The Mets made it a short business trip to LA. They beat the Dodgers in Game 3, 9-5 to sweep the best of five NL Division Series and advance to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2000. By winning three in a row, they now get to go home, rest their starters and injured outfielder Cliff Floyd, set their pitching rotation and await the winner of the Padres-Cardinals series.
At the start of the playoffs, with the news that they would be without starting pitchers Pedro Martinez and Orlando El Duque Hernandez, some of the so-called experts predicted a grim outcome for the Metropolitans. But the truth is, they have used 13 starters this season and rarely had an entirely healthy roster, in route to 97 wins and the best record in the National League. Theyve done it with a solid bullpen and a powerful offense. They certainly arent out of the woods and the starting rotation remains a challenge, but if they are to get to the World Series, they will need to continue that strategy.
I had three wishes before any of the games started on Saturday, 1) I wanted the Padres to beat the Cardinals, to extend that series at least another game, 2) I wanted Detroit to beat the Yankees, to send them home with their tails between their legs, and 3) I wanted to see the Mets sweep their series and get time to prepare for the next round. My wishes were all answered.
My next wish? Eight more wins.
UPDATE: We now know who we’ll face in the NLCS.