Update: As I started writing this Vinny Rottino just went deep with a game-tying 2 run home run off of Cole Hamels. Which means, I should write more.
But to the actual point – after doing what good teams do (beating up on bad teams) against the Pirates and Padres, the Mets are now thrust into the spotlight on what is sure to be a litmus test going forward. Coming into Memorial Day the Mets are in 2nd place in the toughest division in baseball, with every team over .500 and probably top to bottom the best pitching in the majors. Think about it, the team with Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels is in last place. The N.L. East is going to be a dogfight all summer long and for the Mets, it starts as soon as we all put our first burgers and dogs of the season on the grill.
Update: And John Mayberry just un-tied it with his own 2 run homer. 4-2 Phillies.
The upcoming schedule is a venerable whose-who of playoff contenders and a winning record for the Mets would not only do wonders for the confidence of this young team, but it would also announce the team’s presence to the rest of baseball who were expecting them to be cellar dwellers. Of course, it’s all easier said then done when your next 25 games are:
3 against the Phillies (facing Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee)
4 against the Cardinals (who still have Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina)
3 at the 1st place Nationals (Strasburg, Zimmerman, Harper, and Gio Gonzalez)
3 at the Yankees (the Evil Empire)
3 at Tampa Bay (tied for 1st and ahead of the Yankees)
3 against the 1st place Reds (Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Aroldis Chapman)
3 against the surprisingly in 1st place Baltimore Orioles (seriously, they’re pitching is good)
3 against the Yankees (The Empire Strikes Back)
Thankfully after that it’s 3 games in Chicago against the Cubs, but right after that it’s off to LA to play the Dodgers who will have a healthy Matt Kemp back.
Basically, June is the put up or shut up month for the 2012 Mets. It’s a murderous schedule until the All-Star break and anything better than 15-10 has to be considered a great stretch against that level of competition.
Update: Scott Hairston with a re-tying 2 run homer. It’s 4-4 and I’m finding it hard to focus.
Looking at the standings I estimate that the Mets need to go at least 13-12 in order to stay competitive as teams like the Phillies and the Marlins start to turn their seasons around. And while it’s way too early to project how the Wild Card race will look, what the hell, it’s fun. So the Reds and Cardinals are battling for the Central and so one of those teams will be in the mix with the rest of the N.L. East. It doesn’t look like there’s much competition coming out of the West right now, but Tim Lincecum hasn’t pitched like you’d expect so it’s possible that the Giants can still turn it around. Even if they do though, there’s not much chance of them catching the Dodgers, baring any sort of massive injury.
The Mets hold the fate of their season in their hands, with a chance to convince everyone that they’re more than just “a nice story” this year. Of course, as Mets fans know, nothing comes easy.
Update: Mets down 1-run in the ninth, and just like that Manny Acosta shits the bed again giving up a 3-run homer putting this one out of reach.
Okay i guess i was wrong about Acosta. I still say he can succeed with his stuff, but he has no idea how to “pitch” so he’ll never make it in the bigs until he figures that out.
Also, i saw this June schedule a couple weeks ago looking for tickets, and i was like holy shit this is the worst Mets schedule for a month i can ever remember. You know it’s bad when the Yankees have the next to worst record of any team you face in the month. They face 5 of the top 6 records in baseball. Hopefully the Cubs are still playing like crap when we face them.
not sure how manny acosta pitched well previously, he is absolutely terrible. june will be tell-tale, could decide our season…
This is going to be a true test for this team. I’m hopeful they continue to play quality baseball and hang in the race. But Terry needs to do the right thing, play the right players. He’s done a great job to date and must continue to be ‘the boss’ and not cater to the ego’s. He needs to continue finding playing time for Kirk, needs to continue to bench Torres as long as he’s slumping, needs to also get Baxter playing time as long as he stays hot, and so on and so forth. Hpw Terry handles the outfield is going to be interesting once Bay returns.