So we are just two days away, 48 hours away, from the New York Mets playing their first postseason game since October 19, 2006. I, and so many others, have waited years for this moment. We have endured Bernie Madoff, Jason Bay, ownership not being willing to spend money, Luis Castillo's dropped pop up, the Tom Glavine implosion, and on and on and on I could go.
Before the season, my expectations for modest. I expected the Mets to win at least 80 games for the first time since 2008. But I didn't really know if they had the offensive depth to make a legitimate run at a division title. But early on those expectations were exceeded as the compiled an 11 game winning streak in April. But during that street, within 48 hours, those ominous signs of disaster invaded our positive mindset. David Wright injured a hamstring, and it would eventually be diagnosed as spinal stenosis. Travis d'Arnaud broke his hand and left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins, who looked outstanding early on, broke his forearm. May was not a month that I would like to remember as they got swept in Wrigley Field over for games. I did get to see Noah Syndergaard make his big league debut, but that was a night I would just as soon forget. June got off to a decent enough start but a seven game losing streak against Toronto Atlanta and Milwaukee threaten to derail any hopes of a successful season. The only games I attended in New York or in mid-july against Arizona, where Kirk Nieuwenhuis somehow hit 3 home runs in a single game. The Mets end of the first half with a 47 and 42 record having won six of their previous seven games.
But this line up was still a big question mark. With Eric Campbell, John Mayberry, and the like having everyday roles on this team, this line of just did not seem capable of carrying the team to a playoff berth. The young starting pitching, anchored by Jacob deGrom Matt Harvey, and Syndergaard looked to be dynamite. In the bullpen, Jeurys Familia was really emerging as a legitimate closer. But the middle relief, with Bobby Parnell, Carlos Torres, and and Alex Torres had Mets fans popping Zantac every time they entered a game. Hansel Robles, had electric stuff, but didn't usually know how to control it.
In late July they lost two of three games in Washington, with the last loss being absolutely brutal. General manager Sandy Alderson did make some moves, acquiring Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson to shore up the bench. A trade was in the works for the Mets to trade Wilmer Flores and injured starting pitcher Zack Wheeler to Milwaukee and reacquire outfielder Carlos Gomez who could have been an excellent addition to the offense. But at the last minute, the trade fell through and we knew that something had to be done to really push this offense over the edge. The fans needed something to believe in. And then on July 30th, they lost a horrific game at home to San Diego in the rain. Justin Upton, who was rumored to be coming to the Mets, hit a three run homer off Familia and our playoff hopes seem to be in a lot of trouble. They were 52 and 50 and four games out of first. It was one day before the trade deadline and the first place Nationals were coming to town.
Then, on July 31st, my 34th birthday, I was at Gino's East working. With less than one hour to go before the trade deadline, I got the alert that the New York Mets had acquired Yoenis Cespedes from the Detroit Tigers for two minor league pitchers. I knew the combination of power and defense that he provided and that he would be an amazing addition. The team turned around that night. Flores drilled a off homerun in game one of the series, and in reality the National League Eastern Division race was over right there. The Mets win on to sweep Washington and they would win their next 4 games as well. They took back first place on August 3, never letting it go. The Mets swept the three game series in Washington in September, rallying in each game to do so. By the end of this series, their lead was seven games and everyone knew the race was over. The clinch day turned out to be September 26th when they defeated Cincinnati 10 to 2.
A few things need to be pointed out. Curtis Granderson has had an amazing season. We had no idea he would be the teams leadoff hitter, and that was one of the things they were really missing going into this season. But he stepped in, showing excellent plate discipline, hitting 26 home runs and driving in 90 runs, while walking 91 times. Lucas Duda is an incredibly streaky had her, but at one point he hit 9 home runs in a games. Daniel Murphy will drive you crazy with his base running and defensive mistakes, but he's a professional hitter and one that will be missed when he leaves after this season. Travis d'Arnaud has definitely emerged as a legitimate catcher in baseball, if he can stay healthy. Wilmer Flores may not play great defense, but he has a knack for coming up with big hits. Even Ruben Tejada hit .261 this season.
And that pitching. Bartolo Colon won 14 games and pitch to nearly 200 innings. Matt Harvey pitched 281 innings, coming back from Tommy John surgery. DeGrom was in serious contention for the Cy Young Award until he started to struggle in late August. Steven Matz has only started six games, but looks like he is becoming that left handed force. And out of the bullpen, Addison Reed and Tyler Clippard look like an excellent bridge to familia.
So on Friday, they will be in Hollywood to play the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 5 game series. The Dodgers have two phenomenal pitchers in Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. After that, their pitching staff scares nobody. They have some decent hitters such as Adrian Gonzalez, Corey Seager, Yasiel Puig, and they have Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins coming off the bench. But there is nobody that should terrify the Mets staff. Chances are this will be a long series, but I'm not worried about the Dodgers having home field advantage. The Mets have a better lineup and a better bullpen and should win this series. Meanwhile, on the other side of the National League playoffs, the three dominant NL Central teams can beat each other up.
