Tom Brennan - METS MISS PLAYOFFS DESPITE SOME GREAT PERFORMERS

Milwaukee was tied with the Mets on August 31, and then went 19-4 to clinch the Wild Card.

Remarkable.

If the Mets did that, true fans would be talking about it for decades.  

Just like they continue to talk about two prior late season surges, 1969 and 1973 (OK, 3 when you consider 2015).

So a tip of the hat to the Brew Crew.

That said, I hope the Brewskies lose their Wild Card game because they denied the Mets the playoffs.  

They have to be brought to justice.  

Jack Bauer agreed to do whatever it takes to make that happen.   Thank you for your service, Jack.

The Mets got this close in 2019 on some great performances:

1) JAKE DEGROM:

Who could seriously talk about Jake as a repeat Cy Young winner after his start on July 5, where his ERA sat at 3.27 and a 4-7 record.

Jake continued to get crappy support from the offense and pen, hence the 4 wins after 18 starts, but he had also had a bad 7 game stretch from where he went 1-5 and gave up a very un-Jake-like 23 earned runs in 39 innings.

But his last 14 starts have been incredible:

7-1, 94 IP, 59 H, 15 earned runs (1.44 ERA), 19 BB, 117 Ks.  Certainly Cy Young worthy in a season where the best starters (e.g., Cole, Verlander) are in the AL this year.  The 7-1 boosted his record to 11-8.

Even in his last 14 starts, of course, since his name is Jake deGrom, his bad luck continued...in 5 of his 6 no-decisions, he gave up a total of 2 earned runs.

He clearly should have won 18-20.

2) PETE ALONSO

Four games left, 51 HRs and 118 RBIs....we all need to pinch ourselves.  A Met is doing this....a Met ROOKIE is doing this.

From his head to his patriotic, bold cleats, WE LUV PETE.

3) JEFF MCNEIL

The Mets' curse resurfaced with his broken wrist on a HBP last night.  Here's hopes for a quick recovery.  a season of .318/.384/.532?   Wow.  Start pinching yourself again.  38 doubles, 23 homers, and 162 hits in just 133 games?  Wow. Pinch.

4) MICHAEL CONFORTO

30 plus homers, 90 plus RBIs?  He's had his droughts along the way, but MC's Hammer has almost equaled that of uber-expensive Bryce Harper.  May Conforto park 40 in the other side of fences in 2020.


5) J.D. DAVIS

A man who many expected to fail and end up in Syracuse most of the year has hit 20 HRs in 396 at bats and, despite a slow 3 for 20 start, is hitting .308.  Wow.  Pinch.

6) AMED ROSARIO

He was roundly criticized in April, May and June for his mediocre fielding, while showing a slowly growing bat.  In July, August, and September?  Hitting .322.  Wow. Pinch.  Hititng .287 for the full season with 71 RBIs, 75 runs, 15 HRs and 19 RBIs.

7) WILSON RAMOS

The beefy "Buffalo" has 14 HRs, 73 RBIs and a .287 average in 473 ABs.   Maybe not quite WOW, PINCH, but a big upgrade over the catcher non-hitting that Mets' fans had adapted to since Mike Piazza retired.

8) SETH LUGO

A light in the bullpen darkness. 7-4, 2.77 and 5 recent saves.  He had a very bad 3 game stretch in late March and early April where he allowed 9 runs in 2.2 innings...a bad 3 game stretch in late June where he allowed 7 runs in 3.2 IP....and that one stinker in mid-August against the Braves, where he allowed 5 runs in 1/3 inning.  Otherwise, he was almost perfect in his other 53 outings.  Great work, wow, pinch.

9) JUSTIN WILSON

Lastly, JW missed a ton of time early in the season due to a repeatedly barking elbow, giving many a Mets fan the feeling that he would pull a Lowrie on us and miss almost the entire season.  Nope.  He has gotten into 45 games and went 4-2, 2.54.  So, if anyone asks tou who had the better ERA, Wilson or the wonderful Seth Lugo, you now know the answer.  He missed too much vital time for a wow, pinch.

Honorable mention goes to 10) Zach Wheeler, who was very uneven in the first half and quite good in the second half, just like last year.  

And to 11) Todd Frazier, a man I beat up a lot this season.  After a spring injury, he was only 7 for 49 with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs in mid-May.  I assumed after 2018's and 2017's .213, he was washed up.  But the rest of the way this year, a very solid .256 with 19 HRs and 60 RBIs in 387 ABs.  My guess is this is the last week for both of these guys as Mets unless they are willing to take less money to stay with the Mets.  

And, briefly, 12) Robbie Cano had an encouraging, strong second half despite his hamstring injury, and 13) Dom Smith played very well, except in July when he went 9 for 54, partly because of his foot injury that caused his last game to be July 26.  Maybe he will get a few ABs before season's end.

Thanks and appreciation to them all.