USATSI_9578190_168381790_lowres

Game recap September 30: Jay Bruce got hot

Despite the Cardinals winning on a missed call on Thursday night, the Mets remained on the precipice of clinching – a win over the Phillies and a Pirate win over St. Louis would assure them at least one of the two wild card spots. With the postseason spot waiting to be claimed, Robert Gsellman got […]

MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets

Game Recap September 22: This Team Really Wants the Playoffs

One of the prevailing memes of the latter portion of this 2016 MLB season has been that nobody seems to want to win the National League Wild Card spots. The New York Mets, who we counted out of the playoffs in a staff post less than a month ago, clawed their way back into contention […]

MLB: Minnesota Twins at New York Mets

Game recap September 16: Bartolo Colon, down-ballot Cy Young candidate

With the Giants and Cardinals, the Mets’ two primary challengers for the two Wild Card spots, squaring off in San Francisco, the Mets had a prime opportunity to solidify their hold on a playoff spot against the lowly Twins. Bartolo Colon and his 3.27 ERA (his lowest mark since 2013 in Oakland) was opposed by […]

MLB: New York Mets at Atlanta Braves

Game recap September 10: As it turns out, the Mets can’t win them all

In summary: There are losses, heartbreaking losses that make you reconsider your fandom, make you wish you’d never stumbled across this stupid game in the first place. Then there are losses that probably wouldn’t have been losses if your team pinch ran for Wilmer Flores or didn’t trust Erik Goeddel in season-changing situations. Last night […]

MLB: New York Mets at Atlanta Braves

Game recap September 9: The Mets are never going to lose again

Though the Mets did not play on Thursday, they entered their Friday night game against the Braves (the start of their last ever series at Turner Field) with improved playoff position. Somehow, despite running single digit playoff odds a month ago, the Mets found themselves in sole possession of the second wild card after the […]

MLB: New York Mets at Cincinnati Reds

Game recap September 7: A little bit of talent and a lot of good luck

As someone who hadn’t watched the 2016 Reds before this series, I assumed they were a bad baseball team because they lacked talent. The matchup between hitters and pitchers is so individualistic that the whole is usually close to the sum of the parts (plus or minus luck). Players get years of professional instruction before […]

MLB: New York Mets at Cincinnati Reds

Game Recap September 6: Mets Continue Power Surge, Bullpen Bails Out Montero

The Mets hit four home runs and were backed by 4.2 innings of scoreless relief, defeating the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight win. Playing in front of a sparse crowd at Great American Ball Park, New York (73-66) remained one game behind in the NL Wild Card race following the […]

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets

Game recap September 4: I’ll be there for you

After splitting the first two games of their three game set, the Mets and Nationals squared off on ESPN (collective sigh) in the finale. Seth Lugo, owner of the best curveball spin rate in baseball and a 3.12 FIP through three major league starts, was opposed by young Nationals flamethrower Reynaldo Lopez. Though the division […]

MLB: Washington Nationals at New York Mets

Game recap September 3: Russian roulette

Since the Mets called up three more hitters than Las Vegas, it made me think of how much Terry Collins gambles every time he fills out the lineup card. Will Yoenis Cespedes be healthy enough to play? He gets in. But what about the other outfield positions? Jay Bruce did well before the trade. Michael […]