Went into this series saying can't get swept, because that would end the season. They didn't get swept.
Went into the series saying take 2/3 and I'm happy. So right now I'm happy.
I'm also greedy. They owe us a big game for some of the nonsense int he last week or two!
Going back to the afternoon game in Washington up 3-1 in the 8th inning. I've never felt such swings in emotion and varying confidence. Even during the games. I felt like our season would take such a hit had we lost Friday night when the Nationals tied it. I can't believe it's August and the Mets are in the thick of it.
I have not held this much emotion for the Mets in years
As well as literal hammer, his hammer anyway, and we sweep! Been to two games this year. Last night and Harvey's first game. Crowds were wild both nights but I felt a subtle difference.
The Harvey night we were just so deliriously happy to see him, I think the wave made it around the stadium like eight times. Last night the happiness had just the beginning of swagger to it. Even down 2 runs, The crowd was quiet but in it. No one was surprised we won. But man, it was incredible when Duda smacked that double.
On another note, I took my eldest daughter who's seven to her first game. Was scared she wouldn't make it, but she hung in like a champ. Really amazing to think about sharing my love for this silly game and team with her. Going back tonight!
A sweep would be awesome but desperate teams usually win
WAS just lost 2 heartbreakers, their BP is fresh and Zimmerman is on the mound vs. our 3rd best pitcher.
That said, I think this team has developed character to go with a talented roster and this team is about to have a big August. At most other tipping points this season the reasonable thing has happened, I think the starting point of their best stretch of baseball is going to be tonight when they pour it on the Nats on national TV, take a share of first place, and don't look back.
the Nats have underachieved. If TC would have walked a guy intentionally to get to a guy who hit 2 HR's in the game, we would be killing him. Having said that, we are getting healthier and can add important pieces internally and we are where we are. I like our chances
Doug Melvin GM of the Brewers just told us "the Mets have taken some unfair criticism about asking for money back in the Gomez deal"
The amount left on his contract always made the possibility of finances being what blew that trade hard to believe for me. I think Sandy has a budget and knows the parameters he has to work within. I'm sure the Wilpons are in the loop and I'm sure if there's a long term obligation he has to get their blessing, even if it's within his annual budget. But the idea he got shot down on a trade that added an all star caliber player over about 11M over 2 seasons wasn't exactly fiscally sensible even by Mets standards. We're paying more than that to Murph, Niese & Parnell who will all likely be gone next year.
For the first time ever, I felt like I was back at Shea. Even opening night of the stadium which was obviously a sellout came nowhere near last night.
deGrom and the rest of these young pitchers are bulldogs. These other guys who have been here through the rough times and are now contributing Flores, Duda have really become fan favorites. Seeing a presence in the middle of the lineup for the first time since a younger, healthier DW is so refreshing.
One minor gripe, can we bring back "Takin care of business" as our victory song? Back in the NY groove doesn't feel the same and is already taken :)
Ces behind Duda. No way Lucas is getting anything to hit tonight
I like that idea a lot. Not sure if Plawecki goes today, but if TdA is in there I'd like to see him hitting 2nd to try to get him going (he's 4/10 off Zimmerman in is career).
Granderson CF
TdA C
Duda 1B
Cespedes LF
Murphy 2B
Uribe 3B
Johnson RF
Tejada SS
..and we've taken advantage of it...barely. The same applies tonight. Thor at Citi has been scary good.
With the aggressive deadline acquisitions a playoff berth is a strong possibility now. Our schedule is favorable down the stretch.
We have to keep an eye on Colon. Barring an heroic performance vs the Dodgers he's been fading out. It would be a tough call to supplant him. If it's in the best interests of the team they have to do it. He has to start putting some consistent innings together. We can't give away games in a playoff race through loyalty.
I think Sandy will be working the wire in the days ahead trying to find one more bullpen arm. There is a good chance he can get something done there imo.
..and we've taken advantage of it...barely. The same applies tonight. Thor at Citi has been scary good.
With the aggressive deadline acquisitions a playoff berth is a strong possibility now. Our schedule is favorable down the stretch.
