Confession: When the Mets were losing 4-3 on Tuesday night, I put $50 on the live moneyline at +230 to ensure a positive outcome. Either the Mets lose, or I cash. I like to call it “the emotional hedge.”

Sure enough, New York came back to win 8-4, so ding ding goes the cash register sound, but it felt a little gross at the same time, because they’re now one game away from visiting Citizens Bank Park in the NLDS.

Apropos, this tweet:

I agree. As much as it pains me to say it, the Mets do have “that look” about them.

They went 40-27 after the All Star break and hammered the Brewers for eight runs in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. They’re coming from behind to win and getting clutch hitting in the middle and late innings. They shrugged off the terrible start and figured it out over the summer, entering the postseason as the six seed and looking a lot like the Phillies team that went all the way to the World Series in 2022. And despite having a massive payroll, they’re in the same “house money” mode the Phils were two seasons ago, because no one expected them to be here after the way they stumbled out of the gates.


A “talk me off the ledge” attempt would go something like this:

The Phillies have Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Cristopher Sanchez. The starting pitching is better. They have home field advantage and they’ve been here before, very recently, so there’s your “battle tested” angle. The Mutts have only been to the postseason twice in eight years, and the remaining members of the 2022 team lost a Wild Card series to the Padres in which they were outscored 16-8 at home. You can also talk about the off week and the rest, which may be a good thing for the Phillies, or maybe not, if you think the “bye is a bad thing” opinion has merit to it. We’ll see. But the Phillies were the better team from start to finish this season, over 162 games, while the Mets played their best baseball when it mattered more. Top to bottom, the Phils roster is stronger, and their best form has been better than the Mets’ best form, they just need that form to show up this weekend, because they slogged their way to the number 2 seed, somewhat uninspiringly. There’s more juice, more energy in the Mets’ fan base right now. We’re not talking Knicks/Sixers levels of lopsidedness, but you can really feel it. When you take the temperature of Phillies fans, a majority seem to be “meh” with the way the team finished the regular season.

They say that if you’re scared, you should get a dog, but we’re not walking into the SPCA just yet. If anything, the Mets playing great baseball should just heighten the level of awareness. If they get through Milwaukee, they are to be taken seriously. Very seriously. We’ll do the LOLMets meme if they choke in Wisconsin or get hammered by the Phils, but we’re not gonna jinx it and overestimate these douchers. They’re playing great baseball and they’re a threat. We will respect the Mets but we’re ready to meet the challenge at the same time. Citizens Bank Park must “rain fire” on the Mets, like Thanos in that one Avengers scene. Not literally, but figuratively. And if I catch any of you chumps selling your tickets to New York fans, you’re done pal! Like Mattress Mack: