This is NOT a countdown thread!

[Benjamin Grimm]

I was wondering when it's considered appropriate to start a Magic Number countdown. I seem to remember in 2006 we counted down by displaying pictures of postcards from each state. (When the magic number was 15, we would show Kentucky.) But I couldn't find that thread in the archives.



This is the one that I found: http://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/archives/4300/f1_t4310.shtmlhttp://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/archives/4300/f1_t4310.shtml



I can't tell when it started and it definitely doesn't include states.



In 2007, Steve Rogers started the countdown on August 15, when the number was 40, and he got heat for perhaps creating a jinx.



http://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/archives/7100/f1_t7137.shtmlhttp://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/archives/7100/f1_t7137.shtml



Luckily, the 2007 season ended with the Mets winning the division. (At least, I think that's how I remember it.)



In 2008, batmagadanleadoff started the Magic Number thread on August 20, when the number was 35. That too, turned out well.



http://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/archives/9900/f1_t9948.shtmlhttp://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/archives/9900/f1_t9948.shtml



In 2015, it was Steve Rogers again, on September 7, when the number was 21:



http://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/archives/23300/f1_t23310.shtmlhttp://phpbb3.leaptoad.com/mets/archives/23300/f1_t23310.shtml



Is there a consensus on what's appropriate? I don't believe at all in jinxes, but I do believe in the notion of having egg on your face.



I suppose the other question is, who's going to be the one to take the plunge this year?



Confession: I recently started doing it in a very subtle way. A free figurative box of Rice-A-Roni to anyone who figures it out.

[Ceetar]

47, with 53 games to play, fwiw.



43 for the playoffs.

[Fman99]

I say September would be when it's not too early. Like I know.

[ashie62]

I don't believe it's too early now, at least for myself.



I would agree that 9/1 is the date for many.

Edited August 8, 2022 by Guest

[MFS62]

15, if for no other reason than it was worn by two of my favorite all-time Mets Al Jackson and Jerry Grote.





Later

Edited August 8, 2022 by Guest

[Ceetar]

I'll posit when the lead in the loss column is equal to or above the number of games left with that team, plus the numbers of weeks remaining.



Is 7 > 7+ 9?



No, but after next week's games, it might be getting close.



Mets have 7 left with the Atlanta club, if they gain 2 through that time span we're getting real close.

[ashie62]

Thank you.

[Gwreck]

It's not too early. This is the best Mets team in more than 35 years, and has a real chance to be the best-ever Mets team. Start the countdown. The postseason is happening.

[stevejrogers]

Hey, a Brian Ostrosser sighting!

SteveJRogers Sep 05 2007 03:49 PM Interesting and useless tidbit: Bobby Ojeda of course was injured for the 1988 postseason, and my copy of the 1973 NLCS program (IIRC its the Mets one, not the Reds) does list Brian Ostrosser as #19 even though he was no where near the postseason roster. My guess is he, along with John Strohmayer were just called up in August and would have been possiblities if there was an injury or two late.

[batmagadanleadoff]

=stevejrogers post_id=103094 time=1660051681 user_id=57]
Hey, a Brian Ostrosser sighting!

SteveJRogers Sep 05 2007 03:49 PM Interesting and useless tidbit: Bobby Ojeda of course was injured for the 1988 postseason, and my copy of the 1973 NLCS program (IIRC its the Mets one, not the Reds) does list Brian Ostrosser as #19 even though he was no where near the postseason roster. My guess is he, along with John Strohmayer were just called up in August and would have been possiblities if there was an injury or two late.

[Lefty Specialist]

Whether we start the countdown or not is entirely irrelevant to what's happening on the field. At least that's what I keep telling myself. I point out the number and my wife gives me the evil eye, though.



A figurative box of Rice-A-Roni! The San Francisco ephemeral treat!

[ashie62]

=Gwreck post_id=103071 time=1660024807 user_id=56]
It's not too early. This is the best Mets team in more than 35 years, and has a real chance to be the best-ever Mets team. Start the countdown. The postseason is happening.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Unfortunately, the forum archives don't go back to 1986, so I don't know when we began that countdown. Nor for 1988.



(On this date in 1986, the morning of April 9, the Mets had a 16-game lead over the Expos, and the Magic Number was 41. The Mets had played 107 games.)



NEW YORK METS 72 35 .673 -- L-1 6-4

Montreal Expos 55 50 .524 16.0 W-5 6-4

Philadelphia Phillies 52 55 .486 20.0 L-5 4-6

St. Louis Cardinals 52 55 .486 20.0 W-5 7-3

Chicago Cubs 47 61 .435 25.5 W-1 4-6

Pittsburgh Pirates 43 63 .406 28.5 L-5 3-7

[kcmets]

30-games-left mark seems a reasonable starting point to me.



(this is not an offer to run the countdown thread)

[batmagadanleadoff]

=ashie62 post_id=103116 time=1660059146 user_id=90]
=Gwreck post_id=103071 time=1660024807 user_id=56]
It's not too early. This is the best Mets team in more than 35 years, and has a real chance to be the best-ever Mets team. Start the countdown. The postseason is happening.

[Ceetar]

cowards.