Benjamin Grimm

Cespedes 3 Clippard 0.25 Familia 0.25 Goeddel 1 Granderson 2 Matz 2.5 Reed 1

It may not make the most business sense, but I want them to sign his ass. Give him $300 million and 72 virgins. Whatever it takes.

I've been pondering that since 2008! I haven't yet figured it out.

What's there to say? Mets win in Atlanta. Nationals lose in Miami. The division lead grows to 8.5 games. The magic number drops from 16 to 14. The NHOP takes another dive as well, from .356 to .326, a new season low. DateMets RecordNationals RecordMets LeadMagic NumberGames RemainingNHOPAugust 356-5054-501571140.500August 457-5055-501561120.500August 558-5055-512541100.491August 658-5056-511.5541090.495August 759-5056-522.5521070.486August 859-5157-521.5521050.495August 959-5257-531.5511030.495August 1060-5258-531.5501010.495August 1161-5258-542.548990.485August 1262-5258-553.546970.474August 1363-5258-564.544950.463August 1463-5358-574.543930.462August 1563-5458-584.542910.462August 1663-5558-594.541890.461August 1763-5558-594.541890.461August 1864-5559-594.540870.460August 1964-5660-593.540850.471August 2064-5660-60439840.464August 2165-5660-61537820.451August 2266-5661-61536800.450August 2367-5662-61535780.449August 2468-5662-615.534770.442August 2569-5663-615.533750.440August 2670-5663-626.531730.425August 2771-5664-626.530710.423August 2871-5764-636.529690.420August 2971-5865-635.529670.433August 3072-5866-635.528650.431August 3173-5866-646.526630.413September 173-5966-656.525610.410September 274-5967-656.524590.407September 374-5968-65624580.414September 474-6069-65524560.429September 575-6070-65523540.426September 675-6171-65423520.442September 776-6171-66521500.420September 877-6171-67619480.396September 978-6171-68717460.370September 1079-6171-687.516450.356September 1180-6171-698.514430.326

Yoenis does it again, doubles home Granderson. Mets up 1-0. Nationals trail the Marlins by the same score.

Is he left-handed?

Braves announcers said there was some controversy in New York when the Mets gave number 32 to Steven Matz. It was apparently too much pressure to put on a left-handed Jewish pitcher. I have no memory of that. And I knew Matz was left-handed, but I didn't know he was Jewish.

I have an easier time, and have from the beginning, of accepting the Brewers in the National League than the Astros in the American League. I'm rooting against them; if the Mets get to the World Series this year I'd rather they didn't play the Astros; it wouldn't seem like a World Series. I'd rather see Kansas City or Toronto.

Okay, quiz is over! Every slot was guessed correctly except for one. The other Mets player who was penciled into a starting lineup in the 8th slot having already hit 18 home runs that season is Ryan Thompson, in 1994. Thanks for playing, and drive home safely! 1. (29 home runs) Mike Cameron, 2004 (HahnSolo) 2. (36 home runs) Howard Johnson, 1987 (dgwphotography) 3. (41 home runs) Carlos Beltran, 2006 (Centerfield) 4. (41 home runs) Todd Hundley, 1996 (Centerfield) 5. (37 home runs, 2 players) Dave Kingman, 1976 (Rockin' Doc) Carlos Delgado, 2008 (LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr) 6. (34 home runs) Howard Johnson, 1987 (dgwphotography) 7. (36 home runs) Howard Johnson, 1987 (Edgy MD) 8. (18 home runs, 2 players) Jose Valentin 2006 (Edgy MD), Ryan Thompson, 1994 9. (11 home runs) Wilmer Flores, 2015 (Centerfield)

For whatever it may be worth: Jon Heyman wrote: While Mets people won't discuss it publicly, word is they are expected to make a serious play for Cespedes, whose willingness to play center field has been a huge plus, not to mention all the well-timed bombs he's hitting. The reasons they're not talking about their intentions are two-fold: They don't want to set fans up for a potential disappointment, and they don't want to detract from what's transpiring on the field, which is nothing short of special. Just for the heck of it, what kind of contract might Cespedes get? I've been reading that he's looking to get between $120 and $150 million, but of course that's speculation. But over how many years? $150 million over six years? Five? I don't know if they'd be able to pull it off, but maybe they can do with him what the Marlins and the Blue Jays did with Reyes: sign him to a backloaded contract and trade him away before the later expensive years kick in. The problem is, you can't count on being able to deal a 34-year old player with a big contract.

