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Matthew Cerrone

Note: If there is a Tie, and the Brewers are Out
By Matthew Cerrone - Sep 21, 2008 9:54 am

In case you missed it, if the Mets and Phillies end the season with a better record than the Brewers, and the Mets and Phillies have the same record, then the Mets will win the NL East and the Phillies will win the Wild Card – because the Mets had a better head-to-head record in the regular season.

116 Responses to “Note: If there is a Tie, and the Brewers are Out”

  1. ridethesnake says:

    Yes, we control our own destiny.

    • magic00700magic says:

      No offense to Matt and his co-bloggers, but what is with the lack of “servicer”?

      This is the last week of the season with a pennant race, and

      (i) we still do not have a starting lineup for today’s game which just started;

      (ii) we received a link to a SNY recap this morning for a game played and finshed at a reasonable time last night;

      (iii) no metsblgo recap still;

      (iv) post regarding ties, etc. which have been brought up days ago in the comment section, which I would have thought are things that Metsblog should have been on top of and posted back then.

      Sure, its a job and everyone needs some time off.

      But if you are ever going to work over time THIS IS THE TIME. Its the last week.

      Matt et al, show us that you are as excited as we are …. be lating with posts, or not making the posts as all … make us think that you dont really care.

      Just my opinion.

      • kingman 26 says:

        It is a FREE site. Do you not know who is in the lineup now??

        It’s Sunday. Get a life.

        • magic00700magic says:

          A true Mets fan would be as excited as I am for all information regarding the Mets, and be up and ready for a mets game, even on a Sunday.

          The Metsblog I am use to reading use to reflect a head blogger that was such a fan.

          I am just saying, I dont get that feeling any more from this site.

          It makes no different that this site is a free site.

          SNY says this blog is a “must read”. I just think it is a little behind the time recently.

          I believe that Matt is as a Mets fan as I am. I just dont see that in his blog as much anymore. Thats all.

          Perhaps he is focussing on other things.

      • Slob says:

        Your opinion is stupid. Just my opinion.

  2. danlx13 says:

    good chance of that happening too

  3. Ceetar says:

    Please join me and saying…Screw the Phillies, Lets go Brewers!

  4. Cactus says:

    are you the real sherlock holmes?

  5. ridethesnake says:

    Would winning the division in this manner fully erase the collapse, would it allow for full bragging rights, or just partial, and would you all feel 100% redeemed? I’m curious what everyone here thinks.

    Personally I would accept it but in the same way the wild card is not a full redemption of 2007, this leaves me with a similar feeling of incompletion to a smaller degree.

    • ridethesnake says:

      Accept is probably a misnomer — I would LOVE it… I just meant from a redemption standpoint.

    • Ceetar says:

      No such thing as redemption.

      It’s all about this year. I _really_ _really_ don’t want the Phillies in. They really aren’t that good. But whatever..it’d be kind of funny to see them get annihilated by the Cubs.

    • davidbrenner says:

      100% redeemed? Man this gets ridiculous … look, yes, they collapsed in 2007. They changed around half the team, they are doing just fine in 2008, so even if they don’t make the playoffs in 2008, “redemption” is not an issue, and it is not a “choke”.

      Listen, I’m as big a Met fan as any of you who feel that the world is crashing down upon us but the fact is that the Mets play in a division that is challenging. They have three teams in themselves, Atlanta and Philadelphia who are not afraid to spend some money if it will help their team, and thus there will always be some good competition in there. Only once in a blue moon do you have one team flat out running away with it and that’s only because someone got hot for the first half and the other teams in the division started selling off their future free agents to contenders for prospects.

      There is no “curse”, there was a collapse, and it was a one year event. It’s a pennant race. They may win, they may not. It doesn’t matter how you get in there, as long as you do. And if they don’t, it was because another team played better at the right time.

      So let’s stop talking about the collapse of 2007 and just enjoy this for what it is? A good pennant race.

      • MetsFan4Decades says:

        Spot on – and I’m with you 100%.

        • LetsGetMetsmerized says:

          I dunno — Keith said it last night and I tend to agree: The Mets should not be satisfied with the wild card after last year, and after all the scrutiny this year that was a result of last year.

          Sure this is a new season, but this season is filled with subplots that are a direct result of last season, and there is no getting around that, no matter how many paragraphs you type about it being in the past.

          So off what Keith said, I agree that I prefer the division over the wild card, and to a lesser degree I prefer to win the division outright instead of head to head tiebreaker. Mostly for the bragging rights portion of the question, but also as closure to last year, which, whether you like it or not, is part of this team RIGHT NOW.

          Excellent question snake.

        • kingman 26 says:

          Who cares about how we get in?? It means NOTHING. 2007 is over and history.

          Wild Card World Series Winners: 2004 Red Sox, 2003 Marlins, 2002 Angels, 1997 Marlins.

