The Mets live. You didn’t necessarily see that coming, did ya?
Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t. Hope for the best, expect the Mets is my credo. I expected the Mets to do their best on Sunday in Milwaukee. Whether that and concurrent events in Atlanta and Arizona would be enough to survive and then some for one more day was what I didn’t know.
It was. We won, beating the beastly Brewers, 5-0. David Peterson pitched the game of his and most people’s lives, going seven scoreless, striking out nine and allowing only an infield hit and three walks that proved harmless. Francisco Lindor played like a healthy version of himself. He was real and he was spectacular, homering, stealing twice, driving in two runs and moving like a frontline shortstop in the field. Neither his back nor that of Francisco Alvarez (2 RBIs) appeared to be an issue in the short term. And J.D. Martinez rose from the dead as well, notching two base hits and avoiding the ignominy of tying or passing Rey Ordoñez for longest ohfer in franchise history. Ordoñez was in there for his glove. Martinez has “hitter” inscribed in his job description, so him actually hitting is indeed a welcome sight.
The Mets flying to Atlanta to complete their series from last week with, oh, everything on the line is also something we should embrace. There’s no time to fear the Braves, their starting pitchers or the demonesque qualities of where they play. We’re 88-72. They’re 88-72. The Diamondbacks are 89-73. Tiebreakers being what they are, whoever wins Game One of Monday afternoon’s doubleheader is in the postseason. If that same team wins Game Two, Arizona is also in. A twinbill split sends the Snakes slithering off into the desert. A twinbill sweep buries the swept. All that really matters is the Mets post one W in this matinee. Two would be ideal for the fun of knocking out the Braves, but I’m trying to stay focused on the Mets punching their own ticket. I’m trying to forget issues like who might be rested enough to pitch any game beyond Monday and what kind of toll a surfeit of flying might entail on a team possibly pinging about the continent on no rest.
The Mets have to win a baseball game to keep playing baseball. Baseball like it oughta be, I’m tempted to say. We’ll see. We sure as hell will, won’t we?
Although Lindor did get up slowly after his headfirst side into home, which was a little concerning.
Should be the most interesting Monday in a while! The Mets have risen from the dead so many times it almost feels like we’re playing with house money.
We couldn’t get eliminated today. At worst, if we lost and everyone else won then a sweep vs Atlanta would’ve tied their record and given us the tiebreaker over both teams.
We definitely have a good relationship with the 3rd base bag.
When Lindor was crawling after sliding home I couldn’t help wondering what would happen if he had to dive for a ball in the field.
On to Atlanta.
Hence the phrase “survive and then some” — I couldn’t see going into Atlanta on a four-game losing streak and believing all would turn around.
Yes as hell we will!
Tomorrow is my birthday. I’m hoping for redemption after what happened on my birthday 17 years ago.
Saw a report that Megill will start game 1 tomorrow. I understand the logic. Hope it works out.
I haven’t heard that the NL wildcard round will be pushed back to Wednesday, which would allow Manaea to start game 1 on regular rest. As is, starting Severino on 6 days rest in a 100% must win game 2 on Monday or 7 days rest in game 1 on Tuesday does make sense. I wonder if Manaea will be available in the bullpen tomorrow for his throw day. I wish Senga was available.
Sounds like the Stone-Seaver debate from another era, though of course Stone had a much better season than Megill.
I only recently decided that Berra was right, and you have to go with your better guy.
So let’s go with Severino in Game One.
Thank you, Chisox, for winning the last 2 and finishing with a .254 winning percentage.
Technically a better record than our beloved 1962 Mets, at .250.
Split Decision, yes, but I’ll take it.
Yes I was astonished how happy that made me. It was t just the 120 losses. It was the mathematical perfection of 40 and 120 that can’t be duplicated – and now, remains the worst in post-1901 baseball. I’ll take it. — and yes, give the ball to Severino. No time to get cute.
This is what I wanted for the redemption opportunity: games in Atlanta with playoff berths on the line. I wanted that test for the 2024 Mets, and we’re still going to get it. I would have gladly accepted a wildcard via a Diamondbacks loss of course, it still would have been earned, but it would also have felt like an opportunity lost.
From what I understand, due to the tiebreakers, a split or sweep does make a difference for seeding and therefore 1st round opponent. Split and the Mets go back to Milwaukee. Sweep and the Mets go to San Diego.
San Diego threw Sunday’s game to the Dbacks to insure that the Monday DH has to be played. Whoever wins game one should use a position player to pitch in game two. Save their next starter for the WC round. No integrity all around. Thanks MLB.
All the Mets need is OMG.
One more game.
Tylor Megill already has some historic wins on his resume. This would top them all.
LGM.