1986 Mets vs. 2011 Phillies

[G-Fafif]

We hold a two-game lead with 23 to play.

BEST EAST EVER
Through 139 Games
1986 METS: 93-46
2011 Phils: 91-48

[Ceetar]

We hold a two-game lead with 23 to play. BEST EAST EVER Through 139 Games 1986 METS: 93-46 2011 Phils: 91-48

I was hoping it wouldn't come to this. *sigh*

I don't care that I was 4 and a half. The 1986 Mets were better. They didn't have the soft Marlins to beat up on 18 times a year.

[Guest sharpie]

The '86 Mets did go 17-1 vs. the 98-loss Pirates.

[Ceetar]

sharpie wrote: The '86 Mets did go 17-1 vs. the 98-loss Pirates.

shush.

[Frayed Knot]

Two games doesn't sound like a lot, but looked at another way it means that while the '86ers were able to cruise to a 15-8 finish (about their year-long norm and including that ill-timed, pre-clinching three-game losing streak) these Phils have to put together a much tougher 17-6 string just to match it, and that starts with their four-game series in Beer-town kicking off tonight*.

What they do have a good shot at is the second best NL record since '86 which I believe belongs to the 104 win NL West Braves team that nudged out the 103-win Giants in the final season prior to realignment and then the introduction to the WC era.
The AL, on the other hand, has 105-win or better teams about every other year it seems.





* Just realized that I used the phrase 'kicking off' to describe a series opener which will coincide with the SB-champ Packers opener at home.
The easy joke here is the one about whether the game actually counts if there's no one in the stands or watching on TV, although I recently heard a "stat" about how the Brewers TV gets the largest percentage of their market tuned-in to their games. Not the most pair of eyeballs by raw number of course because it's a smaller universe than many others but, when you add up the home attendance and TV viewers as a percentage of the whole, the Brews do as well as anyone and maybe better than all.

[metirish]

Phillies are 8-2 in their last 10, on pace for how many wins?

[metirish]

FK basically gave me the answer.

[G-Fafif]

The freaking Braves won 106 in 1998, but lost to the Padres in the NLCS.

[G-Fafif]

BEST EAST EVER
Through 140 Games
1986 METS: 93-47
2011 Phils: 92-48

We need the Brewers to start winning -- with no offensive help whatsoever from Ryan Braun.

[G-Fafif]

BEST EAST EVER
Through 141 Games
1986 METS: 93-48
2011 Phils: 93-48

Mets hold the tie breaker based on the Phillies suck.

[G-Fafif]

BEST EAST EVER
Through 142 Games
2011 Phils: 94-48
1986 METS: 93-49

Groan.

[Fman99]

It'll make it all the sweeter when they get swept out in the Wild Card round by, uh, some other team. I'd have to check the standings, I'll admit, I have no idea who's winning in the Central and West these days.

[ashie62]

The 1986 Mets are the best team I have ever seen..

[G-Fafif]

BEST EAST EVER
Through 143 Games
2011 Phils: 94-49
1986 METS: 93-50

Good news: Phillies lost.
Better news: Mets of sparkling vintage won't be doing so much of that anymore.

[G-Fafif]

BEST EAST EVER
Through 144 Games
1986 METS: 94-50
2011 Phils: 94-50

Good news: Mets about to clinch.
Bad news: So are the Phillies.

[G-Fafif]

BEST EAST EVER
Through 145 Games
1986 METS: 95-50
2011 Phils: 94-51

Those Mets clinch. These Phils do not.

[Frayed Knot]

So after taking 3 straight from Milwaukee and looking like; 'Yeah, we're not only going to better that NYM mark but blow through the NL playoffs as well', the Cheese-steaks went and lost the final game to the Brews and now have drooped the first two in Houston.
[sterling]I tell you Susan you just can't figure this game out[/sterling]

As a result, the Phils now need to go 14-3 to match the 108 win season and a steam-rolling 15-2 to better it.
Ain't. Gonna. Happen.
All those 'At this same point in the season' charts fail to show that the '86ers were destined to finish their season on a 15-4 run.


The other race here is the one to see if Houston will LOSE 108 games. Not that that'll get them anywhere near that other NYM record but, with just 14 games remaining, the Astros need a 4-10 or better finish in order to stay ahead of that rarely-reached .333 season. Unexpectedly taking the first two from Philly certainly helped them there.
They do have, however, a whopping 10-game lead in the 'We get the first pick in next June's draft' race, so that one looks pretty well sewn up.

[G-Fafif]

BEST EAST EVER
Through 146 Games
1986 METS: 96-50
2011 Phils: 95-51

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies on clinching their fifth consecutive playoff berth.

Not really.

[G-Fafif]

BEST EAST EVER
Through 148 Games
1986 METS: 97-51
2011 Phils: 97-51

[HahnSolo]

Kinda hard to measure how teams will play once they clinch.

Didn't the 86 Mets win their last 8 games in a row?

[G-Fafif]

Last five; nine of their last ten.

[G-Fafif]

BEST EAST EVER
Through 149 Games
1986 METS: 97-52
2011 Phils: 97-52

[Frayed Knot]

Phils nearly pulled out a win last night as Ryan Howard's PH, 2-out, 9th inning double (just barely safe) was followed by the 3rd out being dropped in RF by Corey Patterson for a game-tying two-bagger.
Cards won in the 11th after a rookie getting his 2nd ML AB (Adron Chambers) singled following an IW to Pujols [right move obviously if you're the Phils, just the wrong result]



Phils now have to finish out with 12-1 streak to reach 109 wins, or 11-2 to tie the '86ers mark.

[G-Fafif]

BEST EAST EVER
Through 150 Games
1986 METS: 98-52
2011 Phils: 98-52

Congratulations to the 2011 National League East champions. Now go fall off a cliff...or a roy.

[stevejrogers]

Frayed Knot wrote: Phils now have to finish out with 12-1 streak to reach 109 wins, or 11-2 to tie the '86ers mark.

Well, gotta bring the 86ers in to rally the troops this weekend.

Hey if it worked on Friday to wake up this team...

[Frayed Knot]

Phils lose the Sunday nighter to the Cards.
Now have to run the table to beat the 108-win mark or go 10-1 to tie.

Yeah, I don't think so.

[G-Fafif]

BEST EAST EVER
Through 151 Games
1986 METS: 99-52
2011 Phils: 98-53

[G-Fafif]

BEST EAST EVER
Through 152 Games
1986 METS: 99-53
2011 Phils: 98-54

The Retroactive Magic Number is 1. Let's hope the 1986 Mets can knock off the Phillies a little quicker this time.

[G-Fafif]

BEST EAST EVER
Through 153 Games
1986 METS: 100-53
2011 Phils: 98-55

Davey Johnson fires up his Nationals to preserve the dignity of his Mets. With the Phillies' loss to Washington this afternoon, they are eliminated from the hallowed circle of National League East teams that have finished with 108 wins.

There's still only one of those.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Clapping.