Nearly turned Phillies-Mets game on Saturday into a Shore thing

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Eight weeks from today I begin a week of vacation, and most of that week will be spent at the Jersey shore.

I was real tempted to head down that way on Saturday and just keep going past Citizens Bank Park and cross the Walt Whitman Bridge. After the hour-long gridlock encountered on the Expressway (yes, I know I should have taken the Blue Route), I was in the mood for some relaxation.

And you know I will not get this weather when I am on vacation. I get remnants of hurricanes, not 90 degrees and sunny.

But I went into the ballpark and watched the pounding the Phillies administered to the Mets, 10-0. Another sellout, another great atmosphere.

It looked like a classic until two balls that the Mets probably should have caught, fell, and turned the game around, although I am not that it would have mattered considering the way Roy Halladay was pitching in his first national TV exposure for the Phillies.

Second time I've seen the Phils in person this year and the second time they have won big.

I agree with the sentiments of those who think they will be just fine.

Just got to get some people back healthy in the rotation, get Lidge to give them some consistency as the closer and the offense will take care of the rest.

I don't see anyone capable of playing good enough baseball, long enough, to challenge them in the division.

I don't think the Mets are the answer.

The Mets exceeded expectations through the first month and did very well against teams like the Braves and Dodgers at home. But the Braves and Dodgers aren't what we thought they would be either.

It's hard to get a true read on a clubhouse in 15 minutes while you're waiting around to talk to somebody, but the Mets clubhouse reminds you of a high school hallway situation where you have cliques. These guys hang over here, these guys hang over there.

I never sensed that with the Phillies clubhouse. It's much more businesslike where people pass through, get their work done and move on.

They'll party like heck when they win, but there doesn't seem to be pockets of friends with them. Everybody seems to treat everybody else the same.




I was listening to a Nelson Figueroa interview on WFAN before Saturday's game. He's the current Phillie who was with the Mets and he noticed the difference between the two clubhouses as well and likes the Phillies more businesslike approach.

Does the mood, the tone of your clubhouse, have an impact on where you finish?

Maybe, maybe not, The Oakland A's and the Yankees of the 1970s supposedly hated each other.

Sometimes when you're so good, you don't have to get along.

The Mets, though, are not that good.

We'll see what happens in the series closer tonight.

No shore again for me today, but the countdown is now at 56 days.

Softball rankings later tonight.

FROM KEITH GROLLER