Aug. 26 -- MEETING THE METS

By SCOTT LAUBER

So, how critical is the two-game series against the Mets that opens tonight at the Bank?

It's big.

But it isn't decisive.

As Charlie Manuel said yesterday, sweeping five games from the Mets would be nice. But the Phillies have 26 games remaining against other teams. And if they beat the Mets and struggle against everyone else, they won't win the NL East. Thus, like so many of the politicians who have gathered in Denver this week and will be in St. Paul next week, Manuel has tried to "lower expectations" for these games by saying he believes the Phillies can go 3-2, or even 2-3, against the Mets and still be OK.

"Where we're sitting, we can split with the Mets and still win our division," he said. "Our guys feel like we can beat them. But we also know we've got to play like hell. If we can stay with them, we can beat other people, too. But if they dominate us, they can put some distance there."

OK, what are your expectations for this week and next weekend in NY?

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Brett Myers allowed 10 hits and 13 runners last night, but he didn't allow a run. He bent, but didn't break. I asked him after the game if he thinks he could've dealt with that adversity earlier in the season, or if he would've allowed the Dodgers' rallies to blow up.

"I'm pitching now," he said after stretching his scoreless streak to 16 innings. "I'm not just throwing. I'm not saying 'OK, this guy can't hit my curveball' and throwing six curveballs until he gets a hit. You have to have that feeling of how to pitch and I didn't have it earlier in the year. I'm starting to feel comfortable out there whether guys are on base or not."

So, what did Manny Ramirez say to Myers in the seventh inning last night?

"It was just a tip-of-the-cap kind of thing," Myers said. "We've talked before. He's a good dude. He's very honest with how he feels about certain pitchers and stuff like that. It's a good compliment from him that I'm tough to get a hit off of, I guess."

***
Not sure how Jimmy Rollins felt about his three-hit night -- or the cheers that he received. Rollins left the Bank without talking to reporters. But I know this: The Phillies need more three-hit nights from Rollins to assure they'll make the playoffs.

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Within the notebook, Ryan Madson is excited about being in the playoff race, Lou Marson and Jason Donald are headed to the Arizona Fall League, and with a game on the line, Cole Hamels would rather be pitching than swinging a bat.