|
|
|
According to David Lennon’s blog for Newsday, this morning on WFAN, Evan Roberts and Joe Benigno 
discussed whether they would continue to play out the season, or, instead, skip it and play a one-game playoff with the Brewers.
In other words, for fear of potentially being passed by in the standings by the Brewers, would you skip the next six games and take your chances in a one-game, winner-take-all playoff with the Brewers to see who gets in to the post-season?
Loading ...Follow me on
MetsBlog.com is owned and operated by Matthew Cerrone.
MetsBlog.com publishes both rumor and opinion, as well as accurately reported information from other sources. Information on MetsBlog.com may contain errors or inaccuracies - links to content and the quotation of material from other news sources are not the responsibility of
MetsBlog.com.
MetsBlog.com and Matthew Cerrone are not responsible for what is written by non-MetsBlog.com writers within the site's comment's section.
It depends. Are we talking Santana vs. Seth McClung or Sabbathia vs. Niese?
Question:
If the ESPN and Fox Power Ranking are truly not about record and more about percieved strentgh, where should the Mets be currently ranked?
With this bullpen…. 15 at best?
I prefer to let it play out. A one game series with a bad pitching matchup would not be good for the Mets, and while the Mets stumbled, and collapsed last year, they are being chased by a team that collapsed last year too (best record in baseball at the break), and stumbled so bad this September they fired their manager. They have lost 15 of their last 20 and now lost their second starter. Why are they suddenly going to figure it out and start winning despite the freefall they are in for a second straight year, and we aren’t? I choose (begrudgingly) to believe.
Ben Sheets may start on Thursday vs. PIT… they haven’t ‘lost their 2nd starter’
Sheets was supposed to start tonight. Dave Bush is going instead. Even if Sheets pitches, they already are using a guy they didn’t want to, and it wouldn’t diminish that the Brewers are stumbling worse than the Mets are. Tonight’s game is huge (obviously they all are, but Johan makes this a must win)
If they lose tonight, it’s pretty much over….
Yes, and if the Brewers win, it is over.
can we take a few days, and pitch Santana and Pelfrey in the same game?
this week is the fun part of baseball. it’s a pennant race.
While on this site I open myself up to all sorts of personal insults and general bashing and accusations of not being a Mets fan to knowing nothing about baseball I am still going to offer my opinion.
A great pennant race is when two or more teams playing great baseball slug it out to the end. That is both thrilling and exciting. But watching the Mets and the Brewers stumble to the finish line is like watching a senior citizens marathon and wonder who will drop dead before the finish line. :)
but it’s not like last year when the mets were mediocre for 4 months…this has only been a week.
it wouldn’t shock me if they got red hot and cruised the rest of the way. never felt that last year. and the brewers have struggled, i agree, but a strong week and it becomes fun.
The organization will come out with the excuse it was only 2 bad weeks…
But they are the most critical weeks… Therein lies the problem…
if they play well during the next 6 then nobody would care…if they miss the playoffs then the team will be ripped apart for the next 11 months
it was 2 bad weeks every month this season…play great then play horrible and then repeat and repeat…
we did have an 11 game win streak going a looooong time ago…something last years team couldn’t do.
If they go 4-2 over the next 6, then yes, they will have fought for it but if they do not, then they have the same label we stuck them with last Winter…
Great anology!
If they go 3 and 3 and make the playoffs I still will feel not good about it …. this is in no way a pennant race …. this is the Mets once again like last year trying to hold on hoping the other team plays just as bad and pathetic as them …. lets see how many times tonight they get runners on 1st and 2nd with no one out and DONT SCORE … or maybe it will be another great Santana performance going 8 strong just to watch our bullpen flush it all down the toilet.
I voted yes, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have faith that they can keep their lead against the Brewers. Because I do have faith in them to win at least the Wild Card, but if we had Santana pitch that theoretical one game, I know the Mets would win. It would also mean we wouldn’t have to theoretically pitch another 6 days.
It really comes down to the pitching match-up, Although Santana has been tremendous once again in the second half of the season, no one has done what Sabbathia has done sine he was shipped to the Brewers. He’s been unreal. I think I’d rather see the games play out because the Brewers seem to have just as much cement in their shoes and they are without Ben Sheets. The Mets however, can rely on Pelfrey as well as Santana, and if they’re lucky, Mr. Perez will pitch well in a big spot, which hes proven himself capable of doing.
BTW, Ben sheets may pitch in Thursday vs. PIT…
how come there have been no polls the last two weeks on the state of the mets and jerry?
Where is the fan confidence poll??
WC play-in game?
Why even bother.
Wild Card teams have won 3 of the last 6 World Series and 7 of the last 12 pennants…once you get in, anything can happen.
Maybe we get in and Beltran reprises his Astro postseason, and Reyes gets on base twice every game….yes, the bullpen will probably prevent us from doing anything, but wild card teams succeed at a very high rate in the postseason.
Maybe fighting to get in and getting the last spot builds character, something I am sure we can all agree more of would be nice for this team.
Ok, while I agree if you get in anything can happen, it is just NOT true that wild card teams have won 3 of the last 6 world series, because that suggests it happens just about every other year, the fact is the last three winners won their division, prior to that three wild cards won but even in that the 2002 Angels won 99 games, more than 4 other division winners I believe. The reality is get in, who the hell knows what happens.
Last year the Indians were to be drubbed by the Yankees, prior year Detroit the same, the Cardinals were reeling in 2006, in 2005 the White Sox were considered spent heading into the post season, 2004 the Red Sox were an up and down mess, 2003 the Marlins?
I mean honestly the only time the favorites have represented both leagues in recent memory was 2001 Yankees vs Diamondbacks (116 games for the Mariners not withstanding). Prior to that you had the 1999 Braves vs. Yankees. The first world series in the wild card era lead to the favorites Braves v Cleveland, after that the favorites have only been in two more times and one is somewhat debatable.
Losing the division again is disappointing but getting in and creating a chance is clearly the best alternative.
If I could end the season today without making the playoffs I would. Just to spare myself the misery that I think I’m going to go through every day until Sunday.
That’s a lame answer
I voted no b/c even in a one game playoff, w/ all of our pitchers available, I really don’t think we wanna be going against C.C.. even if we throw out Johan. They’ve both been filthy since the All-Star break, but you need Johan to go 9 innings (which he won’t b/c Manuel refuses to cut the umbilical cord), and somehow find a way to score off of C.C. who the Brewers will keep out for 13 innings simply b/c he’s a “rent-a-player.”
Playing it out until the bitter end is what being a Mets fan is about. I’m glued to my TV for the next week and a half until we clinch our spot in the playoffs. After last year, I think a hard-fought, never give up, gritty performance while actually MAKING the playoffs is just what we all need. Making it to the playoffs, while fighting tooth and nail, all while it seems everyone else wants us to fail.
wow. this is the most worthless poll. “do you have so little confidence in your team that you’d want to cry for the mercy rule?” and metsblog hits a new low. i dont care that WFAN started talking about it, the fact that this was put on the site is pathetic. cue the supporters to blindly call me out.
it’s a little ridiculous
we have about double their probability at this point because of the game lead, and we have our ace going twice on regular rest
of course you play the string
They’re already eliminated. They just don’t know it.
Sadly I have to agree with you… They are playing like they are out…
A little off topic. Did you guys hear Mike Francessa’s rant today @ 1:00 pm? He was basically screaming at the top of his lungs how the Mets are heartless and Gutless and that they are not worthly of shining Phillie’s shoes! He went on to say (again) that if the Mets collapse AGAIN in September for a second year in a row, there is no way you keep the core of this team together. While I never usually agree with much of what Mike has to say about the Mets, I found myself agreeing with allot of what he was saying.
I completely agree with him on this one… Philly had 100x more heart than this team…
Think about it this way, when you’re watching the game and see Philly is losing, do you think they will come back?? Do you feel the same way about this team?
Enough said…
Actually, it’s the oposite with the Mets. When the Mets are WINNING, you still feel like they are going to lose!!!!
Unreal.
That is correct…
But you see my point…
When I’m eatching the game and see the Phils down 4-2 I know they are going to make a comeback and they have these past 2 weeks…
When we are down 4-2 I don’t share that optimism…
Come on X-man, are you serious? I understand these past few weeks have taken it’s toll, but you have proved to be more level headed than this.
repeat after me. Bullpen, new bullpen.
I don’t think “heart” is the problem – its the bullpen. You can only come back so many times after your bullpen keeps blowing leads that you provide for them.
This is a completely ridiculous hypothetical question posed by 2 moron morning talk show hosts. Play the games and win.
Collapse again? From what? Being in second?
Exactly…what “collapse” are these media morons talking about?? They fought from 7 games out in early July to the WC lead and only 2 1/2 games out of 1st! I ask again..What “collapse”??
LETS GO METS
LETS GO METS
LETS GO METS
LETS GO METS
That’s weak man…
They were up 4 in the loss column a mere 10 days ago…
Weak? Last season was a collapse. The were is 1st place all season and then fell out of 1st with 2 games to go. This year they were in 3rd back in July and have been flip-flopping with Philly ever since. This is what is called a Pennant Race!!
LETS GO METS!!
