“2015 is over as far contending for a postseason spot goes, and we should just admit it.”
—A post on a blog about a team, June 24 [1]
The Mets lost their fourth consecutive game [2] Saturday afternoon. They’re still invited to the playoffs. That doesn’t get revoked on account of style points. But the style they are finishing the regular season in should have gone out of style in June.
June was the last time they lost as many as four in a row. June was when we had to remind ourselves [3], once the losing streak reached seven, that the Mets would someday win a game again. It seemed worth mentioning because it didn’t seem like a sure thing.
The Mets then went out and commenced to win a whole lot. From a nadir of 36-37, they roared to 89-67. If the “89” looks familiar, that’s the number of wins they’ve been stuck at since last Sunday, which was the day after they clinched that invitation to the playoffs. Again, it’s still valid. Hard to believe, based on the activities of the past six days. These games count, but they count differently from the games that preceded last Sunday. They’re in the standings and they help determine where future games will be played, but their outcome won’t prevent those future games from being played.
[4]The invitation is still valid.
We’re clear on that, right? The Mets are still playing as of October 9. The Mets are still 0-0 as of October 9, regardless that they’re 0-4 since September 29. The Mets hoisted a divisional championship flag Saturday afternoon prior to their fourth consecutive loss. Long may it wave…and soon may it be embellished to reflect further accomplishment.
OK. That said, this is mostly lifeless baseball the Mets are playing and they should stop it. Just stop it. We can be only so sophisticated about it for only so long. We’d like to stop being sophisticated about it tonight. Use the second half of this day-night doubleheader to humor us with a 90th win. That would look better than 89. Keeping pace with the Dodgers for home field would look better, too, whether it actually matters or not. Let’s pretend it does. Warm your patrons with something more than a fleece blanket.
Make double plays. Hit with runners on base. Confound the winds. Everybody be as much of a credit to your uniform as Noah Syndergaard [5] (7 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 R, 10 SO) was to his during the day portion. Embarrass the Nationals, if just for recent old time’s sake. Go on Mets, play like champions. That’s what you are.
Fill your between-games void by listening to me join Mike Silva on Weekend Watchdogs. About an hour-twenty in, Mike asks me about the Mets going to the postseason and I tell him…hell, hear it for yourself [6].