Oct. 6 -- GAME 3: WIN ... OR GO HOME

DENVER -- Heard from a friend this morning who has tickets to Game 5 back at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night. Will he get to use them? We'll find out shortly, won't we?

As I wrote on The Blog and in the 50-center, the Phillies were a relaxed bunch yesterday during their workout at Coors Field. I think we'll know fairly quickly tonight if they're still relaxed. Their first- and second-inning swings against Rockies rookie Ubaldo Jimenez will tell the tale.

Wanted to touch on something that Brett Myers said the other day. Myers, the Phils' high-strung closer, said he sensed many of his teammates were satisfied with just making it to the playoffs. Talked to several players yesterday, including Ryan Howard and Tom Gordon and Greg Dobbs, and none of them had that same sense. Are they happy to be in the playoffs? Absolutely. Are they satisfied at getting this far? Hell, no.

"Brett's never been here before, so he doesn't know what it's like," Gordon told me. "You never get used to it. As a player, you never know when you're going to be back. Are you happy to be in the playoffs? Definitely. It's a special time. But you’re never satisfied with just getting in. You want to win."

You watched the first two games. What did you think? Did the Phillies play like a team that was just happy to be here?

*
Is rallying from a 0-2 deficit in a best-of-five series a mission impossible? Not exactly, according to Gary Matthews, Davey Lopes, Dallas Green and others who have had it happen to them, in one way or another.

*
But, if the Phils have any prayer, the offense needs to return to its league-leading form. Fast.

*
Intrepid columnist Martin Frank wonders if it's all over for the miracle Phillies.

*
If you're a Blue Rocks fan, you knew all about how good the Rockies are long before the rest of the country. To me, that's the coolest thing about minor league baseball, getting to see guys like Garrett Atkins and Matt Holliday before they become Garrett Atkins and Matt Holliday. Know what I mean?

*
Remember when Myers was a starter? Back then, he was 4-0 with a 2.63 ERA at Coors Field. I asked him to share his secrets, and lo and behold, he did. I'm sure he and Jamie Moyer will be talking about it, if they haven't already. Also, within the notebook, the Phillies re-live their tarp rescue from July. Scroll down to see it again. I posted it on The Blog earlier in the week.

*
OK, I've told you how the Phillies are coping with their do-or-die situation. How are you, the fans, holding up?

*
Had one of the best dinners of my life last night with a bunch of fellow scribes. I think I've told you how much I like Denver, especially the LoDo section of town. If you're ever here, check out this place (I promise they don't play the theme song in the restaurant).

Check back later for much more, including lineups and updates from Coors.