The time has come for the Mets to deliver an NL East knockout punch.
After weeks of keeping the Phillies and Braves a little too close in the rear-view mirror, Willie Randolph’s crew can take matters into its own hands and all but finish the division race over the next week. The odyssey begins tonight in Philadelphia, where the Mets open a four-game series, and continues into Atlanta for a three-game set that starts Friday.
For the Mets, avoiding an implosion and finishing with a winning record over the next seven games would probably be enough to get Fred Wilpon on the phone with the local champagne distributor, to start planning for an inevitable division title-clinching celebration.
“They have to worry about chasing us. We don’t have to worry about them,” Carlos Beltran said, referring to the Phillies and Braves. “We are playing good baseball right now; things are going well, so we are happy with where we are.”
With last night’s 6-2 loss to the Dodgers, the Mets saw their lead on the Phillies sliced to six games. The Braves trail the Mets by seven.
David Wright yesterday mentioned the fact that the Mets have struggled against the Braves this season and need to prove they can beat Atlanta, but Lastings Milledge isn’t so sure the Braves Jinx should be considered an issue.
“They can have our number all they want,” Milledge said. “If they don’t win the division they’re not going to get into the playoffs, and we don’t have to worry about it.”
Wright said it’s nice the Mets have entered this stretch with a comfortable cushion.
“Our destiny is in front of us,” he said. “We don’t need any team to lose, we don’t need any team to win.”
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Catcher Paul Lo Duca (hamstring) was activated from the disabled list after last night’s game and Sandy Alomar Jr. was designated for assignment
Randolph said Alomar likely will rejoin the Mets when rosters expand this weekend.
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Endy Chavez is ready to rejoin the Mets; now it’s just a matter of the team finding room for him.
With the Sept. 1 deadline to set rosters approaching, the Mets do not want to activate Chavez at the expense of a player they might want for the postseason.
One possibility is the Mets will wait until after Brian Lawrence pitches tonight in Philadelphia and then designate the right-hander for assignment. That would clear space for Chavez.
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Pedro Martinez tonight makes what could be his final minor-league rehab start, pitching for Single-A St. Lucie at Jupiter, Fla. If Martinez comes through without any problems, he could be slotted into the Mets’ rotation this weekend in Atlanta, though Randolph has indicated the right-hander may need one final minor-league appearance after tonight’s.