When the Phillies took on the Yankees over weekend in the $1.5 billion House That Ruthless Built, the teams included nine of the 50 greatest players in the game today.

Says who? A substantial number of the MLB fraternity.

They will represent 18 percent of a list compiled for The Sporting News by a blue-ribbon panel of voters that included 13 Hall of Famers, 13 Cy Young Award winners and 12 league MVPs among a jury 150 strong. The rules stressed that the “greatest” designation only applied to current stars, not players still active but in the twilight of great careers. So, if I was starting the first argument, the question would be: How the heck does Mets outpatient Carlos Delgado weigh in at No. 47? The old warhorse can still launch a fastball but has averaged just 143 games over the past five seasons.

But I’ll give you Delgado and throw down a bigger mace. How do the Mets lead this list with six current players? I guess Choke Factor didn’t make it onto the ballot. But Mets Meltdown ’08 was certainly not the fault of lefthander Johan Santana, No. 3 on the list. The other Mets are David Wright (13), Jose Reyes (22), Carlos Beltran (23), Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez (34) and Delgado.

The No. 1 greatest current player, of course, is Albert Pujols, the main reason Tony La Russa is still managing in St. Louis. Pujols topped 55 percent of the ballots.

Confessed cheater Alex Rodriguez was No. 2. And ashamed and embarrassed Manny Ramirez will have the No. 4 ranking to comfort him until he is reinstated from a 50-day suspension.

Interesting. In their heart of hearts, the pastime’s elite seem to have forgiven the bloated rascals who have skewed the record book, stained the already-shaky integrity of the sport and face no harsher penalties than a crooked hedge-fund manager or Ponzi schemer.

Three Yankees made the top 10 — A-Rod (2), Derek Jeter (8) and Mariano Rivera (9). Newcomers Mark Teixiera (17) and CC Sabathia (29) complete the strong showing of a ballclub with a $201,449,189 payroll this season.

The Phillies came close to putting two players from their potent nucleus in the top 10.

Chase Utley, voter Hank Aaron’s favorite player to watch, is No. 6, between Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez (5) and Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay (7). Offensive colossus Ryan Howard sits at No. 11, no doubt penalized for his defense and still-horrific strikeout totals. Jimmy Rollins is well-placed at No. 15, as is Cole Hamels at No. 49. The dual postseason MVP is still struggling to establish himself as a consistent and reliable No. 1.

The absence of Brad Lidge proves the Nifty 150 voted recently and has relegated his perfect 2008 save record to history’s back burner. Nor was the amazing start of Raul Ibanez enough to nudge him into the elite half-hundred. The four Phils will earn about $39 million.

The Sporting News was once known as “Baseball’s Bible” and the publication has rediscovered the sport that was its bread and butter during the years before the NFL became god and the NBA and NHL claimed their places in the great indoors. It is nice to see TSN edge a little closer to its roots with a hefty and arguable list of greats.

Meanwhile, start your arguments.