It seems like a long time ago.

In the midst of another glum, late-winter, early spring day, Jimmy Rollins decided to provide a little heat.

"We're the team to beat in the National League East," Rollins said of his Phillies' mates.

Let's just say that got noticed in the Big Apple, where the haughty New York Mets, the defending N.L. East champs, snorted with contempt. The fans let Rollins know what they thought of his boast with every at-bat this year at Shea.

Fast-forward seven months, and 160 baseball games later. It took a while, but Rollin was right. This morning the Phillies are the team to beat. They stand alone atop the National League East.

The Phillies got a dominating performance from Cole Hamels in squelching the Nationals, 6-0. But the message was delivered about 100 miles north on I-95, where the Mets continued their freefall, dropping their eighth straight at home.

This is beyond an implosion. It's almost hard to watch. The Mets are fast becoming the Greg Norman of baseball, doing something most thought was unthinkable, throwing away a 7-game lead with 17 to play.

Much has been made in recent weeks about Hamels' makeup, whether this cool Californian had the, uh... intestinal fortitude for the brutal hand-to-hand combat of a late September pennant race.

Turns out our lump of Cole was the perfect Christmas gift. This was a signature performance. Cole Hamels is now the ace of this staff. The horse. The stud. That's how good he was.

As for Rollins, Utley, Howard et al?

They are indeed the team to beat. And any combinatin of wins and Mets losses adding up to two will make them something else.

National League East Champions.

Hard to believe, Harry.