Standings, 2015

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

It's an unlikely scenario, but the Mets could clinch the division as early as Sunday versus the Yankees. It would require the Mets continuing their winning streak for five more games while the Nats lose at least 5 of their 6 games. From the "Take Back the City" perspective it would be cool to clinch while playing the Yankees. On the downside there were probably be a ton of Yankees fans with tickets to the game, so that would limit the number of Mets fans who could be in attendance. So I'd be content with kicking the pants of the Yankees and the Mets clinching against the Braves in front of a stadium full of Mets fans.

[TransMonk]

So, I read somewhere this week (I don't think it was here) that the Mets were closing in on the Cubs a Pirates in the standings, which would (according to this internet musing) be good in a scenario where the Mets were to face the Cubs or Pirates in a hypothetical [crossout]NLDS[/crossout] NLCS since having a better record would give the Mets home field advantage.

But, I always thought that a division winner would get home filed advantage over a wildcard team in an LCS regardless of records. Am I wrong? Did I miss a change when the second wildcard team was added?

Edited

Edited September 15, 2015 by Guest

[Benjamin Grimm]

Mets - Willets Point wrote: It's an unlikely scenario, but the Mets could clinch the division as early as Sunday versus the Yankees. It would require the Mets continuing their winning streak for five more games while the Nats lose at least 5 of their 6 games. From the "Take Back the City" perspective it would be cool to clinch while playing the Yankees. On the downside there were probably be a ton of Yankees fans with tickets to the game, so that would limit the number of Mets fans who could be in attendance. So I'd be content with kicking the pants of the Yankees and the Mets clinching against the Braves in front of a stadium full of Mets fans.

They could actually clinch earlier than that. The soonest the Mets can clinch is Sunday afternoon, with a Nationals loss. The division could be clinched on Sunday hours before the Mets take the field.

But as you say, that's unlikely. The Mets would have to win their next four (which can happen!) and the Nationals would have to lose their next six, which is pretty unlikely, given their soft competition.

TransMonk wrote: But, I always thought that a division winner would get home filed advantage over a wildcard team in an LCS regardless of records. Am I wrong? Did I miss a change when the second wildcard team was added?

I don't think that's changed. The only way the Cubs would have home field over the Mets would be if they won the NL Central and had a better (or equal) record than the Mets.

[Edgy MD]

I just like catching the Cubs for honor's sake. I don't like the whole "Yeah the Mets are running away with their crap-assed division, but they'd be in fourth place in the NL Central" argument.

Now it's third place, suckers. Watch out Pirates.

[TransMonk]

I can get down with that. Yeah, the NL Central is strong and the NL East is weak. Teams can only play the games given to them on their schedule.

The Mets' record is competitive with leaders in the NL West and all of the divisions in the AL.

[Frayed Knot]

Priorities for the remainder of the regular season (in order of importance, not time)
1) Clinch Division
2) Put a major hurting on the Yanx this weekend - hopefully to the point where it kills the division for them and puts the WC in jeopardy
3) Finish ahead of Dodgers
4) Try and catch the NL Central Winner

[Elster88]

Edgy MD wrote: I just like catching the Cubs for honor's sake. I don't like the whole "Yeah the Mets are running away with their crap-assed division, but they'd be in fourth place in the NL Central" argument. Now it's third place, suckers. Watch out Pirates.

Me too

[Elster88]

Frayed Knot wrote: Priorities for the remainder of the regular season (in order of importance, not time) 1) Clinch Division 2) Put a major hurting on the Yanx this weekend - hopefully to the point where it kills the division for them and puts the WC in jeopardy 3) Finish ahead of Dodgers 4) Try and catch the NL Central Winner

The Yankee hatred is strong with this one. I have the Yankee-hurtin as a distant fourth on the priority chart.

[Edgy MD]

Yeah, you don't want to make too much of beating the Yankees. But while it may just seem like being grudgy, it has an actual tangible effect for the Mets prospects going forward if they continue to make inroads into the Yankees' hold on the marketplace.

Get a secondary color, suckers!

[Lefty Specialist]

Mets � Willets Point wrote: It's an unlikely scenario, but the Mets could clinch the division as early as Sunday versus the Yankees. It would require the Mets continuing their winning streak for five more games while the Nats lose at least 5 of their 6 games. From the "Take Back the City" perspective it would be cool to clinch while playing the Yankees. On the downside there were probably be a ton of Yankees fans with tickets to the game, so that would limit the number of Mets fans who could be in attendance. So I'd be content with kicking the pants of the Yankees and the Mets clinching against the Braves in front of a stadium full of Mets fans.

Plus that Sunday game against the Yankees is on ESPN. I want Gary, Keith and Ron doing the clincher.

[TransMonk]

Yeah, I don't have beating the Yankees to a pulp as a priority. But, doing so would help make progress towards steps 1, 3 and 4 on that list.

Plus, I would like them to continue the roll they are on against a team that is better than the Phils, Braves and Fish.

[Edgy MD]

How about "Stay fresh and healthy" as number two?

[TransMonk]

[fimg=300:3n6u962i]http://freshhealthyvending.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/freshandhealthy-620x598.jpg[/fimg:3n6u962i]

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

Beating the Yankees would help ease those nagging voices in the back of the head saying things like "they're only beating crappy NL East teams, wait until they meet playoff contenders."