We have to keep an eye on Colon. Barring an heroic performance vs the Dodgers he's been fading out. It would be a tough call to supplant him. If it's in the best interests of the team they have to do it. He has to start putting some consistent innings together. We can't give away games in a playoff race through loyalty.
I think Sandy will be working the wire in the days ahead trying to find one more bullpen arm. There is a good chance he can get something done there imo.
Buckle up fellas the ride is just starting.
I'm counting the days when Matz returns to replace Colon. I don't think Bart will be on the playoff roster
As far as I am concerned, it's already "Mission: Accomplished"
Because we HAD to win this series. Nothing less was even remotely ok. Now that we've taken care of that, I want the sweep so badly.
Going into this weekend, I said the Mets had a huge opportunity here to make a serious statement and show that the days of being the Nationals' collective bitch are over.
They've made good on that chance twice now. Winning games that the Nats kept taking from us in the past.
Put the exclamation point on it tonight and knot it all up.
Our Mets had to win this series and mission accomplished.
Having the opportunity to go for the sweep is amazing. The cherry on top would be fantastic.
This week has been another one to prove that "things are never as bad as they seem to be when things are going badly - - and they're never as good as the seem to be when thing are going great".
Will this apply to tonight as well? Let's hope the Mets can stretch out the days and nights of things going swimmingly.
IMO sweeping is the mission and I sure hope they (Mets)
Winning the series was a must, they've done that, but they can't be satisfied with that. Winning the division, getting to the playoffs, competing in October and November is the goal, not just keeping it a race until August 1. The Nats are a very good team that could very easily win this game but if this team can bear down and complete the sweep, it would massively exercise the "we can't beat the Nats" narrative. After today the Nats go home for 7 games against losing teams and we hit the road for 6. The time to not just keep pace but set it, is now.
The Mets have held Harper in check pretty well compared to the other teams in the NLE this year. He's crushed everyone else. In 12 games against us, he's only batting .250 with 1 HR.
Each team can beat the other in any of the 4 phases on any given night (d, o , bp, sp). Talent wise it's pretty close, we're younger and seemingly hungrier, they're more experienced (also more scarred with disappointing recent seasons) and have one of the best everyday guys in the game Harper. It's really a coin flip the rest of the season.
They really need him to get cleared this week. It's been a while since he's thrown so he'll have to go through all the phases of a rehab assignment. Simulated games then probably 2 rehab starts.
that Cespedes prefers to be playing CF and that's where he will play primarily once all this settles down? Wasn't Gomez SUCH a huge fit because he plays CF??
So we ended up getting a much better hitter in CF anyway.
Nats are reloaded having everyone back in their lineup save Span. Mets are reloaded having everyone back save Wright with additions. They are missing Strasburg and we are missing Matz but for the most part these teams are ready to go toe to toe. Going to be a fun couple of months.
that Cespedes prefers to be playing CF and that's where he will play primarily once all this settles down? Wasn't Gomez SUCH a huge fit because he plays CF??
So we ended up getting a much better hitter in CF anyway.
He on a contract year...
Of course has going to say he loves center field. His stock goes up exponentially. One, for being a team player and two, he can demand a bigger payday.
Cespedes -13 DRS was 2nd worst among all CF's, obviously there was reason he was moved off of the position in the first place. Hopefully it works out better playing in CitiField but it's a legit concern to me.
Went into the series saying take 2/3 and I'm happy. So right now I'm happy.
I'm also greedy. They owe us a big game for some of the nonsense int he last week or two!
The Harvey night we were just so deliriously happy to see him, I think the wave made it around the stadium like eight times. Last night the happiness had just the beginning of swagger to it. Even down 2 runs, The crowd was quiet but in it. No one was surprised we won. But man, it was incredible when Duda smacked that double.
On another note, I took my eldest daughter who's seven to her first game. Was scared she wouldn't make it, but she hung in like a champ. Really amazing to think about sharing my love for this silly game and team with her. Going back tonight!
That said, I think this team has developed character to go with a talented roster and this team is about to have a big August. At most other tipping points this season the reasonable thing has happened, I think the starting point of their best stretch of baseball is going to be tonight when they pour it on the Nats on national TV, take a share of first place, and don't look back.
