It is fitting that the wild card representative for the National League come down the last game of the season. The Mets and Brewers each have an opportunity to defy the odds and make their way into the post-season, and wiping away a painful and tumultuous September.
The problem is only one of them will make it. Looking at both of these teams they are more alike than different and pretty much share the same issues. For long stretches this year they have both looked like playoff teams, dominating the competition. They have also gone long periods where they looked inept and can’t hit or pitch their way out of a paper bag. Hitting has not been the issue. Both teams have had their droughts, but are capable of scoring a lot of runs. Pitching has been the issue.
If it wasn’t for the Mets issues with their bullpen we would hear a lot more about the Brewers shortcomings. Theirs is not as bad as New York’s pen, but they have been guilty of coughing up a lot of late leads as well. Eric Gagne has been a bust as a Brewer, and even though Solomon Torres is better than anything the Mets can throw out there to finish off a game, that doesn’t excuse Milwaukee from letting their closer of a year ago, Francisco Cordero, escape to the Reds. They would have been well served to pay him what he wanted.
The Mets’ bullpen woes have been well chronicled. Billy Wagner going down with an elbow injury didn’t help, and just made a bad situation worse. New York doesn’t have a reliable long reliever, set-up guy, or closer. It’s just hit or miss. When a starter goes out for the Mets it gives confidence to their opponent because they know they will score runs. It is amazing that the Mets are in this position at all.
Aaron Heilman has no confidence left and looks lost, and their closer, Luis Ayala is a castoff from the Washington Nationals. What amazes many is the fact that the Mets didn’t really try to improve their bullpen and they knew it was an area of need. Not even at the trade deadline did they try to make a deal, which to me was absurd given the state of their relievers. How or why Omar Minaya got an extention at this time doesn’t make sense either. Maybe it is because he has shown “evident progress” like Isiah Thomas did for the Knicks, or maybe it is a New York thing. Pay the executive before the collapse.
At least Milwaukee went out and got a difference maker during the year for their staff. Adding C.C. Sabathia to the rotation has been even bigger given Ben Sheet’s injury problems.
It would be fitting for both teams to win their last game of the year, and have to decide the wild card by a one game playoff. Milwaukee has a big edge. Sabathia will pitch for the Brewers on three days rest, and Oliver Perez, who couldn’t protect a four run lead against the Cubs this week goes for the Mets. One of these teams will experience redemption, while the other will be left to figure out how they collapsed two years in a row.
Should the Mets lose to the Marlins it will be a repeat performance of last year when they had a chance to make the post season with a win and Dontrel Willis turned them away with a win. They now have a chance to erase that memory.
September 28, 2008 at 17:14
Thanks for you well thought out post. I completely agree that these two teams had similar qualities. Now that the wild card race is over, there are several questions that need to be answered. The Mets have now choked in the final game, two seasons in a row. It seems that their bullpen problems are the reason that they are not going to the playoffs this year. Once again, they were let down in the late innings of the game. I do not fault Jerry Manuel, I just think he was hit with a little bad luck. When Billy Wagner went down, the bullpen really suffered. Although I am a Marlins fan, I actually feel slightly bad for the Mets. They went out in the off-season and purchased Santana for a huge price. Then he goes out yesterday and pitches absolutely incredible. You would think that his performance would give them the boost they needed. Apparently this is not the case because the $22 million payroll Florida Marlins knocked the Mets out once again. How do you think the Mets will handle this off season? Last year was tough, but two years in a row must be even more difficult to swallow.
On the other hand, I congratulate the Brewers on a job well done. They had to deal with great adversity the last couple weeks of the season. The front office was scrutinized for the firing of Ned Yost, and the team seemed to be crumbling. Under the command of Dale Sweum, they were able to get around the distractions and finish out on top. Do you think that Sweum earned himself a full time managerial position, or does it depend on the outcome in the playoffs? I happen to think it depends on the playoffs because we still have not had enough time to analyze his game management. If he proves that he can win in the playoffs, then by all means give him the job. The Brewers have a ton of talent and I am happy that they have finally broken the streak. I definitely think that they are a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. I am interested to know the directions that you think both of these organizations are heading in.
Greg Wapnick
October 4, 2008 at 19:32
You made some good points Greg. It was good to see Milwaukee break through with everything they went through, but I wish it wasn’t at the expense of the Mets. The Mets have some decisions to make. Do they spend loads of money to bring in K-Rod and other relievers to bolster their bullpen, or do they try to be prudent go after middle of the road, and/or proven cheaper veteran options? They need a closer, set up man, and a reliable middle releaver. For the right price they can be had without overpaying. They don’t nee much else. They could use a healthy John Maine in the line-up because they will probably lose Perez.
Milwaukee has to make up their mind how good they want to be. Sabathia saved them this year, but it looks like they will not sign him long term. That will leave a hole in their rotation that they have to fill. They need relievers as well, but they will not over-pay.
I believe both teams are have a good foundation as far as their position players go, but their fortunes will be determined on the backs of their pitchers. Basically they are headed in the same direction. It’s just a matter of who does better in the offseason addressing their needs.
Andrew Tonge