Heyman: Mets still working on Wolf, Maine-for-Hart [Winter Meetings]

Randy Wolf: I wouldn’t hate the signing of Randy Wolf.  The Mets simply cannot go over three years on his deal, though.  He’s far from a perfect addition to the rotation, but he’s suitable and a Top 5 free agent pitcher on the market.

The Mets might be able to swing this one, but they might have to pay a bit more.  Everyone knows the Mets desperately need rotation help, so all free agents have the upper hand.

This also could just be a ploy by Wolf’s agent to get Milwaukee to pony up a few million more or possibly an extra year.

John Maine for Corey Hart: Two things come into play here…

1. Rick Peterson is the pitching coach in Milwaukee.  John Maine and Peterson back together could rekindle some magic.

If I was another team, I’d have to be seriously concerned about Maine’s health, pitching guru or not.  I just don’t think he has the build to be a starter anymore.

2. Corey Hart in LF, Jeff Francoeur in RF.  Um, yikes.

Sherman: Mets talking to Brewers, Rangers [Twit Pic]

Interesting.  Glad the Mets are spreading their interest around, even if nothing pans out.  I hate when they lock in on targets and put their blinders on.

Wishful thinking

I know the Mets are far from clinching a playoff spot, but the current playoff scenario has got me thinking and scheming.

My dream scenario:
Mets win the four of the next six, win NL East.
Phillies collapse, and go 1-5.
Brewers keep winning, and take the Wild Card.

Mets win the East, Brewers take the Wild Card, and the Phillies hit the golf course.

So many things would have to go right for this to happen, but it would be amazing to see this happen.

Plus, the Mets have played the Brewers very well this season, to the tune of a 4-2 record, including a three game sweep in Milwaukee at the beginning of August.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this scenario to play out, but I'd just be happy with seeing the Mets make the playoffs.

Edit: I completely goofed on this article. Commenter, and friend, Buzz lays it out perfectly:

Actually the Mets and Brewers have 5 more games, the Phillies have four. This would get you your dream:
Mets: 3-2
Phillies: 1-3
Brewers: 4-1
(Or Mets 4-1, Phils 2-2 and Brewers 5-0).

Under that scenario, the three teams finished tied at 90-72 (or 91-71). The Mets win the East because they have the tiebreaker over the Phils (season series). So, the Phils have to play the Brewers for the Wild Card. Brewers win the extra game, Phils are gone

Thanks, Buzz!

Edit #2: Buzz has his sleuthing shoes on today. We were both wrong, but he clarifies with this second comment:

Looks like I'm not 100% correct either here -- according to the news articles on Mets.com, if this scenario occurs there would be a two game playoff -- the Mets would travel to Philly to play for the division and then the Brewers would then travel to the loser to play for the WC. I know this used to be different, but they must have changed it.

Here's the link: http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=...

And the quote from the end of the article:
"Should three clubs finish the season with the same winning percentage, one as a division winner and the other as a Wild Card, playoff games would be played as follows:

• The two teams tied for the division lead play the one-game tiebreaker, with the winner being declared the division champion.

• The losing team in that game then plays the club from the other division for the Wild Card."

I guess this whole thing playing out the way I want would take a lot more than just winning a few games. But hey, you never know.

Again, thanks Buzz!

If the Mets make the playoffs, will you be happy?

For me, yes. But it will be so bittersweet.

It looks as if the NL East is slipping away quickly. That leaves the Mets to contend for the Wild Card. A two team tango begins tonight, with the Mets and Brewers each having six games to play to finish out the regular season.

The Mets have a one game lead heading into tonight, with three more against the Cubs, and another three against the recently eliminated Marlins. The Brewers play three against the Pirates, starting tonight, and another three against the Cubs.

I still think the Mets can back into the playoffs. The Brewers have dominated the Pirates this year, and will look to win their 10th game in a row over the lowly Bucs. CC Sabathia was a blown call away from a no-hitter last time he faced Pittsburgh.

The Mets need the Pirates to play spoiler, and this would be the perfect team to do it. They've been held down long, so the Brewers might get a little complacent playing them. If they can come out strong and put up a fight, it might be enough to break the young Brewer team, especially with a new manager at the helm.

Even with a one game lead, the Mets shouldn't even worry about the Brewers, they have enough problems of their own. The Mets can't seem to get enough pitching together to get through nine innings of baseball, and can't seem to buy a win.

What the Mets need to do, for maybe the one millionth time I've written it on this blog, is win. Just win.

If they win, it won't matter what the Brewers do.

A strange case, something I am half-wishing for, is a one game playoff at Shea Stadium. That would only happen if the Mets and Brewers are tied at the of the regular season. Since the Mets won a coin-flip last week, the game would be hosted at Shea.

Could you even begin to imagine how crazy Shea would be that day?

If the Mets get to that point, and I half hope they do, and if they can pull off a win, it might be just the sort of momentum they need to roll into the playoffs.

Wishful thinking, I guess. The Mets still have to get to that point.

Dear Brewers...

A letter sent from the Mets to the Brewers.

Dear Brewers,

The Wild Card is yours for the taking.

We're going to roll over and die during the last week of the season again, so feel free to snatch it up if you really want it.

Enjoy October baseball!

Sincerely,
The Mets

Would Lou Pinella actually do this?

Knowing him, it's entirely possible.

Jeff Passan throws out a scenario that would be absolutely crazy for anyone else but Lou Pinella.

Were Lou Piniella the scheming type – and, well, he’s been around long enough, in the game and in Chicago, to understand that a little bit of maneuvering is encouraged – he could influence the entire NL playoff scene. If the Cubs prefer playing the Phillies, Piniella could cobble together a lineup of Micah Hoffpauir, Casey McGehee, Koyie Hill, Daryle Ward and others for the four-game series against the Mets starting Monday, then end the regular season against Milwaukee with his regular lineup. Mets win the division; Phillies get the wild card; Brewers out. Or they may prefer the Mets to the Phillies.

I honestly wounld not put that past old Lou. But knowing the Mets, they'd still lose to a bunch of September call-ups and really screw things up.

As plausible as it is, I can't see Pinella trotting out a team of young guys. Maybe a mix and match, resting some of his key players for the playoffs by giving them a day or two off, but not much more than that.

You never know, though. All the Mets need to do is win. Win, and they control their own destiny. It's a simple concept, but they still haven't been able to grasp it.

As I said last night, the Mets had an awful day yesterday, and slipped in both the NL East and Wild Card standings. Tonight, we are all Braves fans, as the Phillies kick off a three game series at home. The Brewers have today off, but tomorrow we all should be rooting for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Go Braves. Go Pirates. Go Mets.