The amount left on his contract always made the possibility of finances being what blew that trade hard to believe for me. I think Sandy has a budget and knows the parameters he has to work within. I'm sure the Wilpons are in the loop and I'm sure if there's a long term obligation he has to get their blessing, even if it's within his annual budget. But the idea he got shot down on a trade that added an all star caliber player over about 11M over 2 seasons wasn't exactly fiscally sensible even by Mets standards. We're paying more than that to Murph, Niese & Parnell who will all likely be gone next year.
deGrom and the rest of these young pitchers are bulldogs. These other guys who have been here through the rough times and are now contributing Flores, Duda have really become fan favorites. Seeing a presence in the middle of the lineup for the first time since a younger, healthier DW is so refreshing.
One minor gripe, can we bring back "Takin care of business" as our victory song? Back in the NY groove doesn't feel the same and is already taken :)
I like that idea a lot. Not sure if Plawecki goes today, but if TdA is in there I'd like to see him hitting 2nd to try to get him going (he's 4/10 off Zimmerman in is career).
Granderson CF
TdA C
Duda 1B
Cespedes LF
Murphy 2B
Uribe 3B
Johnson RF
Tejada SS
Let's get that first place tie and watch our rejuvenated team come alive the tray of the way.
I have been conditioned to expect a nut-shot loss tonight, but I'm putting aside those vibes. Feeling a Mets pistol-whipping tonight!
With the aggressive deadline acquisitions a playoff berth is a strong possibility now. Our schedule is favorable down the stretch.
We have to keep an eye on Colon. Barring an heroic performance vs the Dodgers he's been fading out. It would be a tough call to supplant him. If it's in the best interests of the team they have to do it. He has to start putting some consistent innings together. We can't give away games in a playoff race through loyalty.
I think Sandy will be working the wire in the days ahead trying to find one more bullpen arm. There is a good chance he can get something done there imo.
Buckle up fellas the ride is just starting.
With the aggressive deadline acquisitions a playoff berth is a strong possibility now. Our schedule is favorable down the stretch.
We have to keep an eye on Colon. Barring an heroic performance vs the Dodgers he's been fading out. It would be a tough call to supplant him. If it's in the best interests of the team they have to do it. He has to start putting some consistent innings together. We can't give away games in a playoff race through loyalty.
I think Sandy will be working the wire in the days ahead trying to find one more bullpen arm. There is a good chance he can get something done there imo.
Buckle up fellas the ride is just starting.
I'm counting the days when Matz returns to replace Colon. I don't think Bart will be on the playoff roster
Going into this weekend, I said the Mets had a huge opportunity here to make a serious statement and show that the days of being the Nationals' collective bitch are over.
They've made good on that chance twice now. Winning games that the Nats kept taking from us in the past.
Put the exclamation point on it tonight and knot it all up.
Having the opportunity to go for the sweep is amazing. The cherry on top would be fantastic.
This week has been another one to prove that "things are never as bad as they seem to be when things are going badly - - and they're never as good as the seem to be when thing are going great".
Will this apply to tonight as well? Let's hope the Mets can stretch out the days and nights of things going swimmingly.
Each team can beat the other in any of the 4 phases on any given night (d, o , bp, sp). Talent wise it's pretty close, we're younger and seemingly hungrier, they're more experienced (also more scarred with disappointing recent seasons) and have one of the best everyday guys in the game Harper. It's really a coin flip the rest of the season.
They really need him to get cleared this week. It's been a while since he's thrown so he'll have to go through all the phases of a rehab assignment. Simulated games then probably 2 rehab starts.
So we ended up getting a much better hitter in CF anyway.
So we ended up getting a much better hitter in CF anyway.
He on a contract year...
Of course has going to say he loves center field. His stock goes up exponentially. One, for being a team player and two, he can demand a bigger payday.
Goeddel starting a rehab assignment today. Could provide a boost. I still think they should add a "real" reliever. Gee for Salas, do it
The Mets have placed OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis on the DL and recalled OF Michael Conforto.