Mmm, playoffs.
With only hours before the Mets play their first postseason game since 2001, I figure I’d better weigh in here with at least a cursory prediction.
Pedro hadn’t been himself all year, so the loss of him hurts the Mets less than many analysts seem to think. El Duque, on the other hand, has been solid since Omar picked him up. The scariest outcome of the El Duque injury is not John Maine (who became one of my favorite underrated guys this year) taking the ball in Game 1, but Oliver Perez actually being slated to pitch a potential Game 4. Perez has been one of my favorite enigmas in recent seasons, but it’s either feast or famine with him, and sometimes it’s both in the same inning.
If the Mets are going to beat the Dodgers, they need to score early and often. Not such a revelation, I know, but I don’t foresee them winning 3-2 games anytime soon. Crooked numbers in early innings are the key, and hope the bullpen can hold the line.
I still think the Mets are the favorite to make the World Series from the NL, and as for their chances against whichever team they meet there…let’s just cross that bridge when we come to it, shall we?
Mets in 5 over LA.
Later: 60 minutes until the first pitch and I can’t remember the last time I was this nervous. Do Yankees fans get like this the first day of the playoffs?
October 4, 2006 - 1:54 PM