          Wild Card Pennant winners: 2007 Rockies, 2006 Tigers, 2005 Astros, 2002 Giants, 2002 METS.

          Do any of these teams, or their players or fans care the slightest that their teams did not win the divisions those years?

        • kingman 26 says:

          2000 Mets of course….

        • sincekindergarten says:

          Kingman, I’m with you on this. I’ll gladly take the WS if we get the WC.

    • bvaz says:

      the collapse is over. last year is over. this year is this year. there is nothing to make up for. the thing with sports is that you start over each new season.
      when I wake up and look at box scores, I am looking at this years box scores, not last year.

      if fans are still bitter about last year, then maybe they can answer this question but this is a pretty exciting season that they are missing out on.

      • ridethesnake says:

        “if fans are still bitter about last year, then maybe they can answer this question”

        That is who the question was aimed at. Yet so far the only responders are those that went out of their way to explain why they are not bitter enough to respond.

        • LetsGetMetsmerized says:

          Yes, they are in denial if they think they can just focus on this season in a vacuum. We all want to forget last year, but thanks to the media mostly, we can’t

      • mr.gee21 says:

        Damn it Carlos, swing the bat!!!

        (oh, wait, I was having a 2006 flashback. No worries, I am living in this season)

      • mextache says:

        I agree with the idea it’s a one year thing…it has no carry over to this year. Even if there are some simllarities in the bump in the road they hit earlier in the week. The Mets are not the Red Sox or Cubs with a ghost or curse hanging over their heads.

        If the Mets came close (which they did) and missed the playoffs or got in and got bounced in the first round we would all be looking at this as a continuation of climbing the mountain to a title.

        Win today…take two from the Cubs and two from the Fish and they’re in.

    • Dork says:

      Of course winning the division in this manner will allow for full bragging rights, because they will have earned it based on their performance on the field, taking the Phillies in the season series.

      The Phillies are not going to roll over, so we’ll still have to play well down the stretch to even get into that position. So even if the season ends that way, the team should feel like they’ve accomplished something major in September, and should have momentum in the playoffs….

  6. ExileInLA says:

    How bad is the view from Section 19 of the Loge – Row L?

  7. MyaGirl says:

    I just want to get in! Anything can happen in a short series. I would rather play the Cubs first round than the Dodgers. Reason being both Zambrano and Harden are hurt, and who knows what they can give you.

  8. Darth Manuel says:

    Where is

    FL 169 169B 1-2 … can’t find it on the chart.

  9. CaseStreet says:

    I’d want to play the cubs in the first round reason being I think we have an advantage in a 5 game series. Then play the weaker dodgers or phillies in the nlcs. That’s our best way to the WS.

    • danlx13 says:

      santana vs zambrano (away)
      pelf vs harden (away)
      oliver vs dempster (home)
      ??? vs Lilly (home)
      Santana Vs zambrano (away)

      • ridethesnake says:

        That is only if Johan doesn’t have to pitch the season finale. Very possible if Milwaukee continues to stink it up.

  10. metsrus says:

    Even if the Brewers are tied with the two other teams the Mets win the division and the Phillies play a play -in game.

  11. backinbusiness says:

    Um, is Matt the guy on the Mets ticket phoneline? The voice sounds just like him…

  12. backinbusiness says:

    Is Matt the voice on the TIXX line? Take a listen, sounds just like him.

  13. hovanomics says:

    I think it would, because to win the division that way, the Mets had to win the head to head series, which we did. In fact, we won or tied every series, except for the last one. That includes, winning the series, after some tough first game losses and winning 3 out of 4 in Phillie in July.

  14. mouserdz says:

    FWIW – yesteday tix were available to every game through Friday. Now they are all sold out!

  15. dominicanboy08 says:

    I really like Bobby Parnell, he throws a hard fastball, a hard slider and works quickly. keep pitching him to see if he can help us in the….you know what…

  16. methead says:

    Ok…sound I won a chance to purchase 4 playoff tickets. Maybe its because I logged in at 11:00am when tickets
    started being available at 10, but I tried to get 4 tickets for game 1 or game 2, nada. I could get as many as
    1 ticket for game 1 and 2. Of course I could get a set of 4 sitting together for game 5 which only gets played
    if we win the division and go to game 5. What a croc. I mean…you going to offer at least let me purchase
    4 random tickets for game 1 or 2. Thank god I am a weekend plan holder and I already have tickets.

  17. BigPelf4prez says:

    Here’s the rubber-game lineup in Atlanta for Sunday’s game:

    Reyes, ss
    Murphy, lf
    Wright, 3b
    Delgado, 1b
    Beltran, cf
    Church, rf
    Castillo, 2b
    Schneider, c
    Pelfrey, rhp

    nyd

  18. BigPelf4prez says:

    Here are some pregame tidbits from the Mets’ clubhouse:

    • John Maine remains on track for another simulated inning Monday at Shea. Jerry Manuel said he’d want to confer with doctors one more time, at least to put the interim manager at ease, before activating Maine.

