Mets Are Playoff Bound

The Mets ended the season 101-61, tied with the Braves (their last game didn't mean anything, so that final loss is misleading), but a September slip (Marte being out was a big problem, but not the ONLY one) means that is only good for a wild card slot vs. the Padres. Still a bit weird of a name for a sports team.

So it goes. I said I will let it go. I'm not totally there -- get to the next round -- but baseball is about not looking back. The final day of the season was largely about statistics, such as the Giants ending .500. The big Mets news is that Jeff "Squirrel" McNeil won a batting title. It was damn close -- Freeman came one hit from threatening it; the difference boiled down to .001. Freeman has various other batting records. 

But, Jeff did good, after struggling last season. Lindor promised him a car. With his salary, he can buy one for the whole team. Trevor "Swiss army knife" (lot of jobs) Williams was the "bulk" guy in the last game, Givens (who turned out to be a decent pick-up in the end) was the "opener."  The last game was a laugher (9-0 after three) even with the "B" team in.  Well, helped that the Nationals were the competition.  

As for the other teams out there, several regulars (including Cardinals) are back.  Twins and White Sox had disappointed seasons, the Guardians striving ahead after both seemed to maybe have a shot. Orioles did great with 83 wins, a thirty or something win improvement.  The Angels basically had one guy (pitcher/hitter).  A lot of teams were as expected, mediocre or bad.  Marlins showed life late, but not quite enough for the Mets in the final 2-1 loss that sealed the deal for the Braves. 

Seattle, after starting poorly, got in, basically repeating last season's form, along with the Blue Jays helped by an extra slot and the Red Sox doing mediocre.  Ditto Phils and Padres, the Phils firing their manager early, striving up, and then holding on (helped by the Brewers bad play).  Padres spent a lot of money for a wild card slot, but let's see how the future will be.  

I don't know how many upsets you can hope for though some are possible. The Yankees are surely vulnerable and the Guardians have been doing great of late.  A final wild card team winning a best of three is quite possible. You would think the Astros and Dodgers are generally favored though you can't count out the Braves and maybe the Cardinals or some upset.  

For now, it's the Mets playing at most three at home versus the Padres, who are no pushover.  And, you cannot even watch them on SNY/Channel 11. I think it would be a good idea for the playoffs to have some guy recently connected to the team in a three person booth.  Blevins would have been a nice choice.  I assume they will have such people in the studio in some form.  But, in the booth (you can put a person from each team in, rotation-wise) would be a way to get a team specific flavor. 

I think the Mets should be able to win the series. The lost of the division makes it harder -- we aren't like Seattle where just getting here is fantastic. Some fans cite that, but after being in the lead for all season, that is sort of lame.  But, hey, fan as you wish.  And, hope some of the crew that got us here have some magic, including a few newer people who did not quite show up yet in big situations.  LFGM!