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Meet the Mets
The Mets dropped the final game of the season with a loss to the Phillies. After Kevin Plawecki gave them a lead with a RBI double, some sloppy play in the field by Plawecki, Lucas Duda, and Jim Henderson gave the lead right back. The outcome was of little consequence to both of these teams, since the Phillies are looking ahead to spring 2017, and the Mets are looking ahead to Wednesday’s Wild Card game.
Choose your recap: Amazin Avenue short and long, Daily News, ESPN, MLB.com, Newsday, NJ.com, Post
The 2016 MLB season has come to an end, but for some teams, including the Mets, the next chapter begins.
As the season went on, manager Terry Collins kept the clubhouse together even as things were seemingly falling apart.
The Mets’ season turned around with a late August series against the Giants, and now they must defeat the Giants once more if they want to continue their postseason.
The Giants will be riding momentum as they head to Citi Field.
All eyes will by riveted by the Wild Card matchup of Noah Syndergaard vs. Madison Bumgarner, who offered high praise of the Mets’ young ace.
On the other side of the coin, Clint Hurdle, whose Pirates were eliminated by Bumgarner in a Wild Card game, knows all too well how dominant the petulant lefty can be.
Bumgarner’s dominance is something the Mets are well aware of and they must prepare for as they look ahead to Wednesday.
The Mets might have their starting pitcher all set, but there are other roster decisions to be made.
Terry Collins won’t be making the same mistake twice when it comes to managing a postseason game.
One person was conspicuously absent from the Mets’ celebration Saturday, because his focus was already on what lies ahead.
Around the Wild Card
The Giants defeated the Dodgers and earned the second Wild Card spot. They ended up with the same record as the Mets, but the Mets won the season series and earned the tiebreaker.
The Cardinals defeated the Pirates but ended up just one game short of a playoff berth.
Around the NL East
The Braves had a busy day. They said goodbye to Turner Field (thank heavens) and they spoiled the Tigers playoff hopes with a 1-0 win. Closer Jim Johnson nailed down the save, earlier in the day, he signed a two-year extension with the Braves
The Marlins lost their final game of the season to the Nationals. To commemorate the Marlins upcoming 25th year in existence, Fish Stripes will be counting down the 100 greatest players to don a Marlins uniform.
The Phillies had to say their goodbyes to Met-crusher Ryan Howard.
The Nationals closed their season with a win over the Marlins. They will play on in Washington against the Dodgers in the NLDS.
Around the Majors
“May God give you for every storm, a rainbow, for every tear, a smile.” Baseball said goodbye to Vin Scully, and now it was Scully’s turn to say goodbye to Dodger baseball.
Broadcaster Dick Enberg ended his illustrious career on Sunday as well with honors from Padres.
Despite all the possibilities of ties coming into today, all the races still open ended on the final day. The Blue Jays secured a Wild Card spot when they defeated the Red Sox, and the Orioles got in when they defeated the Yankees to earn the second Wild Card.
DJ LeMahieu won the NL batting title over Daniel Murphy.
The White Sox and manager Robin Ventura parted ways.
Yesterday at AA
Kaitlin McCabe covered Yoenis Cespedes’s celebration absence, and the San Francisco Giants coming to town on Wednesday.
This Date in Mets History
In 2004, both Todd Zeile and the Expos retired. Todd Zeile ended his career with a three-run home run against the Expos, and the Expos headed south to Washington D.C. to become the Nationals.