The 'Ropolitans

With 22 games to play, the Mets will welcome the Phillies into Shea one last time in a series that could put the kibash on the Phillies season.

Obviously, no lead is safe, as we learned last year, but the Mets have been playing much better baseball than they were in '07.

If the Mets could take two of three, say, the first and last games, they would be up four games with 19 to play. The rest of the season for the Mets has them play six more against Washington, another six against Atlanta, four against the Cubbies and three against the Marlins.

The Phillies finish out their season with six more against the Fish, four games at Milwaukee, six against the Braves, and a three game series with the Nationals to end the season.

A fairly even schedule between the two teams.

Again, no lead is safe, but a big series for the Mets here, and one could almost smell October baseball.