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Well, fans, a couple of weeks ago it looked like the New York Mets had come out of the gate on fire and were going to run away with the National League East. With all due respect to the Mets and what they have accomplished, all I got to say is: Not so fast! As of today (Monday) Atlanta has won five out of their past six games and, although still below .500, are beginning to look like the team that won it’s 14th consecutive division title last season. Even more impressive, is the recent play of the Philadelphia Phillies. After spinning their wheels for the first three weeks of the season, the Phils have really turned it on as of late. Philadelphia has won 13-out-of-14 and pulled to within a game of the stunned Mets. |
Over the past weekend, Philadelphia went into Cincinnati to take on the surprising Reds, possessors of the best record in the National League going into the weekend. Philadelphia went on to sweep the Reds in the Great American Ballpark and, in the process, serve notice to both New York and Atlanta that they were a team to be reckoned with.
In 2005 I picked Philadelphia to win the National League East, but the team did not live up to expectations. A late season surge put the Phillies only a game out of the Wild Card, eventually won by the Astros, at season’s end.
The loss of stud closer Billy Wagner, to the hated Mets no less, looked like it spelled doom for the Phillies in 2006. Guess again. This group looks for real.
Philadelphia has a potent offense led by perennial All-Star Bobby Abreau and hulking second-year first baseman Ryan Howard. Last Sunday, Phillie Manager Charlie Manuel gave Howard a day off against the Reds. Howard, however, was called upon to pinch hit in the late innings and blasted a towering homer that tied the game. Howard remained in the game to play first and later mashed another monster homer to give the Phils the win.
Yes, fans, I do believe the Phils are for real this season.
What remains to be seen is if the team has enough staying power to hang with the Mets, who are loaded with veteran and young talent alike. And, of course, no one can count out the Braves until October.
Stay tuned.
