I don’t quite want to eulogize the Mets just yet. While the chances of making the playoffs just went on the DL with little hope of returning this season, there is still baseball that’s being played, and out of the playoffs is not the same as no longer playing. There will be plenty of time to deconstruct and over-analyze 2011 in the offseason, while we’re rooting against all those evil teams that made the playoffs.
So where do we direct that optimism that failed us in 2011? For starters, the rookies and prospects that will get some extra time will go a long way towards being able to make informed decisions about the 2012 roster. How feasible is Lucas Duda going to be? Has Josh Thole rebounded from a poor beginning to the point that we don’t need to look at other options? There are enough guys that will get some playing time to have a lot of options for the future.
The other place to direct the optimism is at the teams we hate. The Phillies, despite the pitching, tend to look like they can be had if the opposing team’s pitching is on. Given that they may have to face the Giants and the Braves, they certainly could be looking at an early exit from the playoffs if they hit a hot pitcher in a short series. The Yankees look more well rounded than the Phillies, but they also seem to lack a certain depth that may leave them exposed if everything is not clicking when they reach the playoffs.
Personally I’m rooting for Carlos Beltran and the Giants over the Red Sox in the World Series.
