I haven't posted in a while, mostly because of the turmoil of moving into school and getting through the first week (and, for that matter, weekend) of classes, and partially because I spent much of the last three days in the fetal position under my bed because of the Mets-Phillies series. But because of my relatively long absence, I thought I'd give my thoughts on what's happened in the past week and a half. Ready? Go!

1. The AL East: The Rays go 1-5 against the Yankees and Blue Jays, the Red Sox win two of three against the White Sox, sweep Baltimore, and win two of three in Texas. The two ancient rivals now play a three-game set in Fenway, where the Rays are 0-6 this year, and the Red Sox are 48-19. Jon Lester, Dice-K, and Josh Beckett go for Boston against Jackson, Kazmir, and Sonnanstine. As I write this, the Sox are up 3-0 in the 6th inning of the first game.

What's that, Tampa? You want to give Boston home-field throughout? Thanks!

2. BRETT FAVRE!!!!!!!!!: Okay, I was really pulling for the Dolphins. It would have been the best case ever of karma and cosmic justice. Chad Pennington defeating the fun-loving, child-like gunslinger for whom he was deposed...that would have made my year. Of course, the narcissistic bastard won, throwing karma out of whack once again.

3. Tom Brady: You know, I hate the Patriots as much as the next guy...actually, no I don't. I didn't really take any pleasure at all in seeing Brady's knee explode, unlike basically everyone else in central Indiana. I used to root against him because he won too much, but my loathing of Peyton Manning eventually led to me backing the Patriots -- you know, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend."

On the other hand, the Steelers may have a shot at the Big Game now, but I'll get to that ... right now.

4. The rest of the NFL (mostly the Steelers): The Steelers beat the living crap out of the Texans. According to the spectacular play-by-play I got from one of my colleagues, the lines were great, the running backs were both stellar, and the defence looked to be at the top of their game. Roethlisberger missed one pass, and didn't even have to play in the 4th quarter. All in all, a dominant performance. And with the Chargers and Colts and Jaguars all losing, and the Patriots losing their best player, the chance exists that the door is wide open for Pittsburgh to make a run at the Super Bowl.

Speaking of the Colts: Really? The Bears? I guess Peyton Manning's super-genius brain must have been in his left knee's bursa sac. I mean, I know they have a good defence, but the darlings of the NFL ought to be able to beat an NFC North also-ran at home no matter what. Also note Jeff Saturday, Joseph Addai, and Dallas Clark's injuries, and it's clear that the Colts are really going to have to step it up if they plan on winning their division. Luckily, all of the other teams in the AFC South are overrated, so they'll probably be okay.

5. The Showdown: The Mets and Phillies played a three-game set at Shea this past weekend. Thus, I spent the weekend pacing, screaming obscenities, weeping, and vomiting. Scratch the last two, but it was still emotional and nerve-racking, especially since the Phillies won the first two games of the series (and by the way, speaking of karma, when is Brett Myers going to suffer a catastrophic injury? It should have happened by now). ESPN and the New York tabloids were preparing the "Collapse Again!!!1!!11!!!" headlines. I was wetting myself regularly.

And then, Johan Santana ascended, and smote the Phillies and cast them down.

In all seriousness, he pitched one of the ballsier games ever. As has been written by many others, that was the game the Mets brought him in for, and he delivered. Of course, it helped that the Met offence woke from its two-game slumber and beat the living hell out of Cole Hamels. Carlos Delgado kept right on MVP'ing, hitting a two-run single in the first, and two monstrous home runs later.

So tonight, the Mets are two games ahead, they have an off night, and my pants are urine-free. All is well in the world, and all in all, it was a pretty good week and a half.