By the time you read this, everything I?m about to say could be totally wrong. Behold, the beauty of the NL East. With every team playing at .519 or better, and only 1.5 games separating first and last place teams, no other division in baseball is more exciting right now. Just over two weeks shy of the official start of summer, for avid fans of the Nats, Braves, Mets, Phillies, or Marlins, every game counts like it?s fall. With the second place Braves just a half a game out, the two teams tied for third, Philly and New York, each back by another half game and the last place Marlins (last week?s division leaders) a half game behind them, the NL East is the division to watch. With Atlanta losing to Pittsburgh on Sunday, Washington took top billing in the division, sweeping Florida and knocking them out of first place ? for now. With Florida falling, the resurgent Phils pulled out of last, and over .500, by going 2-0 in an explosive double-header against Arizona on Sunday, their 5th and 6th straight wins. The Mets were strong in a 5-1 showing against San Francisco on Saturday, with the ageless Tom Glavine recording his 5th win (the 3rd in his last 5 starts), despite trouble early on that included getting taken long by equally able veteran Moises Alou. Recording 9 Ks, no walks and just one run in 7 2/3 innings, Glavine, who turned 38 in March, received a standing ovation from the home crowd for his efforts. Sunday saw the Mets drop Game 1 to San Fran, but the Amazin?s bounced back with Cliff Floyd dialing 9 twice and Victor Diaz and David Wright also going long distance in a 12-1 win to end the series. Tuesday?s game against Houston matches Pedro Martinez (6-1) and Roy Oswalt (6-6). Look for Cliff, Mike Piazza and a selfless Carlos Beltran (yes, they have him bunting) to do some offensive damage. Whether this year?s race is fueled by the traditionally competitive nature of the division, an incredible concentration of talent in this corner of the baseball world, or some combination thereof, one thing is beautify clear: in the NL East, every team is playing baseball like baseball was meant to be played. Everyone?s playing like it matters. Veterans like Glavine, Piazza and Philadephia?s Kenny Lofton (amazing against the D?backs this weekend) look like young men, and young men like Beltran and NL Player of the Month Bobby Abreu are performing at the top of their game. Smaller time guys like rookie Ryan Church, who sealed the Nats? sweep with a three run shot on Sunday, and Placido Polanco, owner of 2 long balls in the Phillies?s Game 2 win on Sunday, are finding their niche and doing the things it takes to win. Everyone is doing his part, and everyone benefits, especially the fans and cities that support these teams. Speaking of fans, it?s a great time to be one, a great time to be a Mets / Phillies / Nationals / Braves / Marlins fan, with each team in striking distance and already making solid runs at postseason glory. Soon, summer officially hits, with those parts of the East Coast the Phillies and Mets call home thawing out for a while. In baseball terms, though, from New York to Miami, Easterners have been enjoying playoff-caliber action and a pennant race that already really, really counts. Here?s to an early, long, and exciting fall.