[Ceetar]

Mets � Willets Point wrote: Beating the Yankees would help ease those nagging voices in the back of the head saying things like "they're only beating crappy NL East teams, wait until they meet playoff contenders."

Except all 4(5) NL playoff teams are probably better than the Yankees.

[Frayed Knot]

Elster88 wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: Priorities for the remainder of the regular season (in order of importance, not time) 1) Clinch Division 2) Put a major hurting on the Yanx this weekend - hopefully to the point where it kills the division for them and puts the WC in jeopardy 3) Finish ahead of Dodgers 4) Try and catch the NL Central Winner The Yankee hatred is strong with this one. I have the Yankee-hurtin as a distant fourth on the priority chart.

Yankee hatred is in my blood.
That sweeping them would help us accomplish all the other goals on that list is a nice side effect.

[Gwreck]

Ceetar wrote: Except all 4(5) NL playoff teams are probably better than the Yankees.

Regardless of the validity of this claim, the Yankees certainly are the best team the Mets have faced since the trade deadline and it is a valid concern that we haven't see the Mets play against playoff-caliber opposition since July.


Edit: Second best-team. They played (and got swept) by the Pirates in August.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I used to post the standings in this thread semi-regularly earlier this season. Here are some stockpiled images I was certain I'd have the opportunity to post:

[fimg=444]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5652/21257316430_470e3a5fc6_o.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=364]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/697/21257316490_f1064fef9a_o.jpg[/fimg]

[fimg=444]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/658/21257316530_27f2900a49_o.jpg[/fimg]

Don't ask:

[fimg=544]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5622/21257316440_8831a863a3_o.jpg[/fimg]

I didn't anticipate and so had nuthin' for the Cespedes Babe Ruth show and the juggernaut that the Mets have transformed into.

[Frayed Knot]

I was thinking recently how this season most closely resembles 1969 in that the team that was on top much of the year faded in the end to the point where there was little drama by the final games.
The '69 Cubs were a better team than this year's Nats and meaning the Mets had more ground to make up and so by Game 144 (where we are now) had taken over 1st place only days earlier and were just 2.5 ahead.

	1969	2015
Record after 144 games	87 - 57	83 - 61
Games Ahead	+ 2.5	+ 9.5
Streak as of gm 144	9 Straight Wins en route to 10	8 Straight and counting
---	Season finished w/2 vs CHI	Season ends w/3 vs WAS
Final Margin	+8 Games	???

In fact Games 143 & 144 that year were the two famous 1-0 victories in a DH vs Pittsburgh where the pitcher drove in the run in each.
In the first, Koosman's 1-out single drove in Bobby Pfeil in the 4th as Kooz went on to hurl a 3-hit CG
Game two saw Don Cardwell single in Harrelson in the 2nd. He threw 8 innings of 4 hit ball w/help from McGraw in the 9th

[Edgy MD]

The thing is, though, that the Nats weren't on top most of the year. The Mets wuz.

Just, you know, slowly fading into the early summer.

[TransMonk]

The Pirates beat the Cubs in game one of a doubleheader today by a score of 5-4. The Mets are now officially in front of the Cubs in the overall NL standings.

The Pirates are now only two games back of the Cards....and five up on the Cubs.

[Lefty Specialist]

Ya know, I'd be rooting for St Loo to hold on. The Mets held their own against the Cards this year while getting annihilated by both the Pirates and Cubs. Having those two face each other in the knockout game is a good thing.

[TransMonk]

Agreed. Although, the Cubs haven't played today's Mets.

I don't any part of Pittsburgh.

[Benjamin Grimm]

That's my thought about the Cubs too. I probably fear Pittsburgh more than any other potential second-round opponent.

[Valadius]

Can I just say, it's absolutely amazing that the Mets now own a .500 away record? They're 37-37 after their early-season road troubles.

[Gwreck]

Rockies won against the Dodgers in 16 innings last night, so the Mets remain only a half-game behind LA.

[Lefty Specialist]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: That's my thought about the Cubs too. I probably fear Pittsburgh more than any other potential second-round opponent.

This. But in one game, the pitcher I fear most is Jake Arrietta. He'll go against the Pirates and hopefully knock them off. The rest of their pitching staff doesn't scare me that much (0-7 aside).

Having the 2 of the 3 best NL teams eliminated early is a nice quirk in the playoffs, if the Mets can take advantage.

[Gwreck]

Interesting question. Of the 5 NL teams that will make the playoffs in 2015, where do you rank the Mets?
Honestly? I see us as #3 at best, and maybe #4.

It doesn't mean we won't win the NLCS but I don't think it's unfair to consider it.

[Ceetar]

Gwreck wrote: Interesting question. Of the 5 NL teams that will make the playoffs in 2015, where do you rank the Mets? Honestly? I see us as #3 at best, and maybe #4. It doesn't mean we won't win the NLCS but I don't think it's unfair to consider it.

short series, small sample, anything is possible.

[dgwphotography]

Gwreck wrote: Interesting question. Of the 5 NL teams that will make the playoffs in 2015, where do you rank the Mets? Honestly? I see us as #3 at best, and maybe #4. It doesn't mean we won't win the NLCS but I don't think it's unfair to consider it.

We beat the Dodgers in the NLDS, beat the Cardinals in the NLCS*, and beat the Royals in the World Series.

*The winning run scores on a walk-off passed ball through the legs of Yadier F*cking Molina