Chapter 67.25: Thanks, John!

I'm amazed at how much calmer I feel right now. John Maine pitched the best game of any Mets pitcher all year -- allowing only one hit in 7 and two-thirds innings. He struck out 14 batters and the one hit was a dinker. Had Maine gotten him out, he'd have faced bedlam in the ninth, since no pitcher has ever thrown a no-hitter for the Mets.

As I type, the Nationals and Phillies are playing. The Phils already removed their starting pitcher, who'd allowed half of the batters he faced to get on base. The Nationals should have scored more than they did.

Whether the Phillies lose today remains to be seen, but regardless, the Mets must win tomorrow in order to have any chance to make the playoffs. Lets Go Mets!

Chapter 67.15: Why We'll Advance to the Playoffs

Ok, I have to remain positive. The Mets haven't been eliminated -- we're not the Braves, after all. I've got a few reasons to list why the Mets will take the National League East division.

* They're 10-5 against this weekend's competition, the Florida Marlins, who looked awful last weekend against a truly miserable Mets team (Whoops, I said I'd be positive.)

* The Phillies are playing the Nationals, who have been quite scrappy in the second half and have started to gel under manager Manny Acta (who was a Mets coach last year -- a little karma thing going, you see?)

* The Mets have Oliver Perez (pictured on right), John Maine, and Tom Glavine going in these final three games. Perez has become a big-game pitcher, one of those guys who seems to do better when there's a lot of pressure on him. This may explain why he was awful in Pittsburgh. Maine's been sketchy at best during the second half, but these are the Marlins. (I know, not a strong argument at all.) And Tom Glavine has been strong most of the year and in what could be his final game ever, he's not going to stink up Shea and earn the wrath of fans who have finally started to warm to him.

* I've already spent nearly $300 on playoff tickets for a game that might not take place, regardless of whether the Mets are in the post-season. (Perhaps this last point is a bit personal, and it may even point to why they won't make the playoffs.)

I'm a frustrated Mets fan, and I know enough of the team's history to realize that this will be an interesting and excruciating weekend. I've not been this nervous since Kenny Rogers was on the mound during the 1999 NLCS.

Chapter 60.3: Maine-Lining

I like the way this kid is pitching. That Kris Benson for Jorge Julio (and we'll throw in John Maine) trade is looking better by the day.