Yes We Can!

Win the National League East, I mean.

Yes We Can! was the rallying cry of the long-dormant Phillies in 1974, popularized by second baseman Dave Cash. Cash apparently co-opted it from Chavez (Cesar, not Endy). I always assumed he co-opted it from the Pointer Sisters, whose "Yes We Can Can" reached No. 11 on Billboard's Hot 100 around the time the Mets were rallying behind "You Gotta Believe!"

The Mets won a pennant in 1973. The Phillies finished third in 1974. Then they co-opted the guy who came up with "You Gotta Believe!" Co-opted Dykstra, Brogna and at least one division title from us, too. Once a decade, it's Phillie co-op time.

Turnabout is fair play then. I'm co-opting Yes We Can! regarding the Mets' divisional chances — as long as nobody else is using it in a stadium setting at any point in the next several hours.

After watching last night, I know we can make it work, I know we can make it if we try.

Besides, "Win With Willie!" or whatever our last slogan was didn't really have legs.

Meanwhile, all sincere White Sox sympathies aside, we encourage the Chicago Cubs to be extraordinarily serious over these next four days.

I'm a Mets fan and I approve this message...and I rarely approve of anything the Cubs do.