How about the NL East?

[BrudLee]

I am, inexplicably, a Phillies fan. So obviously this has been a fun September. Anyone else got a dog in this hunt?

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by BrudLee

I am, inexplicably, a Phillies fan. So obviously this has been a fun September. Anyone else got a dog in this hunt?

My Royals are still in the hunt...for 4th place!

[SmootSmack]

Well my Nationals are certainly helping you out Brud.

Everyone at work laughed back in April when I said watch out for the Rockies this year...and look at them now (I know it's not NL East but still....yay for Smoot!)

[SkinsLove24/7]

I am pulling for the Phillies in the race as well. I am also amazed at the rockies and their 11 straight wins to get within a game of the wildcard. The NL race is so good considering no spots are locked up yet and in the AL all the teams are set and after Boston's win tonight looks like the matchups are set.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by BrudLee

I am, inexplicably, a Phillies fan. So obviously this has been a fun September. Anyone else got a dog in this hunt?

Phils fan here. Lived in Alexandria VA from age 0-4, and here in the Philly area ever since. My dad raised me a Redskins fan, but with no baseball team in the DC area, he didn't influence my baseball loyalties. So I took to the home team. Plus the Phillie Phanatic made a strong impression on me when I was 6, he took my hat and planted a big fat Phanatic kiss on my head.

It's an exciting team, lots of offense. If Hamels can pitch like he did tonight, they could do serious damage in a series. They have the offense to get to pitchers like Smoltz (last night), and if they can roll Hamels out at you twice in one series, they can beat anybody in the NL.

Hard not to like Rollins, Utley, and Howard too; this team is nothing like the Eagles. And the fans are much different too.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by SkinsLove24/7

I am pulling for the Phillies in the race as well. I am also amazed at the rockies and their 11 straight wins to get within a game of the wildcard. The NL race is so good considering no spots are locked up yet and in the AL all the teams are set and after Boston's win tonight looks like the matchups are set.

Tough loss for the Rockies tonight though.

I'm pulling for the Cubs out of the NL I think

[jsarno]

Not in the NL East, but in the AL east my Red Sox finally won the division with the win tonight and the loss of the Yankees.
Looks like the Phillies will win the division too with yet another loss by the Mets. That is getting quite comical.

BTW- My vote goes to Rollins for MVP.

[GTripp0012]

Who ever thought my 4000th post would be about the KC Royals?

[BrudLee]

Phils = NL East champs.

Me = Boner.

By the way, for those of you watching the Eagles/Giants tonight - the parking lot for Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field are adjacent. I'd expect the Eagles crowd to be measurably drunker than normal. Which is to say, legally dead. The jails at the Linc will be full by the 8-minute mark.

EDIT: For some reason, I thought this game was in Philly. I stand by my drunk Philadelphian comments, though.

[dall-assblows]

me = hate baseball. but the mets totally blew that.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by BrudLee

Phils = NL East champs.

Me = Boner.

By the way, for those of you watching the Eagles/Giants tonight - the parking lot for Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field are adjacent. I'd expect the Eagles crowd to be measurably drunker than normal. Which is to say, legally dead. The jails at the Linc will be full by the 8-minute mark.

Congrats on the Phillies. I love to see any NY team go down, and to collapse like that is just icing on the cake. That was the worst collapse...since...the 2004 Yanks in the ALCS...aaaah, good times.

[MTK]

Epic collapse by the Mets, I still can't believe it

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Epic collapse by the Mets, I still can't believe it

I wonder how the Mets brass will respond?

[MTK]

Originally Posted by jsarno

I wonder how the Mets brass will respond?

I'm sure they'll throw more cash at the problem. They need some serious upgrades to the starting pitching staff.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I'm sure they'll throw more cash at the problem. They need some serious upgrades to the starting pitching staff.

You're probably right...but they can spend, as long as they spend wisely.
Look at Delgado, he batted a miserable .258 with only 24 homers, 87 RBI and a .333 OBP. (all career lows)
Shawn Green, another waste of money....291 / 10 / 46. (10hr and 46rbi 2nd worst of his career for both)
Reyes had a good season overall, but did horrible down the stretch, and they needed him to be hot at the end of the season.

While I do think the pitching could use an overhaul, it wasn't all that bad.
Glavine was hot after the break, and ended 13-8, 4.45 era. Not great, but not bad.
John Maine 15-10, 3.91era. Again, not great, but it's not like he should have been expected to do better.
Oliver Perez 15-10, 3.56era. That is quite good and a surprise from him. His career best in wins, and 2nd best era of career.
Orlando Hernandez, 9-5, 3.72. Not bad at all. It was one of his better years.
Pelfrey and Lawrence sucked something awful in their combined 19 starts, and the Mets should have looked elsewhere for help there. But I think they were hoping on Pedro coming back (wrong decision). However, Pedro was 3-1 with a 2.57 era in 5 starts which is GREAT.
The pen was average I suppose. They had some good pitchers, (Wagner, Heilman, Feliciano, and Smith) and some HORRIBLE ones, (Schoeneweis, Mota, Sele, and Sosa).
All that being said, I am shocked they won 88 games. They have an average team...maybe slightly above average. The better team won the division.

While I do think they need better pitching, it was a staff that overacheived most of the season. They also need some consistant bats in the lineup. Take away Wright, and throw in another Slump from Reyes and thier offense is weak. (they proved it down the stretch). The GM needs to wake up and get some key players, not big name 1 dimensional players.