Playoff races sure are fun to follow. But what everyone will remember is how things turn out.
For the third straight year, the Philadelphia Phillies are right in the thick of post-season contention.
I've been bitting my nails, watching play-by-play results online, constantly checking scores, and reviewing standings and remaining games on a daily basis.
To say the least, this is a nerve-wracking, yet exciting time.
Phillies, Mets, Padres, Rockies.
Four teams, two playoff spots open.
Who will finish strong?
For the last two years, it has not been the Phillies. So while I have hope, I also have the memory that the Phillies are not typically the one's who come out on top. After all, it has been 14 years since they last made the playoffs.
Heading into tonights games, the Phillies trailed the Mets by two games for the NL East lead. San Diego led the Phillies and Rockies by one game in the wild card race.
The Mets seem to be doing everything they can to give away the division lead, losing its last two to the Washington Nationals and six of their last ten. But the Phillies have not been able to take advantage as of late. After winning nine of ten, the Phillies had lost two in a row.
Meanwhile, San Diego is 6-4 in its last 10 games and Colorado has been red hot, winning nine of its last 10.
Every pitch matters from here on out.
Then again, every pitch has mattered for some time for the Phillies.
Not long ago, they trailed the Mets by seven games. After sweeping the Mets twice, the Phillies climbed right back into the race. They have defeated New York eight straight times.
After a San Diego loss on Monday, the Phillies pulled into a tie for the wild card lead. A 10-6 loss to the Braves last night and a San Diego comeback victory dropped the Phils one back.
The Phils showed fight again tonight, beating the Braves 5-2. The biggest cheer of the night might have come when the Mets and Nationals score was posted after the fifth inning. The Mets, who led 5-0, allowed two runs in the fourth and five in the fifth to fall behind 7-6. The crowd in Philadelphia went nuts.
One advantage the Phillies have is that their remaining four games (one against Atlanta and three against Washington) are all at home. Everyone else goes on the road. The Phillies will certainly have an excited and energized crowd cheering them on.
But all is not in the Phillies hand, as they will need at least a little help to make the playoffs.
They can control what they do and took care of business tonight. After the last pitch comes the waiting and hoping. The Mets game will end next. Then it's time to watch the Colorado score, then the San Diego score.
The nerves have kicked in, wondering what I will wake up to tomorrow.
But boy is this exciting.
