Aug. 30 -- SWEEP DREAMS

When the Big, Bad Mets walked into Citizens Bank Park on Monday, they had a seven-game lead over the Phillies in the NL East. A column in the New York Post had even proclaimed the race for the division crown was over.

Over?

Someone forgot to tell the Phillies.

Three games -- and some very dramatic plays -- later, the Mets' lead is down to three games. And, if the Phillies win today behind Kyle Lohse, they'll trail the Mets by only two games with 29 to play. But we have all day to discuss that possibility, and since it's a day game, we will. I'll try to post in-game updates throughout the day, and if you feel like procrastinating at work, feel free to comment early and often about the goings-on here. I'd like to gauge your opinion on what's happened this week. Do you think the Phillies have what it takes to sweep the Mets?

But before we get to all that, let's review:

The game story in the 50-center offers a detailed account of last night's final play, when Marlon Anderson was called out for interfering with Tadahito Iguchi's ability to turn a game-ending double play. The Mets contested the play, claiming Anderson touched the base. But here's the way I saw it: Jimmy Rollins had to charge the ball, which delayed his flip to Iguchi. Shawn Green would've been safe at first base, so there was no need for Anderson to go out of his way to break up the double play.

In making the call, second-base umpire CB Bucknor applied Rule 6.05(m), which reads as follows: "The objective of this rule is to penalize the offensive team for deliberate, unwarranted, unsportsmanlike action by the runner in leaving the baseline for the obvious purpose of crashing the pivot man on a double play, rather than trying to reach the base. Obviously, this is an umpire's judgment play."

To me, Bucknor made the right call. It was a gutsy call, too, considering it ended a fairly important game.

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This much we know: Lohse starts today. Kyle Kendrick starts the opener in Florida tomorrow night, followed by J.D. Durbin on Saturday and Cole Hamels (assuming he comes through his bullpen session tomorrow) on Sunday. After that, the Phillies aren't sure -- or they aren't saying. They could go to a six-man rotation, which would give Jamie Moyer an extra day of rest. That would mean Adam Eaton starts Monday in Atlanta, followed by Moyer and Lohse.

Talk amongst yourselves about the play last night and today's game. I'll be back later this afternoon.