Benjamin Grimm

Maybe when this is over you can Photoshop the winning cover onto the side of a Helsinki skyscraper.

Sixteen. The intervals are getting longer: 1973 to 1986: 13 years. 1986 to 2000: 14 years. 2000 to 2015: 15 years.

Exactly. My next goal is to have them win, for the first time, two consecutive division titles. I won't concern myself with getting to or winning the World Series until they clinch a playoff spot. First things first.

Or they may continue to be a good (or very good) team for the next five years but miss the World Series each time. There's no point in fretting about the possibilities. Let's just hope they field a good team each year, and if they make it into October, we root for them just like we did this year. Nothing is guaranteed. We shouldn't expect anything to be guaranteed.

You'll have to take that up with the people in Stockholm.

I'm guessing that Ashie's perspective comes with age, and if so, I can relate to that.

I guess we've learned that fuckface's name is "Salvador Perez"

Ceetar wrote: it's specifically an inning/PA count. No, it's more than that: Determining rookie status: A player shall be considered a rookie unless, during a previous season or seasons, he has (a) exceeded 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues; or ( accumulated more than 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club or clubs during the period of 25-player limit (excluding time in the military service and time on the disabled list). I guess Matz probably didn't have 45 days on the active roster before September 1.

Reynolds maybe? Nimmo?

Does Matz retain his rookie status? I know he's under the innings limit, but I don't know if his DL time counts as days of service.

Granderson. Before yesterday's game, I was thinking that (if the Mets had won) the most likely winner would have been Syndergaard, for his performance in Game 3 and (if the Mets had won) his performance in Game 7.

The voting will be here, starting tomorrow (Tuesday, November 3).

Edgy MD wrote: FWIW, there's no need to be firing anybody. Terry's contract expires at the end of this season. He has a 2016 option, but letting him go is as easy as willing it. That's true. But it will be spun as a firing anyway.

Updated through the conclusion of the 2015 World Series. BATTING LEADERS Games Played 24 - Edgardo Alfonzo, Robin Ventura, =#0000BF]David Wright 22 - Benny Agbayani, Mike Piazza 20 - Gary Carter, Lenny Dykstra, Jerry Grote, Bud Harrelson, Keith Hernandez, Cleon Jones, Darryl Strawberry At Bats 100 - Edgardo Alfonzo 91 - =#0000BF]David Wright 87 - Robin Ventura Runs 15 - Edgardo Alfonzo 14 - Cleon Jones 13 - Lenny Dykstra, =#0000BF]Daniel Murphy, Darryl Strawberry Hits 26 - Edgardo Alfonzo 23 - Cleon Jones 22 - Mike Piazza Doubles 8 - Edgardo Alfonzo 7 - Cleon Jones 6 - Benny Agbayani, Mike Piazza, Todd Zeile Triples 1 - Edgardo Alfonzo, Gary Carter, Lenny Dykstra, =#0000BF]Wilmer Flores, Don Hahn, Bud Harrelson, Keith Hernandez, Felix Millan, Jose Reyes Home Runs 7 - =#0000BF]Daniel Murphy 5 - Mike Piazza 4 - Edgardo Alfonzo, Carlos Delgado, Lenny Dykstra, Rusty Staub, Darryl Strawberry Runs Batted In 17 - Edgardo Alfonzo 15 - Gary Carter 13 - =#0000BF]David Wright Total Bases 48 - Edgardo Alfonzo 43 - Mike Piazza 42 - =#0000BF]Daniel Murphy Bases on Balls 17 - Robin Ventura 15 - =#0000BF]David Wright 14 - Benny Agbayani, Keith Hernandez Strikeouts 28 - =#0000BF]David Wright 23 - Darryl Strawberry 20 - =#0000BF]Lucas Duda PITCHING LEADERS Games 15 - Armando Benitez, John Franco 13 - Turk Wendell 12 - =#0000BF]Jeurys Familia Wins 4 - Jerry Koosman 3 - =#0000BF]Jacob deGrom, Jesse Orosco, Tom Seaver, Turk Wendell 2 - John Franco, Tom Glavine, Mike Hampton, =#0000BF]Matt Harvey, Jon Matlack, Randy Myers, Bob Ojeda, =#0000BF]Noah Syndergaard Losses 3 - Dwight Gooden, Kenny Rogers, Tom Seaver 2 - Ron Darling, Sid Fernandez, Mike Hampton, Al Leiter, Jon Matlack, Harry Parker 1 - =#0000BF]Tyler Clippard, =#0000BF]Bartolo Colon, David Cone, =#0000BF]Jacob deGrom, Tom Glavine, Aaron Heilman, Bobby Jones, =#0000BF]Steven Matz, Roger McDowell, =#0000BF]Addison Reed, Rick Reed, =#0000BF]Noah Syndergaard, Steve Trachsel, Billy Wagner, Turk Wendell, Masato Yoshii Innings Pitched 53.2 - Tom Seaver 44.4 - Al Leiter 44.1 - Dwight Gooden Games Started 7 - Al Leiter, Tom Seaver 6 - Ron Darling, Dwight Gooden, Jerry Koosman 5 - Rick Reed Complete Games 2 - Jerry Koosman, Tom Seaver 1 - David Cone, Mike Hampton, Bobby Jones, Jon Matlack, Bob Ojeda Shutouts 1 - Mike Hampton, Bobby Jones, Jon Matlack Saves 5 - =#0000BF]Jeurys Familia 3 - Armando Benitez, Tug McGraw, Billy Wagner 2 - Jesse Orosco, Ron Taylor Bases on Balls 17 - Dwight Gooden 16 - Ron Darling, Al Leiter 15 - Jerry Koosman Strikeouts 46 - Tom Seaver 40 - Al Leiter 38 - Dwight Gooden Hits Allowed 45 - Tom Seaver 43 - Dwight Gooden 33 - Al Leiter Runs Allowed 20 - Al Leiter 18 - Dwight Gooden, Tom Seaver 17 - Ron Darling Earned Runs Allowed 18 - Al Leiter 17 - Tom Seaver 16 - Dwight Gooden Home Runs Allowed 5 - Tom Seaver 4 - Dwight Gooden, Jerry Koosman 3 - Ron Darling, Sid Fernandez, Bobby Jones, Al Leiter, Jon Matlack, Oliver Perez, Rick Reed

