Well it’s over.  On a night when the Mets offense woke up and did what it has done all season to climb to the top of the NL East, we find out that the Mets are done.  Why, because there is a tear in a tendon in Pedro Martinez’s left calf that will sideline him for the post season.  How very sad—for him.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s sad for us too.  There would be nothing better than to see Pedro Martinez out there on the mound at Shea next week to open the divisional series.  He has given the Mets swagger, attitude, and the competitiveness to be a winner again.  Now in difference to Mike Greenberg on ESPN and Mike Lupica from the New York Daily News, let’s not wave the white flag just yet. Let’s add something to the argument called facts.

The fact is Pedro Martinez has not contributed much this season because of many nagging injuries.  His record for the season is 9 and 8.  The Mets record when Pedro started games this season is 11 and 12.  He had no complete games, not unusual for Pedro.  These numbers are obviously not going to cause any confusion when it’s time to vote for the Cy Young award.  Although it would have meant a lot for Pedro to be a part of the post season, predictions that the Mets are finished are a bit unfair considering the Mets basically achieved without Pedro all season long.

The Mets have bounced back from adversity through the entire campaign. They have overcome injuries to key players and have played well after losing streaks (none greater than four games this year). Players on the team from the beginning, ones that came up from the farm or through trades have all stepped up when needed.  That’s why I have a difficult time assuming that the Mets are just going to throw in the towel and call it a season.  The Mets have more guts than that, a lot more.  Does anyone think that the Mets players are running scared now since Pedro can’t pitch?  He hasn’t pitched well since the end of April.

I just can’t believe that through 159 games of the season, a year where the Mets managed to win 94 games, win the NL East, and have the best record in the National League, accomplished this because they thought Pedro would pitch in the playoffs.  Credit for their achievement must go to the twenty-four men (or twenty-five when Pedro was disabled) who played all those games.  Again it’s not like the Mets all of a sudden don’t have Pedro.  They haven’t had him virtually since the end of July.  Pedro was 5 and 0 at the end of April.  Since then he has gone 4 and 8, not a great season by any stretch of the imagination.

I’m not saying the Mets are going to steam roll their way through the playoffs.  Teams that do well in the post season are those that have solid starting pitching.  The Mets on the other hand have had decent starters but certainly not dominating.  If the Mets don’t make it to the World Series, it won’t be because of Pedro’s absence, it will be because of the lack of a strong pitching rotation, something they have dealt with all year.  The Mets won a lot of games with their offense and their very strong bullpen. Except for Houston, who really has great pitching in the National League?  That’s why I hope the Mets do not have to face the Astros.

Symbolically Pedro will be missed, no doubt about it.  Shea is electric when he’s on the mound and of course healthy.  To move ahead in the playoffs the Mets are going to have to do it by driving the other team nuts.  They have done that all year by scoring in a myriad of ways and scoring early.  If the Mets starters can get them to the sixth inning, they’ll be fine once the bullpen gets the ball.  But I will tell you, if the Mets lose in the playoffs, it won’t be because Pedro isn’t there.  It will be because their starting staff can’t get the job done or the Mets hitters are stymied by good playoff pitching.  Anything can happen in the post season. Roll the dice.

Extra Innings:

With their win last night, the Mets guaranteed that the Braves will have their first losing record since 1990—how poetic.  But with John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, a returning Mike Hampton (hey Mike, how are the schools in Atlanta?), and some good young pitching coming up, the Braves should be back in full force next year.    

Also the Mets broke their four game losing streak which means they did not lose more than four in a row the whole year. 

With the Phillies loss last night, they have now dropped back two games behind the Dodgers for the wild card.  That means if the Dodgers win just one game against the Giants, the Phils must win all three from the Marlins just to tie.  Both teams are away and if there is a tie, the playoff game will be in Philadelphia on Monday.  It’s possible that the Dodgers could overtake the Padres so the Padres could be the wild card.  Another scenario could involve the Phillies and the Padres playing a one game playoff.  For that to happen, the Padres must lose their remaining three games while the Phillies win all three from Florida. Then of course the Dodgers would win the west.  Oh the possibilities.

Houston is one half game behind St. Louis.  Look for Houston to win the Central and the Cardinals to go home.  What a monumental collapse by St. Louis. They had an eight and a half game lead just nine days ago.  Injuries really hurt the Cardinals this year.  That’s why you need to enjoy this Mets season no matter what happens.  You just never know from year to year what will happen.

The Brackets as of today: