New York Mets 2015 Season Thread

['7']

It's 8:40...call this sucker already so we can just focus on Patriots-Steelers all night like the rest of America.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Colon...lol. Terrific job.

Hard to believe that this team is flirting with a .500 road record.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

The Niese/Colon "who gets a playoff start?" debate is really starting to get interesting...they have similar overall numbers on the season (Colon obviously walks less guys, as he walks no one), but one guy is clearly much hotter than the other at the moment.  Too early to call...if Colon has a couple of imploders and Niese suddenly finds his groove again, then there will be probably some support for Niese.

 

I think I have to go with Colon at this point more because I don't think Niese handles any adversity well at all and has "meltdown in a big spot" written all over him.  Unfortunately Colon is far from a sure thing himself...but to his credit, he's pitched gems against the Cubs, Pirates, and Dodgers (it's easy to make the "Well he's doing it against bottom-feeders" argument with his recent success).  I think I'd have to keep him away from the Cardinals though...he's been dreadful against them this year (after being excellent against them in 2014...go figure).   

 

Hard to believe that Colon has a shot to total 50 wins over 2013-15 (he's currently at 47 (18 + 15 + 14)).  He's been frustrating at times, but Has is right...he was a pretty good value for his contract, and it doesn't hurt his cause that his teammates seem to love him.  But he's really been huge lately...he's provided needed innings (the other starters haven't lately), and not just "eating up innings to the tune of 7+ IP 4+ ER".  Mets don't soar to 7.5 games up without his recent contributions. 

['7']

Mets are just a machine last night. Even the Turner Field ghosts couldn't be bothered to show up. Up next is Matt Wisler (5.81era) and Williams Perez (5.42 era) as well as rookie no-name Ryan Weber. When we star rolling with the A lineup this could get very ugly for Atlanta and the Mets could truly just run away with this thing (if they haven't already)

 

The clinch will likely come in Cinci or Philly

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Mets are just a machine last night. Even the Turner Field ghosts couldn't be bothered to show up. Up next is Matt Wisler (5.81era) and Williams Perez (5.42 era) as well as rookie no-name Ryan Weber. When we star rolling with the A lineup this could get very ugly for Atlanta and the Mets could truly just run away with this thing (if they haven't already)

 

The clinch will likely come in Cinci or Philly

 

Not only is Atlanta beyond dreadful, but it's clear that they're not interested in giving it the "ol' college try".  It's amazing how little fight they have in them...I never think of the Braves as a "mail it in" kind of team, but it's so obvious that they don't want to play these games.  Going back to last 9/1/14, they have a record of 63-103.  As much as there's a part of me that always fears Turner, the Braves who made the Mets' lives are living hell there are truly gone.  That is one terrible team. 

 

If the Mets sweep or take three out of four, that should be a definitive "We are NOT the same ol' Mets!" proclamation.  The old Mets would find a way to lose three out of four to a team like that.   

 

As for the opposing pitchers, we know how it works...sometimes those guys surprise, but yeah, it feels like the Mets aren't screwing around with this thing at all.  And the good thing is it doesn't take much for the Braves to give up in these games. 

 

I'm thinking the clinch comes late in the Cincy series. The magic number is currently 16...the Mets have 14 games to play before Game 3 of the Cincy series (with one off-day), as do the Nats.  If the Mets and Nats match records, that's 14 points shaved off the total.  The Nats' sched, like the Mets, is supposed to be "easy", but the Nats haven't shown the ability to go on the big tear they would need to slow the magic number dwindle rate. 

Edited September 11, 2015 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Same old David.  Just glad he's a bit player now...he couldn't do what Cespedes is doing in his wildest dreams.  At least he's making some nice plays at third.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Another game, another loss for the Nationals.  They're now 71-69.  Harper struck out three times.  Magic number down to 15, could drop to 14 if the Mets hang on to win. 

[NJDevs4978]

Part of me's still not going to be comfortable until they're double-digit games up or there's fewer than double-digit games left but hot damn, right now it looks like even if the Mets forefited every game the rest of the season the Nats still might not be able to make up that ground.

 

And many thanks to Arizona for Addison Reed and helping us bridge the gap in the pen.

Edited September 12, 2015 by NJDevs4978

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Nats don't have a run in them Has.  They just don't.  Think about this...over the last five days including tonight, the Mets cleaved 9 units off the magic number (with Cespedes' latest blast, the Mets ain't losing this one tonight). 

 

The Nats are about to be 8 1/2 games out.  If the Mets go 7-14 over their last 21 games after tonight (87 wins for the season...ain't happening, Mets should win 10 games at the very least), the Nats have to go 17-5 in their final 22 to overtake them. 

 

Even 10-11 (90 wins on the season) means the Nats have to go 20-2.  At this point, I think the Nats finish with no more than 84 wins (13-9 to finish up). 

 

Enjoy this Has.  I said a while back that the Mets needed one more big burst.  They've gotten it.

Edited September 12, 2015 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[NJDevs4978]

The real staggering number is if the Mets go 15-6 (not exactly outrageous with the schedule and the way the team's playing) the Nats can't catch us period, now that the magic number's down to 14.

Edited September 12, 2015 by NJDevs4978

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

The real staggering number is if the Mets go 15-6 (not exactly outrageous with the schedule and the way the team's playing) the Nats can't catch us period, now that the magic number's down to 14.

 

The Mets don't even need to do that.  Nats can't win any more than 93 games (and they have to go 22-0 to do it).  Mets just won their 80th game; if they go 14-7, it doesn't matter what the Nats do. 

 

If the Mets can just take three out of the next five (continuing to knock down the magic number), then the Yankee series (thankfully) won't mean much...not to the Mets, anyway.  Not saying I want them to stumble, but at least if they do, they've built up quite a nice safety buffer.

 

And man, Sandy's on one of those rolls Lou used to enjoy...just about every last in-season trade he's made (save for O'Flaherty) to fortify this team has worked out.  Cespedes has driven in 39 runs in 38 games as a Met...I mean, holy sh!t!

Edited September 12, 2015 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[NJDevs4978]

Odd thing I just thought of that doesn't really mean anything...if the Mets really get way ahead over the next week Citi Field might wind up being Yankee Stadium next weekend since the game'll really only mean anything to them lol.  I wouldn't exactly blame our fans for profiting on selling tickets then unless we somehow had a chance to clinch which isn't going to happen that soon.

 

And the other hypothetical I just thought of...if it's possible for us to clinch on the next to last homestand (particularly against the Marlins or Braves) that'd be nice though I can afford not to be picky since I was at the '06 division clincher - wound up getting a cheapo ticket on StubHub the previous night.  But I'd definitely go if it was at Citi again.

Edited September 12, 2015 by NJDevs4978

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

You might be right Has...those games could wind up being borderline meaningless to the Mets.  The division lead might be 10+ by then. 

 

Yeah, Mets have to win the next five and the Nats have to lose five...that would get the magic number down to four by the time the Yankee series gets underway.  Seems like a longshot.  I still think it happens on the road against the Reds.  I think the Nats will stabilize just long enough to prolong the inevitable.   

 

Of course, the Mets now have a real chance to snag home field away from the Dodgers. 

[NJDevs4978]

They have a home series with the Braves after the Yankee series (which would be more optimum anyway, who wants to clinch when Citi will have a ton of Yankee fans in it), theoretically they could go 7-3 I think and have the Nats go 5-6 to get the magic number down to 2 and have a chance to clinch on the 23rd.  Yeah it'd be a bit of everything falling into place to do it, like you said still more likely it's on the road.  But with the way both teams are playing it's suddenly not that preposterous.

Edited September 12, 2015 by NJDevs4978

[capo]

A few weeks ago I said that there no way the Mets would blow this thing because of the pitching... But, the sticks are what's propelling this juggernaut. If they're going to hit like this and pitch, too. Oh boy, October is going to be as exciting as 86. I want to allow myself to get that excited because let's face we haven't had a complete team like this since '88, and that team had no business losing to anyone let alone a Dodgers team they manhandled that year. Then, I put myself in check thinking about potentially facing Kershaw and Greinke twice in a short series.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Yeah...Greinke and Kershaw can kill a run before it even has a chance to begin. Really hope the Mets get home field in that series. Kershaw's going to have some pressure on him...he's been very iffy in the playoffs to date.

Welcome back Noah.

Re: the '88 Dodgers, if there was ever a team of destiny, it was them. Forget Orel Hershiser's insane shutout streak, or Kirk Gibson changing the culture of the locker room single-handedly...Mike Davis had been a complete bust for the Dodgers, then somehow, despite damn near never drawing walks, managed to draw one against a guy who damned near didn't walk anyone and was THE dominant closer at the time in Dennis Eckersley. And then Gibson hobbled up to the plate and did his thing. That's when you just know the baseball gods are on your side for that given season.

Cespedes...sweet Jesus. Full-on beast mode.

Edited September 13, 2015 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Would've liked to have seen Syndergaard get a shot at the 8th. Guy was cruising. Didn't think TC really needed to go to Clip either, but TC is going to go to that well a lot more than he'll need to.

Edited September 13, 2015 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Way to go Terry. That's what you get for managing like a robot.

I don't put this one on Clip...he pitched three out of the last four days and had given up some baserunners...heaven forbid Amateur Terry realize that Clip doesn't ALWAYS have to pitch the 8th...sometimes you can give another arm a chance so Clip can recharge a little.

Edited September 13, 2015 by Colorado Rockies 1976

[NJDevs4978]

I wouldn't have so much been worried about Kershaw and Greinke if we had deGrom and Harvey in form but the latter part of the equation isn't all that sure right now

 

re: Clippard yeah it sucks, but I guess a couple days off are in order for him right about now.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

It's just maddening when TC's general stupidity still comes out. If that had happened with someone else, I would've understood...Clip getting a break. TC didn't have to manage this game like one he HAD to have. He's so damn dopey at times. Looks like he's going to get bailed out though.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Nats lose...magic number down to 13. It's just plummeting.

[NJDevs4978]

Terry wants to get the train across the finish line as fast as possible, I guess I can't blame him for that but I'd rather not race to the tape with two weeks before the playoffs, then sit everyone for an entire week.  I'd rather it be a little more gradual

 

This Met team being what they are though, got the lead right back!

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

TC doesn't need to do that though. The Nats are dead as dead can be. I still think they stabilize eventually, but they're not winning more than 84 games, tops.

Unless he's trying to wrest home field away from the Dodgers...that's a legit race. Bringing in Clip tonight was still not smart though. Overworking him isn't going to do anyone any good.

[NJDevs4978]

9.5 up now...sounds like tomorrow's going to be the B team (no Cespedes, DW, Travis or Clippard) which is fine on a getaway day with a home game Monday.

[Colorado Rockies 1976]

Mets are now one game under .500 on the road (36-37).  Kind of mind-blowing considering how dreadful they were on the road for much of the season (though with a much different team).

 

One thing that's getting lost in all of the winning is Wright continuing to come up puny in big spots (yes, he had an RBI yesterday, but of course hit a weak lil' grounder with the bases loaded...a base hit could've blown the game open).  He's hitting .158 with RISP and .205 with runners on for his truncated season, and has just four RBI since coming back (15 games)...and that RBI total is much worse when you consider that he's had a TON of opportunities to drive runs home.  The two things he's down well since coming back is fielding his position (he's made some very nice plays), and getting on base (he drawn nine walks since returning)...that's led to him scoring 14 runs in those 15 games.  TC has a tough decision coming once the playoffs start...I can see Wright taking 0-fers against Greinke and Kershaw very easily.  Not sure if Wright should be hitting against Greinke, but he probably will because he's Wright.

 

All of the Met winning and Nat losing is making the Mets' run to the NL East crown become laughably easy:

 

Mets go 10-10, Nats have to go 20-1 to take the division.

Mets going 5-15 means the Nats would still have to go 15-6. 

If the Mets go 12-8, Nats can't do a damn thing. 

 

This race is clearly over and really has been since the Mets swept them in their building.

 

Unfortunately, there are some sobering realities:

 

1) The Mets are playing in a truly awful divison (the Braves and Phillies have been outscored by a combined 370 runs).  Give the Mets credit for feasting on it...Sandy's moves have clearly made this team a far better squad than anyone else in the NL East, including the Nats, who have simply had one of those "Everything that can go wrong will" kind of seasons (and appear to be waving the white flag).  As great as it is to win so many "we should beat these guys" games, there's just not much we're going to learn about the Mets from here on out (though the Yankees can be considered potential measuring-stick games, most of the urgency to win those games will be on the Yankees' side, even with the Mets being in a race with the Dodgers for home field).

 

2) I'm guessing most observers will consider the Mets to be the worst team in the NL to make the playoffs.  They'll point to the lousy NL East, the 0-13 record against the Cubs and Pirates, etc.  The Mets are 32-13 in their last 45 games (over a quarter of a season's worth of light-out baseball), but of course there's the sweep they suffered at the hands of the Pirates embedded in that run, and sweeping the Nats twice won't look as impressive as it once did, as the Nats may not even finish .500. 

 

Though the Mets will obviously not be a Wild Card team, to me that's exactly what they are...they can reach the World Series or get swept by the Dodgers.  For all of the offensive fireworks, would it surprise me that much if Greinke and Kershaw held them to a run or two combined?  Not really.  Just hope the playoffs don't end for this team before they truly have a chance to begin.  But even if the worst-case scenario happens, I wouldn't trade this season for anything...the post-trades Mets have been an absolute blast to watch.

 

 

Won't surprise me if some Met fans start to think the Mets have a shot at the NL's best record, due to the Cardinals going 2-8 in their last 10...Mets are now seven games behind them with 20 left to play.  If the Mets can somehow trim that deficit to 2 games or less with 10 left, then I might start to believe that it's possible.  Not until then though.

Edited September 13, 2015 by Colorado Rockies 1976