Voting for Wednesday night's win in Washington will close over the weekend, but not before noon on Saturday. Schaefer POTG 9/09/15 - Mets 5, Nationals 3

Will that bumbling misanthrope Tom Koehler be pitching at all in this series?

I've forgotten all about Fernando Martinez. And I noticed how Lucas Duda is listed among the "others". He's definitely the guy in that article that most exceeded the expectations.

I'm going to take a shot, and say spots 2 & 6 were also HoJo in 87 Correct! Batting eighth... um... Jos� Valentin, 2006. Correct! 1. (29 home runs) Mike Cameron, 2004 (HahnSolo) 2. (36 home runs) Howard Johnson, 1987 (dgwphotography) 3. (41 home runs) Carlos Beltran, 2006 (Centerfield) 4. (41 home runs) Todd Hundley, 1996 (Centerfield) 5. (37 home runs, 2 players) Dave Kingman, 1976 (Rockin' Doc) Carlos Delgado, 2008 (LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr) 6. (34 home runs) Howard Johnson, 1987 (dgwphotography) 7. (36 home runs) Howard Johnson, 1987 (Edgy MD) 8. (18 home runs, 2 players) Jose Valentin 2006 (Edgy MD) 9. (11 home runs) Wilmer Flores, 2015 (Centerfield) We just need one more, the guy who shares the 8 spot with Jose Valentin. Hint: He came to the Mets in a trade that included two very prominent names.

No to Derek Bell for 8 and Carlos Beltran for 2, but yes to Mike Cameron for 1. 1. (29 home runs) Mike Cameron, 2004 (HahnSolo) 2. (36 home runs) 3. (41 home runs) Carlos Beltran, 2006 (Centerfield) 4. (41 home runs) Todd Hundley, 1996 (Centerfield) 5. (37 home runs, 2 players) Dave Kingman, 1976 (Rockin' Doc) Carlos Delgado, 2008 (LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr) 6. (34 home runs) 7. (36 home runs) Howard Johnson, 1987 (Edgy MD) 8. (18 home runs, 2 players) 9. (11 home runs) Wilmer Flores, 2015 (Centerfield)

Some correct answers have been posted. (I'm going to assume that "Carlos Skinny" is "Carlos Delgado" for LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr's guess for the 5 spot.) Carlos Beltran is not the correct answer for #2. 1. (29 home runs) 2. (36 home runs) 3. (41 home runs) Carlos Beltran, 2006 (Centerfield) 4. (41 home runs) Todd Hundley, 1996 (Centerfield) 5. (37 home runs, 2 players) Dave Kingman, 1976 (Rockin' Doc) Carlos Delgado, 2008 (LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr) 6. (34 home runs) 7. (36 home runs) Howard Johnson, 1987 (Edgy MD) 8. (18 home runs, 2 players) 9. (11 home runs) Wilmer Flores, 2015 (Centerfield) We're still looking for four more answers, one each for 1, 2, and 6 and two for 8. Remember, one of the players is represented on the list three times.

d'Kong76 wrote: Wasn't even thinking that, I thought maybe it was some Atlanta thing that I wasn't aware of. Me too. I thought that everyone in the stands would be wearing Whistler's Mother hats.

Alvarez 1 Colon 4 Plawecki 2.5 Uribe 2.5

Baseball Prospectus update: The Mets odds for winning the NL East are now at 98.8%. They're at 0.0% for the wild card. (The Nationals and Giants each have less than 1 per cent chance at the wild card. The only teams with significant wild card odds are in the NL Central: Cardinals 13.4%, Pirates 88.7%, and the Cubs, 97.1%. Interesting that the Cubs, who are 2.5 games behind Pittsburgh and 7 games behind St. Louis, have the best wild card odds. Of course, the thing that reduces the Cardinals' odds of winning a wild card berth is their likelihood of winning the division title. Their odds for the NL Central title are currently at 86.6%.) World Championship odds for current division leaders. Mets have reached a new high, of 11.1%. Their most likely first-round opponent, the Dodgers, have the best odds of all. Dodgers 18.7% Blue Jays 16.2% Astros 14.8% Mets 11.1% Royals 9.0% Cardinals 8.4% NL East Tragic Numbers: [crossout:3afptlu9]Phillies[/crossout:3afptlu9], [crossout:3afptlu9]Braves[/crossout:3afptlu9], Marlins 3, Nationals 16.