You have a 4 game lead with 2 weeks to go, a playoff bound HOT team should maintain that lead and make the playoffs…
This team blew it…
They then had a 3 game lead with 1 week to go for the Wild Card…
This team has almost blown it…
that is a collapse…
A collapse is when a team is pretty much playoff bound and then falls at the finish line. Being up 3.5 games (the loss column is a waste of time) is NOT a sure thing. Never once in the past few weeks have I figured the Mets were a sure thing to get into the playoffs. This is a RACE not a collapse. If they lose here it’ll be disappointing but they have NOT gone from dead first to ‘just losing it’.
Exactly…
janss36..you must be a Philly fan.
Yeah, it’s the core of the team that’s the problem, not the bullpen. Beltran has shown no heart in September- he’s only hitting .347 with 5 HR and 16 RBI so far and so what if he came back after hurting his head, ribs and knee after making a great catch, was told by the trainer he was done, and came up and got a hit anyway, he’s still soft. Forget about bringing Delgado back next year, he’s only hitting .373 with 7 HR and 17 RBI in September, let’s let Evans play first next year. Reyes and Wright are getting a little old so let’s get rid of them too.
That’s pretty much the core of the team right there (if you want to throw Santana, Pelfrey and Perez in there too, go ahead) and if anyone thinks that they have been the problem this year, they have some serious issues. The only reason the Mets are even contending at this point is because of those “core” 7 guys. You give this team something somewhat resembling a bullpen, and get the years you’re getting from those core guys, they would have clinched the division alreayd, no questions about it.
I totally agree that there need to be a lot of changes for next year, but the core of this team is what you want to keep in tact and build a bullpen around.
Yeah, the core comments he made were ridiculous. Beltran, Wright, Reyes, Santana, Pelfrey, Delgado. Maine… these guys are not the problem. It’s the bullpen. I put it all on the bullpen.
It is the Bullpen they have blown 3 games alone against Atlanta in the last what 10 games …. but also you have to look at the fact that in those same games the Mets got out to early leads but left plenty of runners on base when they could have tacked on a run here and there instead of letting an Atlanta team hang around.
True. But in how many of those games did Atlanta blow off the doors, hanging an extra three runs or so on the bullpen instead of just going up by one?
Exactly…The last game against Atlanta, Heilman came on with a chance to keep it a run one game going to the 9th and blew it and guess what- The Mets scored 2 runs in the bottom half. If they had kept it a 1 run game and won it on Delgado’s HR, I think everyone’s mood would be a little different right now. Ok, I know that you can’t know for sure that it would have played out exactly the same, and yes, there have been countless times where they should have been able to tack on some runs, but you shouldn’t need a 5 run lead late in every game. I’m just so sick and tired of hearing how this team has no heart, is gutless, and it is on the core guys to get this done. It just doesn’t make sense when the biggest problem they have, really the only problem they have is the bullpen. I think it was posted yesterday that if games were over after 8 innings, the mets would be 6.5 games in first place (5.5 now). That is one of the most shocking stats I’ve ever heard. I understand the Phillies have had an amazing closer who hasn’t blown a save all year, but for us to have blown 8 games this year after leading through 8 innings has nothing to do with the core guys’ lack of heart, and everything to do with the guys in our bullpen just not being all that good.
Yes you are right, the offense can not score a tone of runs every night …. the bullpen is suppose to pick up the offense just like the offense has picking them up plenty of times. The problem is the bullpen and if we even had average bullpen we would not be sitting here talking about another September where the Mets had a decent lead going into the last 2 weeks of the season and now they are holding on for there life.
GREAT POST!!
Thank you. Remember less than 2 weeks ago, when Phillies fans were screaming about how “dead” they were?
Now suddenly they’re full of chemistry and the Mets are dead in the water?
Yes, Yes! Finally sensible people!
I am not actually this optimistic (read: insane), but the following is not wildly beyond the realm of comprehension:
Tonight: Mets win, Phillies lose, Mets 1.5GB
Tomorrow: Mets and Phillies do same thing, Mets 1.5GB
Thursday: Mets win; Phillies idle; Mets 1GB
Anything can happen in that 3 days series — anything.
And that’s completely without help from the Brewers.
Believe time. Gotta fake it til you make it.
And as for the division… if the Mets get to within striking distance by the last series, remember, they only have to tie the Phillies for the division (presuming, of course, the Brewers don’t catch up.)
lol you forgot to mention that the Mets are playing the Cubs maybe the best team in baseball so good luck taking these next 3 games …. and the Phillies are playing the Braves who they kick around all the time. I would love to see it but at this point I would be happy with the mets taking 2 of the next 3 against the cubs and hope the Marlins are looking towards the offseason and spare us the final 3 games of the season something they did not to last year when they took extra joy in keeping the Mets from the playoffs.