    • Damion Easley noted he still hasn’t run at more than half-speed, but he’s confident he’ll be able to pinch-hit this week. “It’s still sore with walking, but I’m able to do some other things,” said Easley, who has a strained right quadriceps muscle.

    • Manuel said Bobby Parnell now warrants a relief look with a lead, perhaps even with runners on base. Parnell has been eased into the bullpen in his two appearances so far. Manuel said he purposely lined up Parnell to face Jeff Francoeur on Saturday night because the Brave doesn’t walk much.

    nyd

  19. rigsay says:

    This sounds crazy, but I’d give Church a day off and put Endy in today. Endy never gets a start anymore. I just think Church needs a rest coming down the stretch. He’s had bad AB’s, swinging at so much low junk, and not getting great reads in RF.

    Didn’t anyone see that pitch right down the middle with a runner on where he popped it up to the infield?? Not good.

    • NYP-BOS-NYP says:

      I think the only way Church is going to get his bat back is if he plays. He’s not tired — he doesn’t need rest. He’s rusty, and he needs practice. In an ideal world, we could send him somewhere else to get that practice, but the minor league seasons are all done and we’re in a pennant race. We need his arm out there, and yes, we need his bat too… but that’s not going to come if he doesn’t play.

      I think there’s a good chance Ryan will not be back to his old self offensively until next year. We may just have to live with that. But his best chance for a comeback depends on him getting as many at bats as possible, and there’s unfortunatley only one way to do that right now.

  20. KinersKornerman says:

    I’m confused. What was all that coin flip nonsense about then, if ties are broken based on head to head?

    I think I’ve killed too many brain cells.

  21. khmustache says:

    hey did you guys know that yankee stadium is closing today? man i wish somebody would cover it on tv…

  22. rigsay says:

    I know it’s hackneyed and over-stated, but Jose is the key to the offense. When he goes, they go, simple as that. He’s gotta get on base 3 times today.

  23. hotchipwillbreakyourlegs says:

    totally unrelated. after today, we never have to hear another announcer gush over the rats nest that ruth built ever again.

    Let’s go Orioles

    • ccmetfan says:

      How do you think yankee fans feel about their last game being on espn with joe morgan and the other guy covering their last game.?

      • KinersKornerman says:

        Most of them have no idea who those guys are. They will read about in the Post tomorrow and try to well up a little fake tear to show off for their co-workers.

    • khmustache says:

      just wait til the 28th…every sentence is going to be prefaced with “although not as heralded as the great yankee stadium, shea….”

  24. NYP-BOS-NYP says:

    I think the Mets should strive to win the division, not because of echoes of last year’s collapse, but just because it’ll feel good. Let’s face it — barring any dramatic upheaval here (which is always possible, but gets less likely with every game that’s played), the four teams in the NL playoffs this year are going to be Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York.

    The only real question is between us and the Phils, which one gets in as division champ and which one gets in as wildcard. And I guess that changes the order of who plays whom in the NLCS, but otherwise, it’s of fairly little consequence.

    But this isn’t — or shouldn’t be — just about making the postseason. The Mets should want to win the division because doing so lets them lay claim to the title of best team in their division, instead of “one of the top four teams in the NL.”

    It’s not about last year, it’s not about collapses, it’s not about choking — it’s just about being able to say you’re the best. And it’s also about having a “winning attitude,” as trite as that sounds, and that’s something that will likely carry over into the playoffs.

    So if we end up tied in the division with the Phils, will that be OK? Sure. It will also be OK if we lose to the Phils but win the wildcard. But our goal should be winning the division. Not because it puts us mathematically any closer to the world series, just because it’s better.

    • khmustache says:

      excellent post…ya gotta believe

    • MetsFan4Decades says:

      I’m sure the Mets are trying to win the Division. I know I’d rather win the Division then the wild card. But as a long standing and often long suffering fan, I’ll take watching Mets October baseball anyway I can get it.

      Both races are so close. Getting down to the wire. Going to be a nerve racking week – but fun too.

  25. ccmetfan says:

    I’m seeing the yankee stadium coverage on espn and they showed fans chipping pieces off the outside wall to keep a yankee stadium keepsake.

    • KinersKornerman says:

      man, wouldn’t it be funny if they found Babe Ruth’s Red Sox uniform underneath the chipped cement?

    • khmustache says:

      me too, a couple thoughts

      1) spike lee is the worst kind of ny baseball fan…namely mets fan in 69, yankee fan in the 70’s, mets fan in the 80’s, and yankee fan ever since

      2) having steve phillips basically say he was scared of the yankees in 2000 made me remember why i really don’t like that guy

      • KinersKornerman says:

        Fear not, stache. He will be making many Citifield appearances from 2009-2019 wearing a Johan jersey.

    • NYP-BOS-NYP says:

      “You see this grey powder, Jimmy?”

      “Yeah, dad?”

      “This grey powder is from the mortar between the bricks of one of the walls of the house that Ruth built!”

      “Wowwwwww, really?”

      “Yep, and one day, my son, you will inherit this grey powder.”

      “Can I, really, dad? Can I?”

      “You betcha, son.”

      “Wowwwwwww!”

  26. rigsay says:

    Another long, heartfelt post down the drain……beerleaguer rules

  27. Flushing_is_Burning says:

    I’m all for giving church a day off, he looks lost at the plate. How about playing Endy or Evans??

    • rigsay says:

      Evans better get a start against Ted Lilly this week if nothing else. I don’t think the guy is gonna be a very good major league player but he deserves some AB’s.

  28. wmburden says:

    Doesn’t matter to me how we get in.

    Besides, it’d be poetic justice if we were to meet the Phils in the NLCS and beat them. That would be one ridiculously emotional series though good God.

  29. therealsince86 says:

    Can we get a pregame?

  30. MetsFan4Decades says:

    Can’t believe no Pregame thread today.

  31. miker94 says:

    yeah, what’s up with that, no pregame??

  32. rigsay says:

    Nice red jerseys…..PUKE

  33. therealsince86 says:

    Great Jose, 3-1 and you swing at a ball over your head.

  34. rigsay says:

    This is the typical no-name clown who shuts the Mets down.

  35. rigsay says:

    Murph and Heilman rock the same tight/high style pants. Is that an Irish thing?

  36. metsmad22 says:

    jose needs to grow a brain

  37. rigsay says:

    It’d be nice to see Mr. “MVP” come through here.

  38. rigsay says:

    C DEL!

  39. MetsFan4Decades says:

    All Right, Delgado !
    Love when the Mets score in the first inning.

  40. khmustache says:

    anybody else listening to the braves feed? this guy joe simpson is a clown…his contempt for everything mets is laughable

  41. rigsay says:

    Gotta take advantage of this Parr kid

  42. MetsFan4Decades says:

    Come on, Luis. If ever there was a time to do it….

  43. dazedandconfused says:

    this is why Castillo is such a weakness. With Castillo in the lineup all they’ll do is walk Church cause Castillo can’t hit crap!

  44. rigsay says:

    Why did Castillo swing on the first pitch?? You’ve got a kid who can’t throw a strike and you help him out…

  45. metsfan42793 says:

    YEA CASTILLO BUT THAT WAS A STRIKE

  46. MetsFan4Decades says:

    I’ll take it!

  47. EV says:

    GOOD JOB SLAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  48. rigsay says:

    Wow, that’s a strike if I’ve ever seen one with 2 strikes.

  49. dazedandconfused says:

    good eye Slappy

  50. khmustache says:

    a rib eye steak is a rib eye steak! nice “hitting” luis!

  51. Wright88 says:

    For better or for worse, Castillo will take…..

  52. therealsince86 says:

    Not starting this debate again but there is no way we score a run there with Awful Reyes.

    • Wright88 says:

      with almost any other ump thats a K

      • therealsince86 says:

        Doesn’t matter. If it had been Awful Reyes he would have struck out on 3 pitches.

        • Wright88 says:

          Castillo took 2 straight strikes. All he does is freaking take…

        • therealsince86 says:

          Swung at the first pitch. Either way, it does not matter. We scored a run there because Castillo does something that Awful Reyes does not…… EVER get on base.

        • Wright88 says:

          And Reyes does something Castillo never does, field his position well. They both have their advantages, I prefer defense for a 2B.

        • therealsince86 says:

          Castillo’s defense does not hurt as bad as Awful Reyes bat hurts. Does not matter, Castillo will be playing the rest of the season and Awful Reyes won’t even be on the team next year.

        • Wright88 says:

          Castillo won’t be on the team next year. Both parties have pretty much said so.

  53. dazedandconfused says:

    time to do some damage with the bases loaded!

  54. rigsay says:

    2 runs, pretty sweet. More runs than they’ve scored for Pelfrey in 2 starts against the Nats.

  55. dazedandconfused says:

    and the curse continues

  56. dazedandconfused says:

    WHERE THE HELL IS THE PREGAME THREAD!!!!!!!

  57. rigsay says:

    BTW, I just checked out Delgado’s career stats. Although one must question the era, in 2000 he hit .344 with 57 doubles, 41 hr, 137 rbi. WOW.

  58. MetsFan4Decades says:

    Pre game finally posted.

  59. dazedandconfused says:

    Prado is a bag of crap!