Hard to believe, Harry.

I can still hear Richie Ashburn saying those words to Harry Kalas about a game situation during their broadcasts.

This time around, I can relate it to the baseball season. It’s hard to believe it’s over. The Phillies’ loss to the Mets in the divisional series still seemed like it just happened.

It was a worthwhile championship series and World Series to watch.

However, baseball’s second season and another heightened one recently has begun — the world of free agency.

In this week’s version of my Behind the Plate column — investigating present and past trends of the Phillies, Yankees and Mets — I’ll look at the beginnings of free agency to its current state.

Let The Games Begin ... Soon-to-be Phillie Curt Flood challenged the reserve clause in October 1969 after he refused a trade to Philly. Flood sued MLB and commissioner Bowie Kuhn, alleging a violation of antitrust laws. Flood sat out the 1970 season, but his case reached the Supreme Court in 1972.

Jim “Catfish” Hunter found a breach in his contract, which allowed him to sign a five-year, $3.25 million deal with the Yankees on New Year’s Eve, 1974.

Peter Seitz’s arbitration ruling in 1975 officially set Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally free into the market.

On April 10, 1976, Ted Turner and the Braves got a flurry of the free-agency signings rolling with the inking of Messersmith to a three-year, $1 million deal.

The Phillies’ first big splash was Pete Rose in the winter of 1978.

Phil-Ups ... Unlike most teams, the Phillies don’t need help with starting pitching, being stocked with Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Christian Sanchez and Ranger Suarez. Taijuan Walker has a huge contract, and he’ll get another shot. Top prospect Andrew Painter also figures to be in the mix.

This will be more about the bullpen, where relievers Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estevez are set to hit the market. The Phils will need an arm, and recent Dodger reliever Blake Tiernan and ex-Yankee closer Clay Holmes could be two experienced options.

Padres closer Tanner Scott will be a much-coveted, high-price item. Dave Robertson, who spent an injury-filled 2019 season with the Phillies after they signed him as a free agent, is available after he opted out with the Tigers.

There also has been talk about the Phillies looking into outfield help. The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez, the Padres’ Jurickson Profar and the Orioles’ Anthony Santander are at the top of the lists.

The Phils will give a second look to Austin Hays, who battled through injuries last year.

The 700 Soto Or Not? ... Juan Soto will be the top free agent on the market, and reportedly is looking for about $700 million. Most scribes believe the Yanks will look to keep Soto, but will offer him in the neighborhood of $550 million.

Soto has made it clear that he will entertain all offers and wants to be with a winning team, and the Mets, Dodgers, Nationals and possibly the Phillies will be in the mix. Soto and Bryce Harper played together in Washington during 2018.

It likely will be a New York bidding war for Soto.

Yet, if the Yanks decide to let Soto walk, they can plug some holes and tighten their infield defense, which hampered them during the regular season and postseason.

Astros third baseman Alex Bergman would be a good fit, allowing Jazz Chisholm to play second. The Yanks also let Anthony Rizzo walk, figuring that he’s seen his better days.

Mets first baseman Pete Alonso could be a solution at first, and youngsters Jasson Dominquez and Spencer Jones will get some time in the outfield next season.

They will also have to make a decision on Gleyber Torres, who is a free agent.

The Yanks will likely add another $36 million year to Garrit Cole’s contract after he opted out, but if they don’t there are choices. There have been conflicting reports whether the Yankees’ decision was either Sunday or Monday.

I would let Cole walk and spend the proposed money to add more depth.

They have entertained the thought of bringing San Francisco’s Blake Snell on board for the past two years, and he and/or Baltimore’s Patrick Corbin could be added to an undermanned staff. Atlanta’s Max Fried is another option.

New York did resign Chase Weaver, who was a great find and solved their closer situation.

To fill Soto’s spot, the Yanks could either turn to Santander, or try to acquire Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero, who will be a free agent next season.

Mets Matters ... The Mets’ magic from this past season will need to be recalibrated.

Starting pitchers Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and Jose Quintana are all free agents, and Manaea opted out of a club option. The Mets are expected to resign Manaea beyond his $13 million opt out to a multi-year deal. Severino and Quintana will hit the market, but could be resigned. Snell could also be a good fit for the Mets.

Aside from Soto, the Mets will make a push for Alonso, who could also take his trade to the crosstown Yankees and a number of teams with first-base openings.

As of Nov. 1, the Mets had a total of 13 free agents. Other notables are Jose Iglesias, J.D, Martinez, Jesse Winker and Harrison Bader. Iglesias and Winker were emotional leaders of the club. Martinez looked past his prime late in the season, and Bader is expendable.

The Mets still have five relievers on the market, but they recently re-upped Dylan Covey.

White Sox Whitewash ... The White Sox had a historic 41 wins a year ago, and quietly hired ex-journeyman player Will Venable as their new manager.

Chicago’s 25-year-old lefty starter Garrett Crochet won six of his team’s games last year, and is considered to be a hot commodity on the trade market.

Both New York teams could certainly use Crochet’s services. Third baseman Yoan Moncada’s option wasn’t renewed, and his rash of injuries would make him a bargain pickup.

The White Sox also could be dumping some other veterans in a possible reboot.

Keep It Simple ... In case you didn’t see, New York Post columnist Joel Sherman recently wrote a piece describing how Dodgers’ scouts were critical of the Yankees’ lack of fundamentals and base-running miscues. Dodgers’ scouts noted how the Yankees had power, but the Dodgers — who were the better team — won on basics.

You just have to think about their five-run fifth inning in which all five runs were unearned with two outs. Aaron Judge’s center field drop began the downfall that featured Cole not covering first, and Anthony Volpe’s errant throw.

For the series, the Yankees hit .212 with nine homers and 24 runs, while the Dodgers had seven homers and 25 runs.

Time Passages ... Each week, I’ll recount a former player or a situation involving the Phillies, Yankees or Mets, as well as the game.

One of the first Phillies’ modern-day free-agent signings were Doc Edwards and Ruben Amaro in 1970. You may remember the Phils signing Tony Taylor after his release from the Tigers in 1973. Aside from Rose, other prominent signings were Jay Johnstone, Gregg Jeffries and Jim Eisenreich. There also was Lance Parrish.

In terms of pitchers, some of those inked you may remember include Terry Adams, Larry Andersen, Rheal Cormier, Sid Fernandez, Jon Lieber, Cliff Lee, Mark Leiter, Kevin Millwood, Jose Mesa, Jonathan Papelbon, Chan Ho Park and Jerry Spradlin.

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