We’ve come to the final stop on our look at the postseason teams (unlike Deadspin, we’ve got a reason to not include the Cardinals in this) as we look at the other half of the other NLDS, the New York Mets. The Mets, perhaps more than any other team in the postseason derby, weren’t supposed to be here. Yet a mid-season trade and an imploding competition in Washington has this side of New York back in the playoffs for the first time since Yadier Molina took one over the fence and Adam Wainwright dropped a nasty curve. (I wanted to embed either or both of those, but I figure Mets fans coming here don’t need to relive the agony that much.)
Talking to us today is Paul from Paul’s Random Baseball Stuff. Paul, who is also a big Star Wars fan which is another reason I like him so much, is a Pepper veteran and was glad to get a chance to jump into the postseason fray. Keep an eye on his blog and his Twitter as the Mets try to do the impossible to make them mighty.
C70: If you had to sum up this season in a word or phrase, what would it be?
PRBS: A gift
C70: What worries you the most about the Dodgers?
PRBS:
Clayton Kershaw and
Zack Greinke. The Mets offense was beginning to show signs of a collective slump at the end of the season, and now they have to deal with two of the best pitchers in baseball in a short series.
C70: What has to happen for the Mets to have a deep October run?
C70: Is there a player that will be the key to the postseason?
PRBS:
Yoenis Cespedes. He was the key that sparked the Mets’ late-season success that led to the division title, and if he can do it again in October, they could win it all.
C70: How high is confidence running among the New York faithful?
PRBS: We’re excited that the Mets are in the playoffs for the first time in 9 years – I’ve seen more people wearing Mets shirts, caps and jackets over than I have in years. But at the same time, some of us almost can’t believe it’s happening… and we’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. So injuries that might sideline
Juan Uribe and/or
Steven Matz for the playoffs or Matt Harvey missing a mandatory workout before the series take on more importance than they probably should.
C70: What’s the minimum that counts as a successful postseason for the Mets?
PRBS: If you asked me back in March, I’d say that just getting to the playoffs counted as success. And in a way, it is. But on the other hand, anything short of a World Series victory is going to feel like disappointment. I think the Mets have to find a way to beat the Dodgers… if they lose to an NL Central team in the NLCS, I will have an easier time accepting that – even the wild card teams had significantly better records than the Mets, and they didn’t get to do it by beating up on a weak division.
