Sept. 16 -- FEELS LIKE OCTOBER

NEW YORK -- So, I was eating breakfast before today's game when a newspaper reporter who covers the Mets told me he already has reserved a hotel room in Philly for Games 3, 4 and 5 of the NLCS.

That's how highly folks in New York regard the Phillies.

Those of us who have watched this team for the past few seasons aren't as confident. No one needs to be reminded that the Phils were in virtually the same position at this time last season and missed the playoffs. Last week, I asked Charlie Manuel and several players why this season should be different than any other. Read what they had to say.

The script was the same yesterday, as the Phils won their seventh straight over the Mets. They capitalized on Mets mistakes (Shawn Green's seventh-inning error, Carlos Beltran's misplay in center field on Jimmy Rollins' game-winning triple in the eighth, Jose Reyes getting caught stealing twice) and got spotless relief pitching. The Phillies' maligned bullpen, battered by everyone else, has tossed 17 straight scoreless innings at Shea Stadium.

One word on Rollins' triple: Aaron Rowand said he was battling a low sun for most of the day in center field. Beltran didn't use the conditions as an excuse. He said he simply made a bad read.

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Even though they've narrowed the Mets' lead in the NL East to 4-1/2 games, the Phillies still think the wild card is their best route to the playoffs. After yesterday's game, Chris Coste said the Mets "know they're still in a great position." And, while I tend to agree, consider this: If the Phillies win today with Adam Eaton (4-0, 1.98 ERA in four career starts at Shea) on the mound, the Mets are starting Brian Lawrence and Mike Pelfrey in two of their next three games. With a good series in St. Louis, the Phillies could put serious pressure on them. And, as you can read in this notebook, Cole Hamels is ready to start Tuesday night for the Phils.

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In my Sunday baseball notes, I write that David Wright would be my pick for NL MVP. To me, Jimmy Rollins is a very close second, and with two weeks still left in the season, my mind is hardly made up. Also in this story, you can read about how Phillies draft pick Matt Rizzotti homered last year off Yankees rookie sensation Joba Chamberlain. No major league hitter has done that yet.

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Rollins has certainly backed up his offseason prediction that the Phillies, not the Mets, are the "team to beat" in the NL East. In 17 games against the Mets, Rollins is batting .355 (27-for-76) with six homers and 14 RBIs.