo" could finally be tipping his hat to the defending champs.
Are ya Phillin' it yet fans?
