Sept. 21 -- PENNANT FEVER

WASHINGTON -- If, at about 10:45 last night, you had been in the cramped visitor's clubhouse at RFK Stadium, you might've thought the Phillies had clinched a playoff spot.

Having already come from behind to beat the pesky Nationals, 7-6, most of the Phillies were seated at a row of tables, eating dinner and watching the Mets-Marlins game, which had gone into the 10th inning after the Marlins rallied to tie it in the ninth. And when Dan Uggla drove home Hanley Ramirez with the game-winning run, the room erupted. There were high-fives and hugs, screams and yelps. With the Marlins' help, the Phillies moved to 1-1/2 games behind the first-place Mets in the NL East with nine games remaining (the Mets have 10 left).

And, so, the September roller coaster continues tonight. And it's absolutely a roller coaster. Late in the season, every win and loss is magnified. But I can't recall a season with so many momentum swings. Each time the Phillies win, I become more convinced they're going to make the playoffs for the first time since 1993. But when they lose, like they did Wednesday night in St. Louis, their prospects look increasingly bleak.

In or out? Out or in?

What do you think?

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Ruben Amaro Jr. didn't get the Astros' GM job, but his good friend Ed Wade did. So, Amaro wasn't completely disappointed yesterday upon hearing the news. Also, within the notebook, Charlie Manuel and Greg Dobbs bristled at the suggestions by Yadier Molina and Brett Myers that the Phillies were playing a "no-doubles" defense in the 10th inning Wednesday night. When I asked Manuel about it, he even invited me to watch the video. Lo and behold, it appears Dobbs wasn't hugging the line, as a third baseman would in a "no-doubles" alignment.

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Billy Wagner was unavailable to pitch for the Mets last night because of back spasms. Are they panicking in New York? You be the judge.

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After Wednesday night's game, Manuel said the Phillies would have to go at least 7-3, maybe 8-2, to make the playoffs. Can they do it? They've done it before. Thanks to the always-reliable Dave Smith at retrosheet.org, here's a look at the best finishes in Phillies history.

9-1: 1907
8-2: 1920, 1929, 1952, 1976, 1983
7-3: 1901, 1903, 1915, 1963, 1966, 1977, 1980, 2004, 2005

Of those seasons, they went to the World Series in 1915, 1980 and 1983 and the NLCS in 1976 and 1977.

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Shameless self-promotion alert: I'll be doing a quick interview with ESPN News before the game tonight. Check it out if you're close to a TV.

More later from RFK.