Gwreck

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Screw you, Chapman.

Astros >>> Twins. Keep it up.

Out of the four remaining teams, preferred choices to win the World Series, ranked: 1. Houston 100. St Louis 999. Washington

Good news: Two loathsome teams - the Braves and Dodgers - were eliminated. Bad news: can only eliminate one of two this round...

=bmfc1 post_id=24087 time=1570654622 user_id=73] =Gwreck post_id=24085 time=1570653916 user_id=56] Odds that the Atlanta fans do it anyway even if not prompted by the video board?

Odds that the Atlanta fans do it anyway even if not prompted by the video board?

It's the “stuck in the middle” philosophy that is the problem. There is no appetite for a full scale tear-down and rebuild. We'll call this the Houston model. Because not that long ago, Houston had six losing seasons in a row, including 3 consecutive seasons of 100+ losses. That's a lot of draft picks and chances to develop a winning base of young talent, but 6 years of losing is also a long time. The Mets, as you might recall, also endured 6 losing seasons from 2009-2014. But instead of rebuilding, there were instead half-measures towards winning, which predictably didn't work out. And while there were a few moves made towards rebuilding (Beltran trade, Dickey trade), so much more could have been done. Reyes walked with no compensation; Wright was resigned, etc. So then there is also the Dodgers/Red Sox model, in which money is no object at adding necessary parts to existing talent. To be fair, the Mets did develop some really good players over the past few years: deGrom, Conforto, Alonso, etc. But management is unwilling to take the next steps to embrace the LA/Red Sox model either. This is the saddest part of having had the six losing seasons followed by 2015: there was a real opportunity to capitalize on a set of young, cost-controlled starting pitchers that could drive sustained success. But perish the thought of spending money on offense or depth.

And because of that, even as much as we hate the Nationals, bouncing the Dodgers early is really not a bad thing at all. With nothing but bad NL options, having the Cardinals (?) lose in the World Series (to Tampa, Houston, or Minnesota) is, I guess, the best possible outcome.

Washington using Scherzer to close the game with a 2 run lead in the eighth. He's supposed to start Game 3 on Sunday.

I remember thinking to myself "How can this team be a playoff contender?" They got to play a lot of absolutely terrible teams. 14-4 against the 114-loss Tigers. 14-4 against the 103-loss Royals. 13-6 against the 89-loss White Sox. 6-0 against the 108-loss Orioles. 5-2 against the 94-loss Mariners.

That point was made because these threads inevitably become a mix of discussing what the Mets should do, and considering what the Mets are likely to do. I suspect we don't disagree on what they should do.

I don't know where everyone got the idea that the Mets would give up Nimmo in a deal for Betts. I'm of the opinion that the salary relief plus additional year of control plus that power pitchers are harder to find means that Syndergaard would be the biggest piece to give up. And I could certainly see Smith being added as well, but not Nimmo. Vic's not wrong that Betts is more valuable but any trade is for only one year of Betts. He's going to test the FA market and get paid accordingly after 2020.

Frayed Knot wrote: On the subject of dumb fans: - why do folks in the front row feel the need to stand up during tense moments? You do realize that it causes everyone else to NEED to stand up simply because you choose to! I'd have a real tough time criticizing anyone for standing during a playoff game. Even if they're in the front row.

Can't believe they didn't bring in Doolittle to close.

Uecker (listening on radio) said the Taylor HBP night have been wrong call but not enough video evidence to overturn.

=Centerfield post_id=23467 time=1569977090 user_id=65] The Milwaukee fans gave the racist, homophobic, pitcher a standing ovation when he returned. They didn't forgive him. They didn't begrudgingly take him back. They gave him a standing fucking ovation. I suspect that scene sticks in the minds of minorities more than the average white fan.

August 13, 2010. Mets vs Phillies. Mets were hanging around .500 but going nowhere, and the Phillies were in the middle of their 5 consecutive division title run. Dickey pitching for the Mets: throws a one-hit, one walk shutout. Mets win 1-0. Game also featured Mike Hessman losing a home run to replay (became a triple).

Couple of things: This idea came up from Tim Britton of the Athletics yesterday; not an original thought by me. I think that Syndergaard is actually about as much as the Mets would need to offer to get the deal done, because the team acquiring Betts gets one year at whatever his arbitration salary is (figure $25-30M). Send back Syndergaard (2 years control, less money) and you're not off from a fair deal. Maybe you include Dom Smith. Betts is an out-of-the-box idea, but there are very limited options that improve defense while not being completely useless on offense (eg. Lagares, Keon Braxton). Betts would be the best defensive outfielder on the Mets, and with Conforto in left, Nimmo in right, and McNeil back in the infield, that's the defensive upgrade we are looking for without also sacrificing a spot in the lineup. Obviously this move also requires re-signing Wheeler and then finding another starter to replace Syndergaard. And it is a one-year plan.

Brewers are my preferred team for the entire postseason. Slim pickings on the NL side.

Vic Sage wrote: In all seriousness... see, that's the problem. Why shouldn't it be a serious notion that the Mets sign Cole? I mean i know why its not, but $$ is not an acceptable answer for a NYC franchise with a mid-market budget. For the record, I think the Mets should sign Cole, re-sign Wheeler, sign Rendon, and trade Syndergaard to the Red Sox for Mookie Betts (and if they have to include Smith or Davis too, fine).

Hey, they want to replace Wheeler with Gerrit Cole, that's fine by me. In all seriousness, I could accept a circumstance in which Wheeler is re-signed and Syndergaard is traded for a useful piece (say, if the Red Sox want to trade Mookie Betts). But it would be real dumb to break up this rotation otherwise.

Did it? It seemed to me he did a poor job managing sentimental concerns and competition concerns, and just wound up lucky in the end.

Regular season only, yes? If we include postseason, World Series Game 3. First pitch from Syndergaard, Wright homer, we all know that one. Regular season nomination: August 2, 2015. Mets 5, Nationals 2. 8 innings from Syndergaard. Noah gives up a first inning solo homer, but Mets get homers from Granderson, Murphy, and Duda in the 3rd. Better game than the famous Flores Walk-off in my opinion. Seals the sweep and the Mets are off to their first division title in 9 years.

=G-Fafif post_id=23325 time=1569806550 user_id=55] Been to 276 regular-season games at Citi Field. Lotta good ones, but this one, the 276th, had to be my favorite.

As good a way to end it.