Oct. 1 -- PLAYOFF-BOUND

"I believed in these guys behind me, and some that aren't here,

that we were going to be the team to beat in the East.

And the world thought I was crazy. Some of these dudes thought I was crazy, too.

That's OK because I am. But, lo and behold, at the end of the day,

the National League East belongs to one team in one city,

and that's the City of Brotherly Love."

-Jimmy Rollins at today's City Hall pep rally

So, I was taking a shower this morning when my editor left a message on my phone. Thinking I might still be sleeping, he said, "Wake up. It wasn't a dream. The Phillies really did make the playoffs."

Yes, they did.

I've been a baseball writer since 2000, and between the minor leagues and the majors, the teams I've covered have reached the playoffs only twice. That's why baseball teams celebrate the way they do after clinching a playoff spot. It's not easy, and unless you're the post-1994 Yankees, it doesn't happen every year.

No team can attest to that quite like the Phillies. Since 2003, they had never won fewer than 85 games in a season, and they had never made the playoffs. There was a near-miss in 2003 and another in 2005. Last season, it came down to the final weekend, but the Phillies fell short again. That's why yesterday's champagne celebration was so wild. There was a lot of pent-up emotion being released.

Went to the rally at City Hall Plaza today, and it was more of the same, only without the alcohol. In a funny moment, Chase Utley gave the crowd a chance to practice it's booing. "Now batting, Matt Holliday," he announced to a chorus of boos. "Todd Helton?" Again, jeers. "That's what we need," Utley said.

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Rollins wasn't always confident, though. As I wrote in the game story, he revealed yesterday that he had doubts about the Phillies' chances back in June when he thought it may be a rebuilding year. He quickly banished the thought, and with his MVP-caliber season, led the Phils to the playoffs.

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Speaking of MVPs, you can make a case for 50-homer Brewers slugger Prince Fielder to win the NL MVP award. And you can certainly make a case for Matt Holliday, who has sparked the Rockies to tonight's play-in game. But Rollins had a season for the ages, becoming the first-ever 200-20-20-20-20 guy (200 hits, 20 doubles, 20 triples, 20 homers, 20 steals). That's historic. He also jumpstarted the Phillies yesterday in the first inning with a leadoff single and two stolen bases. That was a tone-setter.

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Jamie Moyer grew up in the Philly suburb of Souderton and skipped school in 1980 to attend the Phillies' championship parade. Pretty cool, I thought, that he got the start -- and the win -- in the clinching game.

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Within the notebook, Pat Burrell gets emotional about the late John Vukovich, who would've loved a day like yesterday.

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Martin Frank captured the emotion of the day at Citizens Bank Park.

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Earlier today, TBS revealed game times for the NLDS and ALDS. Looks like Phillies fans will have some work-free days and some late nights this week. Here's the schedule:

Game 1: Wednesday, at Philadelphia, 3 p.m.
Game 2: Thursday, at Philadelphia, 3 p.m.
Game 3: Saturday, at San Diego or Colorado, 9:30 p.m.
Game 4: Sunday, at San Diego or Colorado, 10 p.m. (if necessary)
Game 5: Tuesday, at Philadelphia, 6:30 or 8:30 p.m. (if necessary)

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A photo gallery from yesterday's celebration. The delawareonline.com newscast has video from the rally today.

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Looking to get pumped up before Games 1 and 2. Harry Mayes and Jamie Yannacone, the 700 Level Fanatics, will broadcast live from McFadden's from noon to 3 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Check 'em out live or on 950-AM.