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.