Someone bring me up to speed.

[Willets Point]

When I left on vacation the Mets starting pitching was in the shitter, the Braves and Phillies were nipping at our heels and it looked like the Mets hold on the NL East lead was tenuous. Now the Mets are up 6.5 games on the Phils and an amazing 10 on the Braves. I see the Mets swept 4 from Arizona but what the hell happened to Atlanta and Philadelphia to fall so far back? Well I have 5 pages of posts to read but if someone can give me a Cliff Notes version of the past 8 days that would be cool too.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Washington has been very hot --- as hot, perhaps, as the Mets. It may be the only run they have in them, but they're making one.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Beltran & Wright are leading the offensive asskicking.

Soler has pitched two excellent games in a row.

We've won 6 of 7 on the West Coast swing (how infrequently do you hear THAT as a Metfan?) -- the big one coming in the LA rubbergame Wednesday when shortrested Glavine didn't have it at all but Milledge HRed and tripled and we simply outscored 'em. We've been on a rampage ever since offensively.

The Phils and Braves are having their problems.

[Willets Point]

This makes me giggle like a little girl.

[Willets Point]

And now I'm caught up on my Crane Pool reading. Too bad there's no game tonight.

[metirish]

Willets did you know Gary Cohen is out after having an appendectomy, Howie is filling in on the TV.

[Willets Point]

Thanks, I didn't. It makes a comment about Howie on TV I read make a lot more sense.

[DocTee]

and, oh yes, we traded Kaz Matsui.

[Elster88]

After our first series with the D'backs the D'backs went and swept Atlanta.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I love when a rival is catching teams just after the Mets do, and the Mets beat up on these team, piss them off, they make their adjustments, and take it out on our rivals.

I love when this happens.

Has it ever really happened?