A few years ago, during the Larry Bowa managerial era, t-shirts were being passed around in the Phillies clubhouse that read "Now is the time."

But let's get real: February isn't crunch time, no matter how many years a team has played without playoff baseball.

But when it's September, and you're three games back with 22 to play, and you're playing the team directly in front of you in the standings, it is time to put up or shut up.

Sink or swim. Do or die. Name another cliche. Must-win? Sure.

The Phillies don't have to sweep the Mets this weekend, but they better walk out of Shea Stadium on Sunday with at least two wins under their belt if they have any aspirations of staying in the race.

And there's no use thinking about the Wild Card. The Phils are further back from the Wild Cardthan they are in the NL East.

Even as the Brewers have struggled lately, they still hold a four game lead over the Phillies.

My bet here is the Phils take two out of three. Regardless of who is pitching for the other team, I'd take my chances with Cole Hamels and Brett Myers right now. They're pitching arguably better than any other 1-2 punch in the league right now.

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Dotting the "i's" and crossing the "t's."

As I drove through scenic Flushing this afternoon, I happened to drive by Citi Field as they were raising the "T" in CITI on the soon-to-be-completed stadium. The place actually looks pretty nice...

Then again, with Shea next door, you could put Tropicana Field next door and it would look like a peach.



(the picture here is what it should look like when it's finished).