In 2006, as the Mets approached the postseason, I started collecting images of Mets-related tabloid front and back pages from The Daily News, The New York Post, and Newsday. These images can be viewed in an album that's available on the UMDB Facebook page. For 2015, I decided to do the same thing, but got a bit carried away. Instead of collecting images from the Mets run through the postseason in October (and November) my collection includes covers from the early days of spring training. The exact number may change a little bit, but at the moment the count is 362 images. (131 from the Daily News, 123 from the Post, and 108 from Newsday.) I have (I think) every Mets cover from all three papers since February 1. Since we love to vote on stuff around here, I've decided to make a contest out of this extensive gallery. Which of these many covers do we like the best? Starting tomorrow, there will be a series of polls that will allow us to vote on our favorite covers. This will allow us to relive the 2015 Mets season, will give us something additional to talk about as the days grow shorter, and allow us to vote on stuff! Here's how it will work. I've divided the gallery into four groups: February through May; June and July; August and September; October and November. We'll start by voting, in stages, on the first group. Each voting thread will have roughly between 8 and 12 covers to choose from. In each thread, you'll be able to vote for one, two, or three covers (your choice) and those that get the most votes will proceed to the next round. There are no tie-breakers in the first round; if two or more covers end with a tie, each co-winner will advance to the second round. Eventually we'll have a winner in each of the four groups, which will set us up for a Final Four. Each voting thread will remain open for seven days. Feel free to vote using whatever criteria you prefer. It can be on the overall artistic merit of the graphic design. It can be on the wittiness of the headline. Or on how much you like the photo. Or on the memories it evokes. Or any other criteria that comes to mind. I hope this will be fun. I guess we'll find out! The Tabloid Cover Derby winning cover will be blown up to poster size and displayed in the lobby of the CPF's international headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden!

