Phillies Limp Home for Important NL East Series With the Mets

It certainly is a long way from Oct. 31, 2008. That is the day when the Philadelphia Phillies celebrated their second World Championship of baseball, having defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, four games to one. Oh, yes, the Phillies are still in first place, although tied with the Marlins for first. The Phillies, losers of 13 of their last 15, are 39-37, while the Marlins are 41-39. What lies ahead? Either a chance to squash a division opponent or, as my picture displays, sit in a pile of dog poo. 'Cause while the Phillies and the Mets beat each other up at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia for a three-game series, the Marlins are at home vs. the Pirates and Atlanta plays at Washington. Um, er, excuse me? Are the baseball gods laughing at Philadelphia and New York? 'Cause you can't expect the Pirates or the Nationals to take more than one game in the series, although the Pirates, losers of their last two, are more likely to play spoiler. Stranger things have happened. The Mets are without ... (link)