Phillies hoping for blast from past against Mets

By DAVID MURPHY
Philadelphia Daily News

dmurphy@phillynews.com

AS THE PHILLIES stunned the rest of the National League with their miracle rise from ashes to playoffs last season, the manager found himself with a little more giddyup in his slow, Southern gait. The grass looked a little greener, the sun a little brighter, the scent of hot dogs and dirt a little more intense as the days faded in September.

"It was big just to come down to the ballpark," Charlie Manuel said, recalling the Phillies' rally from seven games out to division championship in the final 17 games of last season. "You couldn't wait to get going."

The difference between victory and defeat this time of year can be as slim as a trickler down the third-base line that somehow remains fair, so it isn't a stretch to point to the attitude within the Phillies' clubhouse as one reason for their accomplishment.

Now, down three with 22 to play and facing a three-game series against the NL East-leading Mets, the Phillies must recapture that excitement, enthusiasm and never-say-die attitude that seemed to ooze from the clubhouse to the playing field.

After spending much of the season as the lead dog, they are back where they were a year ago, albeit in a significantly shallower hole.

And now that they are no longer in first place, or even within a game or two, it will be interesting to see whether they can recapture the magic that has made them defending division champs.

"I think what we went through [last year], it might have put things at an even keel a little bit," Manuel said. "But . . . as long as we play hard, and we put forth the effort and we play the best we can, that's about all you can do. If you go out there and leave it on the field and do everything you possibly can, nobody can ask any more of you than that. And then you just have to see what happens."

Catcher Chris Coste says there is a difference in the team this time around. Not necessarily in the way the players approach the game, but in the expectations they set for themselves.

"I think we expect more of ourselves this year," Coste said. "In that regard, it feels differently. Last year, we knew we were a good team, but we hadn't proved anything yet. We were chasing the Mets by such a long margin, we were looking toward a wild card. Now, having won the division, I think we expect a lot more out of ourselves, so I think we'd be more disappointed this year if we don't make it as opposed to if we would not have made it last year."

The Phillies, 76-64 after losing two out of three against the Nationals, seem to realize the gravity of their situation.

Regardless of the hiccup in Washington, the sudden struggles of the bullpen, and the tag some observers are ready to loop around their toe, the players who made the trip from the nation's capital to the Big Apple Wednesday evening are well aware of the importance of the series that begins at Shea Stadium tonight.

They are 5-10 against the Mets. This is the last time they will meet this season. Getting swept would result in a six-game deficit with 19 to play, and the hope that New York would somehow fade in a similar manner to last season. The Phillies would still have a shot at the wild card, and four games against the Brewers, whom they trailed in that race by 4 1/2 games, entering last night.

But with Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer and Cole Hamels on the mound - their three most productive starting pitchers, at least since the All-Star break - and a chance to play themselves into a tie for the division lead, a solid showing in New York would seem to be their best shot.

"I'm not going to say it's necessarily do or die," said first baseman Ryan Howard, whose two two-run home runs Wednesday night weren't enough to avert a 9-7 loss to the Nationals. "Is it a big series? Yeah, it's a big series, because it's the last time both teams face each other head to head. And everybody knows what's at stake. We know what's at stake. They know what's at stake."

Now, the question is, how will they respond?

Smith suspended
The Phillies learned yesterday they will play the next two games without third-base coach Steve Smith, who was suspended for his actions at Wrigley Field while arguing a call during the Phillies' 3-2 loss Friday.

The Phillies learned yesterday they will play the next two games without third-base coach Steve Smith, who was suspended for his actions at Wrigley Field while arguing a call during the Phillies' 3-2 loss Friday.

Smith joined in an argument with first-base umpire Chris Guccione after Ryan Howard was ruled out on a bang-bang play, while television replays suggested otherwise. Smith, who was ejected, later threw a batting helmet at the ground in the direction of home-plate umpire Bill Welke. Smith will start serving his suspension tonight; his replacement is Dave Huppert, the manager at Triple A Lehigh Valley. *

For more Phillies coverage and opinion, read David Murphy's blog, High Cheese, at http://go.philly.com/highcheese.

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