By Geoff Walter / SNY.tv

 

 

Like it or not, the Mets got themselves into this situation. This past week, they were supposed to put the rest of the NL East out of its misery, slamming the door not only on the division, but on the Wild Card as well. Instead, in a four-game sweep in Philadelphia last week, the Mets gave the Phillies new life in the division and made the race something it hasn't been in a long time: interesting.

 

The Amazins will have three more chances to bury Philadelphia at Shea on their way to October. They will have Pedro Martinez back on their roster and in their rotation. They will have time, but not much of it. As the arrival of this Labor Day slowly bleeds away the last few official hours of summer 2007, it would be helpful if the Mets started to get hot before the autumnal winds begin to blow. But this season they have never been that kind of team to go on extended winning streaks or -- up until last week -- been prone to stringing together a series of losses.

The Mets' three-game sweep of the Braves is certainly a step in the right direction, but the damage has already been done. A four-game lead does not allow for much breathing room in the division. Last year, the Mets coasted to their coronation as kings of the East, and manager Willie Randolph was left with the problem (if you can call it that) of simply keeping the team healthy until the division series started, and then getting the team hot. This year they do not have the option of such a luxury, and they have no one to blame but themselves.

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