Sep 10 2008
Quietly
Given the fact that my posts on this very blog – specifically those predicting that the Mets would now easily win the NL East – were directly responsible for a massive jinx and late-season collapse, I’ve been cautious about any postings this season. I noted the Mets’ season changing winning streak right before the All Star Break, but I’ve otherwise suffered in silence, watching Manuel put together a passibly good team, and watching Delgado make a bid for MVP. So tonight I’ll right, with the Mets enjoying their largest lead of the season thus far, though that lead is only 3.5 games over the Phillies, who overcame a 7 game deficit last year.
I won’t predict that the Mets will win the East, but I will say that they’ve quietly assembled an interesting set of weapons, and an offensive line-up that any team in the NL would do well to fear. Their absolute thrashing of the Brewers last week was a wake-up call for the NL: if the Mets hold on to the East and claim a spot, you shouldn’t expect them to go out easily. These last few weeks have also seen the Cubs stagnant (they were damn lucky, in fact, that the Mets walked into Milwaukee when they did), and the Brewers limping along, so the Mets, a sub-500 team until just before the break, are within shooting distance of the NL leaderboard’s top spot. The Phillies will have their own chance against the Brewers this week – and at home. It’s a crucial series for them. They’ve lost three straight since pulling within a half game of the Mets, so any continued backsliding might be demoralizing as October looms. The Mets, for their part, will have to stay focused and try to pull a few games while the Phils struggle with Milwaukee. I said earlier this year that the wild card team would certainly come out of the NL Central, since St. Louis, Milwaukee, and the Cubbies were all leaps and bounds ahead of the East and West teams at the time. Now I’m not so sure. If the Phils sweep the Brew Crew, and the Mets put together some wins as well, that would place both Philly and NY in shooting distance or past the Brews record. What we’ve actually seen these last three weeks, in addition to strong play in the NL East, is the collapsing fortunes of the NL Central. With all the hype and amazing play by the Cubs, any further erosion of the now expected World Series bid will seriously bum this town out. I’ll be wearing the Orange and Blue though, so I won’t be too sad about it…
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