Let's jump the gun for a minute here. Yes, yes, yes this is definitely the wrong time to entertain such thoughts, especially when there are 12 games remaining in the season. This time of year 12 games is a lifetime - anything can happen.
But then again it's kind of what we do when we talk about sports. We love to speculate and allow our minds to wander while simultaneously second-guessing along with the action on the field.
So here it is:
What would happen if the Phillies played the Mets in the NLCS?
Hey, it could happen.
If I had to guess I'd say Shea Stadium and Citizens Bank Park would morph into European soccer stadiums for a Phillies-Mets NLCS. Fans would sing, chant, dance, cry and fight - and that would just be in the parking lot before the game. On the field, the action would resemble the final showdown between Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix in the movie, Gladiator. At the very least it could reach a fever pitch in very much the same manner as the 2003 ALCS when Pedro Martinez tossed 70-year-old coach Don Zimmer to the ground as if he were a bag of leaves.
This time around Pedro is with the Mets, though it's highly unlikely that he would pick a fight with any member of the Phillies' staff. Pedro is better suited to mix it up with 70-year-old coaches.
Nevertheless, just the thought of a matchup between the Phillies and the Mets in the NLCS is enough to put a smirk on my face. Plus, it means one last trip to Shea...
Yay!
If the season were to end today, the Phillies would travel to Chicago to face the Cubs in the NLDS, while the Mets would host the Dodgers. For the Phillies, the end-of-the-season pitching matchups point to Brett Myers in Game 1, Jamie Moyer in Game 2 and Cole Hamels in Game 3. That's certainly the way manager Charlie Manuel wants it to play out.
Again, there is a long way to go. Starting on Tuesday night the Phillies have three games in Atlanta followed by three next weekend in Florida. After sweeping the Brewers in four straight, the Phillies finally have that little extra bounce back in their steps.
"I really believe that we haven't played the way we're capable of playing," said Pat Burrell, who snapped out of a two-month long slump with the go-ahead RBI single in Sunday's opener to the day-night doubleheader, and then smashed a long homer to left in the nightcap. "We've been pretty inconsistent all year, and to be in the situation we're in, we're fortunate. I think there is better baseball still to be played."
According to the numbers crunchers, the Phillies have a lot more baseball left to play. Ken Roberts, of the web site Sports Club Stats, gives the Phillies a 71.6 percent chance to make the playoffs. However, there are still games remaining to win. At 83-67 it seems as if the Phillies have to win at least 90 games to get into the playoffs.
It just might take 92 wins to get a second straight NL East crown.
Sit tight.
And yes we are totally discounting the Brewers. Unless they relieve manager Ned Yost now for the final push, the Brewers aren't going anywhere.