Sept. 29 -- ALONE AT THE TOP

So, Jimmy Rollins was sitting in the middle of the clubhouse last night, reflecting on the 6-0 victory that gave the Phillies sole possession of first place, when somebody asked him how it feels to finally be "the team to beat" in the NL East.

"Like spring training," he said with a smile.

You know that smile. It's the smile Rollins flashed in January, during an offseason press tour in which he declared the Phillies, not the defending NL East champion Mets, would be "the team to beat." And it was the smile he flashed again in February, when he reported for spring training and strengthened his position. Rollins never retracted that remark, even when the Phillies opened 4-11, even two weeks ago when they trailed the Mets by seven games with 17 to play. Thing is, he believed it all along. Rollins believed the Phillies were more talented than the Mets, better equipped to win the NL East. And, with any combination of Phillies wins and Mets losses totalling two, the Phillies will clinch their first division title since 1993.

The champagne is chilling. Can you taste it?

The improbable September in the NL East continues today, with the Mets taking the field in about an hour and the Phillies following at 3:55. It could be a memorable day at the Bank.

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Cole Hamels pitched like the ace he is last night. Incredibly, he threw 116 pitches and lasted eight innings only three starts after missing a month with an elbow strain. More incredibly, he did it all without his trademark change-up. Hamels used mostly his fastball and curveball to stymie the Nats. Next up: Game 1 of the NLDS next Wednesday -- or are we getting ahead of ourselves?

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After three straight stellar starts by Kyle Lohse, Kyle Kendrick and Hamels, it's up to Adam Eaton today. Does anyone have any faith that he'll turn in his first quality start since July 3?

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The Phillies could clinch the NL East today. Pinch yourself, Martin Frank writes.

Time to check out what's happening in the clubhouse. More later.