After failing to clinch their inevitable NL East crown with last night’s 5-3 loss to Pittsburgh (aka The Pedro Weepfest), the Mets adjourned to the visitors’ clubhouse at PNC and watched the Phillies stave off elimination for at least another half day. The Post’s Mark Hale interrupted Country Time’s enjoyment of the game.

Asked as the game was going on if he had phone his friends, Wagner replied, “I don’t know most of them on one team and the other team hates me.”

New York could back into the divisional title today if the Astros beat the Phillies. They’re currently scoreless at Ken Lay Memorial, as Cole Hamels has held Houston hitless over 5 innings.

Today’s Astros starter, Jason Hirsh, was largely responsible for Round Rock’s wildly successful 2006 season. The Express’ bid for the PCL title came to an end with last night’s 6-3 loss to Tuscon. The Sidewinders scored 5 times in the 7th inning off Phillip Barzilla and Jalien Peguero en route to a series sweep.

If the Express had been able to employ more of the linchpins of their success in the regular season (Hirsh, Chris Sampson, Humberto Quintero, Luke Scott, Charlton Jimerson), I doubt they’d have gone out with such a whimper. On the other hand, had Arizona kept Stephen Drew and Carlos Quentin in the minors all year, they’d likely have won the PCL championship anyway. “Farm team” doesn’t mean the games are played near a farm (well, not very often), and the Astros’ playoff chase obviously takes precedence over a minor league title no one will remember in two weeks’ time.

On the matter of the Snakes, Luis going-going-Gonzalez received such a long standing ovation last night in his first at bat against the Rockies, you’d think he was the man who invented air conditioning. I saw a sign in the crowd reading “FIRE MOORAD, KEEP GONZO”. They’re a sophisticated bunch of baseball fans in Phoenix and I’m certain ownership will take such suggestions under advisement.