NEW YORk -- So, the Phillies beat the Mets yesterday, but that's nothing new. The Phils have won nine straight against the Mets overall and seven straight at Shea.Do the Phillies have the Mets' number? Martin Frank thinks so -- and I agree -- based on some of the things we saw here yesterday. Ask any of the Phillies players, and they refuse to admit they may be in the Mets' heads. They like to remind everyone that 2008 is a new season, and last season's results don't matter.
Here's the thing: Last season is precisely what allows the Phillies to say that. And last season is exactly why guys like Billy Wagner and Carlos Beltran are popping off about this rivalry, instead of Jimmy Rollins. For once, the Mets are chasing the Phillies. So, don't kid yourself: Last season changes everything.
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Game 1 of the Phillies-Mets 2008 season series went very much according to the script the 2007 season series followed. Mets take an early lead. Phillies' starter keeps the game close. Phillies rally in the late innings against the Mets' bullpen. But there was one thing that happened yesterday that's rarely ever seen: Chase Utley got hit by a pitch three times. Actually, four times if you consider Carlos Delgado's errant throw that hit Utley in the back and allowed two runs to score in the seventh. Two of the pitches grazed Utley's jersey. The third hit him in the back. So, Utley said he didn't have many bruises to show for his effort. But his day was so bizarre that I made it the focus of the game story in today's paper.
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Lineups haven't been posted yet. As soon as they are, I'll let you know if Rollins is playing today. After yesterday's game, Rollins sounded like he'd be able to go. Also within the notebook, Tom Gordon talks about how good he's feeling (and pitching), plus there's a tidbit about Ryan Madson feeling "sore." Madson hasn't pitched since last Friday night in Cincy. We'll try to follow up on that today.
More later.
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