The Nationals had the day off yesterday and the Mets won in Atlanta. The magic number drops to 16, and the NHOP continues to plummet, going from .370 to .356, a new season low. The Mets lead the National League East by 7.5 games, with 22 games remaining on the schedule. DateMets RecordNationals RecordMets LeadMagic NumberGames RemainingNHOPAugust 356-5054-501571140.500August 457-5055-501561120.500August 558-5055-512541100.491August 658-5056-511.5541090.495August 759-5056-522.5521070.486August 859-5157-521.5521050.495August 959-5257-531.5511030.495August 1060-5258-531.5501010.495August 1161-5258-542.548990.485August 1262-5258-553.546970.474August 1363-5258-564.544950.463August 1463-5358-574.543930.462August 1563-5458-584.542910.462August 1663-5558-594.541890.461August 1763-5558-594.541890.461August 1864-5559-594.540870.460August 1964-5660-593.540850.471August 2064-5660-60439840.464August 2165-5660-61537820.451August 2266-5661-61536800.450August 2367-5662-61535780.449August 2468-5662-615.534770.442August 2569-5663-615.533750.440August 2670-5663-626.531730.425August 2771-5664-626.530710.423August 2871-5764-636.529690.420August 2971-5865-635.529670.433August 3072-5866-635.528650.431August 3173-5866-646.526630.413September 173-5966-656.525610.410September 274-5967-656.524590.407September 374-5968-65624580.414September 474-6069-65524560.429September 575-6070-65523540.426September 675-6171-65423520.442September 776-6171-66521500.420September 877-6171-67619480.396September 978-6171-68717460.370September 1079-6171-687.516450.356

Zvon wrote: I wouldn't mind at all if this one was rained out. I think we all need a break. Then there will be a doubleheader in the next few days.

SCHAEFER METS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK, 2015 Week ending April 11, 2015: Travis d'Arnaud, 4.86 points. Week ending April 18, 2015: Lucas Duda, 8.80 points. Week ending April 25, 2015: Matt Harvey, 6.45 points. Week ending May 2, 2015: Daniel Murphy, 8.63 points. Week ending May 9, 2015: Bartolo Colon, 4.92 points. Week ending May 16, 2015: Wilmer Flores, 6.25 points. Week ending May 23, 2015: Noah Syndergaard, 5.95 points. Week ending May 30, 2015: Lucas Duda, 7.14 points. Week ending June 6, 2015: Bartolo Colon, 8.43 points. Week ending June 13, 2015: Jacob deGrom, 8.08 points. Week ending June 20, 2015: Matt Harvey, 4.94 points. Week ending June 27, 2015: Matt Harvey, 7.52 points. Week ending July 4, 2015: Steven Matz, 6.00 points. Week ending July 11, 2015: Jacob deGrom, 5.82 points. Week ending July 18, 2015: Kirk Nieuwenhuis, 6.08 points. Week ending July 25, 2015: Bartolo Colon, 5.15 points. Week ending August 1, 2015: Lucas Duda, 12.32 points. Week ending August 8, 2015: Curtis Granderson, 7.28 points. Week ending August 15, 2015: Daniel Murphy, 5.64 points. Week ending August 22, 2015: Yoenis Céspedes, 6.34 points. Week ending August 29, 2015: Logan Verrett, 5.95 points. Week ending September 5, 2015: Bartolo Colon, 11.37 points.

It's the number of home runs that the player had when he started the game. Wilmer Flores had 16 home runs when he batted eighth last night, but he didn't hit 16 home runs from the number 8 slot. If Lucas Duda, for example, were to start in the 9th spot tonight, he'd immediately set the record for that slot with the 21 homers that he already has.

National Weather Service wrote: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 9pm. Cloudy, with a low around 69. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.