I’m picking the Mets to win a wild card! My gut says either the Mets or the Marlins win a wild card, thanks in part to how bad the Phillies and Braves may be. I like the Mets better because of the depth in the rotation. Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom is the real deal and Zack Wheeler has the arm strength and now the experience to take a leap forward. Obviously, a lot hinges on the comeback of Harvey and return to form of Wright. Everybody’s concerned about Wilmer Flores at shortstop, but he doesn’t project to be as terrible as everyone thinks. Anyway, every year there’s at least one team that climbs from under .500 into the postseason (actually, there were two last season and three in 2013). The Mets are my pick for 2015.
Prediction: 86-76
Source: David Schoenfield, ESPN.com
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It’s a strange rank he’s put together. Almost every person I hear or watch puts the Mets in third behind Marlins. And who cares about the Braves or Phillies? They have no bearing on the Mets getting a WC. I’m far more worried about the pirates, giants, marlins, padres, and reds!!
Chris,
I look at it this way in most every article they immediately distance us from the Nationals, then they start talking about the Marlin’s being better or our equal or very close. Then they mention the Braves and Philth bringing up the rear. I seem to get the impression that when you come right down to it we are considered closer to the Braves and Philth than we are to the Nationals since winning the division is dismissed right out of the gate without a second thought.
That is of course unless if, if, if, if, if, if, if, if, if, if, if, if, and if goes our way then of course we could win it all!
The importance of the Braves and Phillies is that we get to play two teams not trying to win in 2015 often. That’s 36 (or more) games where we could conceivably go 24-12.
The Phillies and Braves have a direct bearing on the Mets W-L record this year; they matchup 36 times, almost a quarter of the season. With those teams punting their seasons, it gives the Mets an advantage over teams with far tougher schedules.
We need to gain wins. We already own the phillies, so that won’t be a net gain. I’ve lived enough Mets baseball to know one thing: planning to clean house against the Braves is a big mistake.
Mets
2014 2013 2012
Braves 10-9 9-10 6-12
Phillies 13-6 10-9 10-8
Marlins 11-8 8-11 12-6
Nationals 4-15 7-12 4-14
I’m sensing a crappy theme here.