Oh, nobody EXPECTS a miracle… still, gluttons that we are, we’ll be watching for one.
Maybe Lou will take mercy on us espcially tomorrow night and Thursday when Zambrano and Harden are pitching lol …. lets hope the Pirtates are up to playing some good ball the next 3 nights.
I’ll tell you what though… aside from the no-hitter, Zambrano has NOT been good for about a month and a half. I should know. He’s on my Fantasy team.
watch him be lights out against the mets
And hit a Grand Slam.
they dont need to win all three, provided the phillies dont.
the phillies are not going to win out. they are not going to end their season, what, 11-0? its just not happening.
keep telling yourself that, that’s what we all said last year.
stop with the “ifs”, if this and if that. win and that’s it. win today, win tomorrow, etc.
win win win, who cares about ANYTHING else, just win dammit
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
What if the Mets win the next 5 games and so do the Brewers then the Mets Take a chance don’t pitch Santana Sunday but instead pitch Tom Glavine lol
as long as they win who cares
Hopefully, in that scenario, Philly will blow the next five and end up playing the Brewers in a one-game playoff. Then we can start Glavine in the NLDS.
Glavine?
a valid point with many a’s and g’s and h’s
Castillo is clearly going to play everyday unless he goes for a cab ride with Duaner Sanchez.
Fu&% me, I was confident, but anyone want to bet a big groundball finds gimpy tonight and the Mets lose?
i think i know why Jerry keeps playing luis
hes secretly hoping luis gets hurt again and then can retire.
too bad its actually taking 5 steps back before he can move 10 steps forward.
If thats his ultimate goal, ill be satisfied.
Sometimes i read this blog and have to wonder if im watching the same team as everyone else. This team was never that good this season, they had moments where they looked like they were going to pull it together but most of the time those moments were followed by a handful of pitiful loses, usually perpetuated by the bullpen and lack of offense.
i think you can determine the outcome of the game by the 6th inning.
If the mets have 2 men on base w 0 outs and dont score
game is over. Team B (no heart) showed up
if the mets are able to scratch out 1 run after 2 outs then team A (guts n glory) showed up
Numerous times over the past few weeks this has happened
regardless if the mets were up by 2 runs 4 runs 7 runs
if they dont tack on 1 simple run the team goes in the pooper.
they let chances slip by.
Opposing teams take advantage of this “momentum swing”
and pile it on.
what you are characterizing as the “momentum swing” is actually the Mets bullpen, at some point they are going to need to stand their ground if this is going to be a playoff year for the Mets.
Yeah your right, this team is pathetic. I mean they have been in playoff contention all year but that is a disgrace. Oh wait, actually…….
Well, I guess we all know where Mike Francessa’s heart lies. Anyway, you guys are 100% correct about the problem being squarely on the BP. With just a decent BP (noticed I didn’t even say a GOOD BP) we would probably be still about 4 or 5 games up on the division, and that’s probably a conservative number. 29 blown saves, tops in all of baseball!! And you’re right, it wares the offense down when you constantly have to keep scoring runs to basically out-score your own BP!!! It’s similar to Football, if your defense keeps giving up TD after TD it demoralizes you to the point where you just throw your hands up in the air say (to yourself)…………….I give up.
What’s the point of even posing such an idiotic question?
all the mets have to do is fix that bullpen and get a decent 5th starter. And replace Castillo of course!
I’d sign for this in a heartbeat. There is no way the Mets make it on their own. The Brewers will definitely win the WC. Take the playoff
Do I get to change my vote to “Yes” now? :)
I disagree, if you’ve clinched a tie and are in a win and in situation on Sunday, I think you definitely let Santana pitch you into the playoffs. That is the offensive approach.
Saving him for a potential one game playoff if we lose the game is a defensive approach and you’ll probably lose that last game and let the scenario play out.
but if you pitch Santana on Sunday he won’t be back until Game 3 of a possible playoff series…
That would be bad… Especially if he does well tonight against this Cubs lineup…
Agreed you’d ideally want Santana starting the playoffs, but we’re in no position for ideal playoff rotation matchups.
Last season San Diego went with Tomko is game 162 instead of Peavy on three days rest, he lost and then Peavy had a pretty bad game himself in the playoff.
We’d be foolish not to throw Santana on full rest and let him sit around for another day. If we make the playoffs and Santana goes game 3, if we could steal one from the Cubs in Chicago, coming back home with Santana on the mound wouldn’t look too bad!
Devastating…
Beltran is showing the heart of a Lion, however, I am not crazy about having Mr. “won’t even swing the bat last night” in the two hole. Church should be in the two hole.
my dog would be better in the two hole than Castillo, at least he might piss on the catcher.