The Home Stretch
We're 140 games into the baseball season and the Mets have gone 79-61, a better record than 24 other teams. Their +87 run differential (693 runs scored, 606 runs allowed) is likewise sixth in baseball. However reluctant we may be to admit it, the Mets are one of the elite teams in baseball. It's all relative, I suppose. They're certainly not one of the elite teams of all time, but when you're one of the five or six best teams in the majors you're probably doing a lot right. There are no true powerhouses: the Cubs and Rays lead their respective leagues in winning percentage, but neither is likely to win 100 games, nor are the Angels.
Twenty-two games remaining and a three-game lead to protect. The final double-deuce breaks down as follows:
3 vs Phillies (.543)
6 vs Nationals (.386)
6 vs Braves(.429)
4 vs Cubs(.607)
3 vs Marlins(.507)
The Cubs are a formidable opponent, but that series falls on the last week of the season and, as others have pointed out, the Cubs may have already clinched the NL Central by then. An early division title for Chicago would be good news for the Mets, who might face a skeleton crew as the Cubbies look to rest some of their better players in advance of a first-round playoff series. It's not as if the Cubs will field a lineup full of September nobodies every game, but they could conceivably send their B (or C!) team out there for a game or so. We know all too well how crucial every win is, so if the Cubs want to do the Mets a favor and scrub it up, I'll have no problems with that.
The Mets play their final twenty-two games in twenty-four days, picking up a couple of off-days bookending their two-game series with the Nationals next Tuesday and Wednesday. After that they play games on seventeen straight days to wind out the season. They've scored more runs than every National League team aside from the aforementioned Cubs, and they would do well to play some blowouts over the next few weeks to take advantage of the extra warm bodies afforded them by the late-season minor league call-ups.
First things first, though. The second-place Phillies roll into Queens for their swan song at Shea Stadium, a three-game series that culminates in a primetime, nationally-televised ESPN deathmatch between Johan Santana and Cole Hamels. Kyle Kendrick was originally slated to start the Sunday night game, but the Phillies have moved re-jiggered their rotation so their young ace can start what might be the most important game of their season. Thanks to an off-day yesterday, Hamels would still be pitching on normal rest, so it seems like a no-brainer from Philly's perspective. The Good Phight argues otherwise, as any extra innings for Hamels would push him well beyond the 190 innings he pitched last seasons. It's moot, though, because as long as the Phillies remain competitive this season they'll be doing so behind Hamels's left arm.
It all starts rolling tonight, when Mike "Twelfth-best SNLVAR in the NL" Pelfrey takes on Brett "Smack mah bitch up" Myers.
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This weekend is good
For a few reasons:
1) I’m going to my last game at Shea. First time was on September 7, 1986 to see a double-header against the Padres. Doc and El Sid pitched and we swept the damn thing. Almost 22 years to the day, I get to see Pedro and Moyer go at it in the middle of a fierce pennant race. Not a bad book-end to my Shea experience.
2) This weekend is a good test for the Mets. With Myers going tonight and Hamels now pitching on Sunday, we get to see their best two starters and Moyer, who is generally a pretty annoying guy to hit against (last start against us notwithstanding).
3) It’s September, pennant race baseball! Hot damn!
This weekend should be pretty rad. Let’s Go Mets!
'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Sep 5, 2008 11:01 AM EDT 0 recs
not to mention
Tomorrow will be totally party time. We shall throw the downest.
We've got ourselves a ball club, the Mets of New York town!
by kingcritical on
Sep 5, 2008 11:40 AM EDT
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Well, yeah
I believe that goes without saying.
'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on
Sep 5, 2008 11:49 AM EDT
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Let's hope damn rain holds off for a while
Until I am on the way home. No rain at the game!!!
"The people of Houston are spending money like oil's selling at $40 a barrel."
by IanB in MD on
Sep 5, 2008 11:49 AM EDT
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yeah, I'm just hearing about this storm from my co-workers
Apparently I’ve been out of the weather loop. Nothing we can do but hope it holds off or blows through before they play.
We've got ourselves a ball club, the Mets of New York town!
by kingcritical on
Sep 5, 2008 12:39 PM EDT
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80% chance
means 20% chance it doesn’t dump an inch of rain on Flushing . . .
'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'
by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on
Sep 5, 2008 2:16 PM EDT
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Yeah! Let's Go Mets!
After the Game, I get to drive back to Maryland. I will drive into a storm that is expected to drop 10 inches on the city with all kinds of wind, too. Pedro better get a win!
"The people of Houston are spending money like oil's selling at $40 a barrel."
by IanB in MD on
Sep 5, 2008 11:40 AM EDT
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wish I could stay home and watch the game, but after bustin my a$$ this week w/work and class, it's time to party
I don’t know where I’m goin, but I’ll party when I get there. GO METS!

"Phenomenological ontology? The Dude abides."
by LOUtheMETSfan on Sep 5, 2008 4:59 PM EDT 0 recs







