[Amazin69]

I didn't complain about the game (just our failure to take advantage of the Noc-a-Homas' West Coast struggles, lousy walk-up music, and MLBN's "coverage"), but you're right. We should always celebrate success.

Except that there are a few "Yes, but…" issues with this.

Yes, we swept Pittsburgh. But that still only brings us to 9-7 in our big "16 games to FEAST" schedule. Now we have to play real teams.

Going into the past five series (!), the Mets had a .636 winning percentage. The Natinals, Buccos, Fish, Cubbies and Bucs Redux were, I'm told, playing at an aggregate .390 clip.

Dr Math says that, according to Bill James's Pythagorean Theorem, a .636 team should beat a .390 team 72.68% of the time. Meaning that the Mets should have gone 11-5 or 12-4, just on mathematics, and that's not accounting for psychological factors (power team driving for the post-season; weak teams that will fold under early pressure). The Mutts have thus squandered AT LEAST 2-3 wins that they should have had due to the schedule. We should be cruising up 4 or more games, not teetering on a knife-edge.

So forgive the lack of celebrations.

Yes, Jake was awesome in innings 2-5. 12 up, 12 down, 11Ks. But he took 26 pitches to navigate the first inning, meaning that we always knew Buck would have the hook ready, no need to dream about setting records. And then he folded in the 6th, AGAIN. A five-inning pitcher isn't going to do us much good in the post-season. We may as well put him in the pen with Peterson/Williams/Megill, since you really only need four starters anyhow.

(Yes, converting a starter into an outstanding long reliever can really help you in the playoffs, such as Sid Fernandez did in 1986. But we're not paying Jake all that Jack for this, and if we stick him in the pen, he's less likely to re-up here. Which would suck.)

Jake needed to show length. Instead he left with the game tied and made the pen work four innings. Boo. Pitch to contact, you show-off!

(Who's the pitching equivalent of Kris Bryant, you know, the Guy We Curse for Ruining the Game? Just wondering. [I'm kind of terrified it might be…Jake, actually.])

And, to get a jump on things: Yes, if we win tonight in Milwaukee, we clinch a playoff berth. (Magic # for the WC is 2, and since it's the Brew Crew who would be the hypothetical 6th team to block us, beating them once locks it up.)

BUT folding after leading all summer, getting beat by the Chop Shop, having to play in the Scrub Round and probably losing there (Juan Soto rediscovers his DC mojo in the friendly confines of Corrupt Bank Field) will hardly feel like a triumph, "return to the post-season" or not. I want more than two quick losses to the Padres and out. JMO.

ETA: "Team strikeout records" are about as interesting as "combined no-hitters", IMO. Who gaf, honestly?

I think the all-time record is still the 26 Angels who K'd in a 19-inning game against Oakland in 1971. (Angels pitchers whiffed Reggie & co 17 times, for a total of 43.) Tony Conigliaro, plagued by declining eyesight due to his 1967 injury, went 0-for-8 and struck out five times, twice arguing the call with home plate umpire Merrill Anthony, seemingly looking to get tossed. Finally, after he secured the "platinum sombrero", Tony C threw his helmet in the air and smashed it, sending the pieces out toward the second baseman.

"Best swing he's had all night" reportedly said Angels manager Lefty Phillips, as Anthony finally gave Tony the thumb. A's won, 1-0. So a fun story. But…come on, now.