We are getting towards the end of the baseball season, and the only team who knows as of right now that they have a guaranteed playoff spot is the Chicago Cubs who clinched the National League Central a few weeks ago. While the Chicago Cubs have a record of 94-55 and have pretty much run away with the National League Central are not the hottest team right now. I think the team that people need to be watching out for if they do so happen to make the playoffs is the New York Mets. As of this writing, they have the top wild card spot and still have a remote shot at the National League East crown. This was not the case a month ago.
Back in the middle of August, the New York Mets played the San Francisco Giants on the weekend of August 19th; their season started to make a positive turn. It was from this series that they would go on to win their next seven straight series before that would get broken up when they would lose the series before when they played the Twins this past weekend. They have 8 of their last nine series in the last month.
What makes this a real feel good story is that a majority of their team has some injury that will keep them out for the remainder of the 2016 season. This includes a good chunk of their pitching rotation in Jacob DeGrom, Matt Harvey, Jon Niese, and Zach Wheeler all being out for the remainder of the season. They are joined by Neil Walker, David Wright, and Justin Ruggiano who are all out for the 2016 season. This team is getting production from people who no one knew of a few months ago and a pitcher who is over the age of 40 and is having a resurgence in his career.
The Mets pitching rotation is now Noah Syndergaard, Bartolo Colon, Seth Lugo, Robert Gsellman, and Gabriel Ynoa. It should be noted that Lugo, Gsellman, and Ynoa are all rookies. With all that being said, they are helping Noah and Bartolo by contributing. It also contributes to have one of the games high rising closer in Familia who is showing that he is one of the best closers in the majors. When it comes to hitting, everyone from Jay Bruce to Kelly Johnson to Asdrubal Cabrera is all contributing.
I have been a baseball fan for roughly the last 20 years, and I have learned one major thing. When it comes to baseball, if you want to make it in the postseason then you need to get hot and dangerous by the end of August. It also helps that the St. Louis Cardinals are not playing there usual, and the Giants are not in any luck as they still face the Los Angeles Dodgers in six more games over the remainder few weeks. The remainder of the Mets 2016 season is rather easy as they have the Braves, Marlins, and Phillies twice.
When they say they are Amazing, they are not lying. This team does not quit and fights until they can’t anymore. If the Mets do make the playoffs, they can be a dangerous team that could make a run towards getting back to the World Series. I never figured a team that lost a good chunk of their players and is lead by a lot of journeymen, rookies, and guys over the age of 40 would be one of the most dangerous teams in baseball and one that should not be taken lightly. There is still a few weeks in the season, and anything can happen.