Benjamin Grimm

Me too. (Assuming that Syndergaard is in the postseason rotation. We'll have to see how his September goes.)

Cespedes 2 Johnson 1

Okay, the Mets were down 6-0, and Terry probably had Parnell warming up because a game with a six-run deficit is a realistic time to give him an inning to see what he can do. But when the Mets scored four runs, Terry should have shifted gears. It's now a two-run game, and momentum is in the Mets favor, but Terry brings in a pitcher who had a 7.71 ERA in August. When that doesn't work out, he substitutes a pitcher who had a 12.86 ERA in August. The third pitcher of the inning is a guy who had a 5.91 ERA in August. He was managing that inning like a guy who had money on the Phillies.

Yesterday was a bad day for the Mets on the field, but a worse day for the Nationals, which, on balance, makes it a good day for the Mets. We're one day closer to the end of the season, and the Mets maintained their 6.5-game lead, reducing the magic number from 26 to 25, and the NHOP from .413 to .410. 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 173-5966-656.525610.410

Somehow this thread missed Cespedes, who was number 1,005.

Zvon wrote: The consensus is that after just inching in the direction of a comeback @ 6-4, this was not the spot to test Parnell. I say, then when would that spot be? How about in a game where the margin is much greater than two runs?

Well yeah, geez. Any discussion of the future is speculation.

O'Flaherty in for Parnell. Frying pan. Fire. Go Cardinals!

Zvon wrote: And he's our lefty vet, so he will be in all projected rotations. I expect this is just a blip for Niese, but that remains to be seen. Well, two things: 1. I don't think a lefty is really necessary in a starting rotation. 2. Don't forget Steven Matz.

I don't think we're assuming anything. Read the very first sentence of this thread.

To Meet the Mets! All the fans are true... (Oops... sorry, I thought we were doing a singalong.)

This is shaping up to be a helluva year!

Gwreck wrote: They still care about getting best-overall record I think. Yeah, that could be it. The Royals' lead over Toronto is the same 6.5 games that the Mets lead Washington by.

The Royals hardly seem to be a team that needs help for September, and Gomes wouldn't be available to them in the postseason. Could this be an acquisition made with an eye toward 2016?

You're right. Phillies tragic number has been corrected. Thanks!

According to Baseball Prospectus, the Mets odds to win the division are now at 93.5 per cent, and their wild card odds have increased to 0.4 per cent. Odds to win the World Series are at 9.3 per cent. Baseball Prospectus World Championship odds for current first-place teams: Dodgers 16.1% Blue Jays 15.6% Astros 14.8% Cardinals 11.0% Mets 9.3% Royals 9.3% In the race for home field advantage in the NLDS (if the matchups remain as they currently are) the Mets are a half game behind the Dodgers. (Mets are 73-58, Dodgers are 73-57.) NL East Tragic Numbers update: Phillies 10, Marlins 11, Braves 13, Nationals 26. (EDITED TO FIX PHILLIES TRAGIC NUMBER)

Yes. Definitely. We'll all breathe a lot easier if those games are meaningless. (At least as far as the division title goes. Home field advantage in the playoffs is important but not nail-bitingly important.)

You know, I've already forgotten all about Lucas Duda. If he comes back healthy and productive, it will be a real bonus.

Voting for all three games played against the Red Sox this past weekend will close on Wednesday morning, some time after 10 a.m. Schaefer POTG 8/28/15 - Red Sox 6, Mets 4 (10 Innings) Schaefer POTG 8/29/15 - Red Sox 3, Mets 1 Schaefer POTG 8/30/15 - Mets 5, Red Sox 4

A magic number of zero is collapse-proof. Collapse-resistant is a place where collapses are unlikely, but still possible. (Like 2007.)

Anthony McCarron in the Daily News today says that Matz may start for the Mets in Miami this weekend. They want to take today to gauge his recovery from yesterday's start.

Absolutely. The Mets need to keep the magic number (and the NHOP!) dropping to keep their lead as collapse-resistant as possible. Every Washington loss is just as important as every Mets win.

I hope so too! But I do understand that it was necessary.

I think they went with Reed instead because it's much easier to spell.