Mets Merized Online - Get Metsmerized

Remember when you were a small child and your favorite holiday was right around the corner? How fun was the anticipation, the excitement, the feeling that it was special because you knew it wouldn’t come again for a long time? For me it was Christmas. I would count down the days as soon as the calendar hit December.

For Mets fans, we get that same type of excitement when October rolls around. If the Mets are in the playoffs– and we know that they are good enough to be there, should be there and will be completely devastated if they aren’t there – it’s like a holiday for as long as they are playing.

But unlike Christmas, the Mets playing in October is not a guarantee. Should you have told me that a month ago, I would have believed you about as much as I believed in Santa Claus in my early teenage years.

But sloppy defense, poor pitching and unclutch performances at the plate have left Mets fans wondering if the season will be ending on the final day of September. Instead of worrying ourselves sick for the next two weeks, let’s try and take this slide we have been witnessing as a positive. Crazy? Maybe not.

If the Mets do end up making the playoffs, which I still firmly believe they will, they will have had to do something right over the next two weeks. To get in they will have to find ways to win ball games, at a time when that has been very difficult for them.

Remember last season when they coasted into October?

They did not have a true meaningful game over the final month of the season. Was this a problem? Perhaps. They lost to a team with a much inferior record in the NLCS. Of course it is only speculation, but not having much to play for in September can’t be good for a team. It has to be hard to all of a sudden turn things on after being on cruise control for weeks.

Now if the Mets can find a way to turn things around over the next few weeks they will have newfound confidence knowing they were able to win when the going gets tough. Last night's win was a good start. That is exactly what playoff baseball is all about - winning when you absolutely have to.

The playoffs essentially start now for Willie Randolph’s club. If they can win their way in, they will roll into October feeling not only good about themselves, but confident and ready for the ultimate pressure.

We have to keep the faith over the next few weeks. If we look at the end of September as an extended playoff run rather than (that word that starts with ‘coll’ and ends with ‘apse’) we will all be in a better place mentally.

Go ahead and start crossing off the days on your Mets schedule as if you were a kid again waiting for your big day. The Mets will be delivering the best present you can hope for next month.

Comments

ha ha I've made this exact statement 7 times now and backed it up with the facts that show clinching early since the wild card and extra playoff round has resulted in bad post season performance.

Here again is what I have posted 6 times before.

Since the Wild Card was added in 1995 most teams that clinch early do not fair well in the post season. From 2000 to 2006, 3 of the 56 playoff teams clinch a playoff spot with two or more weeks left in their season.

2001 Mariners clinched with 25 games left and went on to lose in the ALCS.

2002 Braves clinched a playoff spot with 21 games left in their season they lost in the first round.

2005 Cardinals clinched with 14 games left in their season they lost in the NLCS

16 teams clinched a playoff spot with between 8 and 13 games (2nd to final week) in their season of the 16 teams...

9 of them lost in the 1st round..

5 of them lost in the LCS

2 of them lost in the World Series

None of them won the World Series

That means that 19 teams from 2000 to 2006 clinched playoff spots before the final week of the season and only 2 of them made it to the World Series and none of them won the World Series (including last years Mets)

It goes to show that teams that are great during the regular season seem to get out of sink if they clinch early and are unable to get back on track come playoff time.

Bellow are the last 7 World Champions and how many games they had left in their season when they clinched a playoff spot

2000 Yankees - 5
2001 Dbacks - 2
2002 Angels - 3
2003 Marlins - 2
2004 Red Sox - 5
2005 White Sox - 2
2006 Cardinals - 1

Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | September 20, 2007 10:31 AM

I am totally onboard with this philosophy. Of course I was a little worried by that 5 game slide, but hey, who wasn't? Another win tonight against the fish would be a great way to keep it going. Also, does anybody think that Perez and Maine would be best served if we gave them each an extra day of rest?? By the way, great site and I'm sorry I didn't discover you sooner!

Posted by: Keith | September 20, 2007 10:47 AM

Keith, I think pitchers are creatures of habit. I think they should pitch on the days they are scheduled. I dont think that a days rest will help either of them at this point. What I do think is that Brian Lawrence shouldnt get a spot start for the rest of the season.

Posted by: david | September 20, 2007 11:14 AM

Brian Lawrence was designated for assignment.

Posted by: Christian (MetsMan) | September 20, 2007 11:22 AM

You can put your worries to rest david, because Brian Lawrence was DFA'd right after his last start.

Posted by: Howard | September 20, 2007 11:29 AM

Great postive post and thanks for keeping everything in perspective Metsman.

I loved having a year like 2006. We needed to knock the Braves down. But if every year was like that, I'd be bored to tears. Must be why you could always get Braves playoff tickets in the ATL parking lot for below value for so many years...
This Sept has been exciting..big highs, low lows. My heart should never race during a September game against the Nationals. But it was all game last night. Every game counts. I love it!
GO METS!

Posted by: steve henderson | September 20, 2007 11:30 AM

Great news!!! I missed that.

Posted by: david | September 20, 2007 11:31 AM

Thank god, the losing streak is over. I have been nervous for the last several days seeing the Mets lose. Let's Go Mets.

Posted by: D.C. | September 20, 2007 11:44 AM

Actually im the one who brought this up 3 weeks ago when everyone was panicking screaming and acting stupid when the Mets got swept in Philly. I brought up how sports period is very rare the team with the best record wins it all and i brought up the Chargers,Mavs and Mets of 06 and how the Colts who struggled won it the Spurs who people said were old and the Cards who struggled to get in. But i really didnt like this last slide it was different in Philly they couldve won all 4 but this 5 game slide was just pure gross and for the 1st time all year i wasnt looking forward to a Mets game

Posted by: The real Fred who told you so | September 20, 2007 11:45 AM

On k104 the local radio station of the hudson valley in NY, they do the sports recap at the top of every hour. this morning i turned my radio on and it was Hallelujah was playing and the disc jockey aka Bill Beale was talking about david wright carrying the team to win and wings appeared on his back as he brought the team to a win.

I thought that was pretty awesome.

Posted by: desiree | September 20, 2007 11:51 AM

thank god for that win-I was finally able to have a good night's sleep.

GO METS! KILL THE FISH!

Posted by: angst24 | September 20, 2007 02:33 PM

Very Nice blog, lets keep the momentum going

Posted by: NYsportsGUY | September 20, 2007 04:46 PM

Great blog...now not only am I looking forward to October, but also Christmas! You really touched the kid in all of us!!

Posted by: MetsWrighter | September 20, 2007 08:45 PM