Updated through the conclusion of the 2015 World Series. BATTING LEADERS Games Played 12 - Jerry Grote, Bud Harrelson, Cleon Jones 9 - Wayne Garrett 7 - Gary Carter, Lenny Dykstra, Don Hahn, Keith Hernandez, Felix Millan, John Milner, Rafael Santana, Rusty Staub, Darryl Strawberry, Mookie Wilson At Bats 49 - Jerry Grote 47 - Cleon Jones 41 - Bud Harrelson Runs 7 - Cleon Jones 6 - =#0000BF]Curtis Granderson 4 - Wally Backman, Gary Carter, Donn Clendenon, Lenny Dykstra, Wayne Garrett, Ray Knight, Darryl Strawberry Hits 12 - Jerry Grote 11 - Cleon Jones, Rusty Staub 9 - Bud Harrelson, Ray Knight Doubles 3 - Cleon Jones 2 - Benny Agabyani, Gary Carter, Jerry Grote, Mike Piazza, Rusty Staub, Todd Zeile 1 - Kurt Abbott, Ed Charles, Donn Clendenon, =#0000BF]Travis d'Arnaud, Gary Gentry, Don Hahn, Bud Harrelson, Ray Knight, Jerry Koosman, Felix Millan, Darryl Strawberry, Ron Swoboda, Tim Teufel, Robin Ventura, Mookie Wilson Triples 1 - Don Hahn, Felix Millan Home Runs 3 - Donn Clendenon, =#0000BF]Curtis Granderson 2 - Gary Carter, =#0000BF]Michael Conforto, Lenny Dykstra, Wayne Garrett, Mike Piazza 1 - Tommie Agee, Cleon Jones, Ray Knight, Ed Kranepool, Jay Payton, Rusty Staub, Darryl Strawberry, Tim Teufel, Robin Ventura, Al Weis, =#0000BF]David Wright Runs Batted In 9 - Gary Carter 6 - Rusty Staub 5 - =#0000BF]Curtis Granderson, Ray Knight Total Bases 17 - Cleon Jones 16 - Gary Carter, Rusty Staub 15 - Donn Clendenon Bases on Balls 8 - Bud Harrelson 7 - Wayne Garrett 5 - Keith Hernandez, John Milner Strikeouts 12 - Wayne Garrett 8 - =#0000BF]David Wright 7 - =#0000BF]Lucas Duda, Lenny Dykstra, Bud Harrelson, Jerry Koosman, =#0000BF]Daniel Murphy PITCHING LEADERS Games 5 - Roger McDowell, Tug McGraw, =#0000BF]Addison Reed 4 - =#0000BF]Jeurys Familia, John Franco, Jerry Koosman, =#0000BF]Jon Niese, Jesse Orosco, Ray Sadecki, Tom Seaver 3 - Armando Benitez, =#0000BF]Tyler Clippard, =#0000BF]Bartolo Colon, Dennis Cook, Ron Darling, Sid Fernandez, Jon Matlack, Harry Parker, Glendon Rusch Wins 3 - Jerry Koosman 1 - Rick Aguilera, Ron Darling, John Franco, Gary Gentry, Jon Matlack, Roger McDowell, Tug McGraw, Bob Ojeda, Tom Seaver, =#0000BF]Noah Syndergaard Losses 2 - Dwight Gooden, Jon Matlack, Tom Seaver 1 - =#0000BF]Tyler Clippard, =#0000BF]Bartolo Colon, Ron Darling, =#0000BF]Jacob deGrom, Mike Hampton, Bobby Jones, Al Leiter, Harry Parker, =#0000BF]Addison Reed, Turk Wendell Innings Pitched 30.0 - Tom Seaver 26.1 - Jerry Koosman 17.2 - Ron Darling Games Started 4 - Jerry Koosman, Tom Seaver 3 - Ron Darling, Jon Matlack 2 - Dwight Gooden, =#0000BF]Matt Harvey, Al Leiter, Bob Ojeda Complete Games 1 - Jerry Koosman, Tom Seaver Shutouts None. Saves 2 - Jesse Orosco 1 - Armando Benitez, Tug McGraw, Nolan Ryan, Ray Sadecki, George Stone, Ron Taylor Bases on Balls 11 - Jerry Koosman 10 - Ron Darling 9 - Tug McGraw Strikeouts 27 - Tom Seaver 17 - Jerry Koosman 16 - Al Leiter Hits Allowed 25 - Tom Seaver 17 - Dwight Gooden 16 - Jerry Koosman Runs Allowed 10 - Dwight Gooden 9 - Tom Seaver 7 - Jerry Koosman, Jon Matlack Earned Runs Allowed 9 - Tom Seaver 8 - Dwight Gooden 7 - Jerry Koosman Home Runs Allowed 2 - Ron Darling, Dwight Gooden, Jerry Koosman, Al Leiter, Jon Matlack 1 - Rick Aguilera, =#0000BF]Jeurys Familia, Mike Hampton, =#0000BF]Matt Harvey, Bobby Jones, Tom Seaver

Yeah, I think they'll spend. I think they'll bring in an outfielder to replace Cespedes and an infielder (SS or 2B) to replace Murphy. And they'll sign some bullpen guys.

I hope so, but too much is unknown at this point. Let's see what the team looks like on January 1. And more importantly, on April 1.

I agree 100 per cent with all three points. And that's what I was thinking as the events unfolded, not just with hindsight. While I rationally know that the next guy would likely be just as frustrating, I hope Terry doesn't come back. Nice guy, and I'm happy he got to manage in the postseason, but I hope they meet with him and he decides to retire as a National League Champion. (He can have a last hurrah at the All-Star Game next summer.) And if he doesn't want to do that, they can fire him.

Lefty Specialist wrote: First time in a long time that there's no embarrassment attached to being a Mets fan. That really should rarely, if ever, be the case.

I was okay with Harvey taking the mound in the ninth. I assumed the deal was, okay Matt, go get them, but as soon as there's a baserunner we're going to Familia. I was surprised that Harvey stayed in to pitch to Hosmer.

It was a great season. Nothing but positive feelings about the 2015 Mets. A lot of big decisions pending regarding the 2016 team. I'm looking forward to seeing how they play out.

cooby wrote: Where is everyone anyway? At a concert?

I believe they have a chance. Being certain of eventual victory would require a level of self delusion that's beyond my capability.

Edgy MD wrote: Somebody who, preferably, had a different, more sensible notion about bullpen usage. But who? It's more than Terry. It's the culture. I know. And that's just as frustrating as watching Terry overmanage his bullpen.