As I was writing the title to this post I realized there was unintentionally two meanings to it.

Of course, the first is that I called yesterday’s post “Last Day of the Season,” so this is the second pass at that.

And then there’s the simple fact that the Mets are playing two games in Atlanta.

I guess it’s also appropriate that I have two takes on the situation today:

On the one hand, I just don’t see how the Mets can’t take one of the two games they play today, clinching a playoff spot for themselves.

On the other hand….I’m very scared they get swept.

I’ve been saying it since, oh, probably the summer months: it’s hard for me to be too disappointed in the way this season turns out, no matter what happens, because the Mets took us on such a fun ride from June on.

I wish I could say I still felt that way - but the standard has risen here and I very badly want to see them get a chance in the playoffs.

I realized that on Friday night when they lost to the Brewers. That one really hurt, and after the loss in Atlanta earlier in the week and then when the Mets couldn't get important wins on Friday and Saturday I started to get very disappointed.

So I would certainly get over it and appreciate what this season was…but I just can not imagine sitting through 18 innings of baseball today and ending up not seeing the Mets celebrate.

(And I admit to having daydreamed a bit about the possibility of the Mets winning both and keeping Atlanta out of the post-season. But that’s not the goal. One win is the goal.)

I have pulled out all the stops on my end: Lucky shirt - the one I wore to the Jesse Winker walk-off game and have worn at home for many wins, including yesterday - and if you don't believe in the lucky shirt scenario consider because I wore the Mets lucky shirt yesterday I couldn’t wear a Jets shirt and look how that turned out.

I’m sorry. I can’t save everyone.

I did my run early this morning so I could get my work done early and be ready to focus on the Mets all afternoon. I was somewhat productive…but I’m writing this now so you kind of get a sense of how the workday went for me.

I’m getting my flu and COVID shots before the game and we’ll see how that recovery goes over the next day or so. (Based on Kathy’s experience I’m expecting I’ll need some nap time tomorrow.)

But the rest of it is up to the Mets, believe it or not.

I hope Tylor Megill can keep pitching as well as he has been recently. David Peterson has turned his career around amazingly. Maybe that’s starting to happen for Megill. He can prove something to at least me today.

Francisco Lindor has been so gutsy playing through his back injury, and he showed yesterday how valuable he is to this team setting the tone for the win. He’s put himself in position to have another 30-30 season with a stolen base today. I am sure he’ll get it.

Brandon Nimmo had a big hit yesterday - his first since the big hit Sunday night against the Phillies. He’s been proving himself in clutch moments all down the stretch, and there’s nothing more clutch than right now.

Tyrone Taylor has been a godsend offensively and defensively.

Francisco Alvarez is heating up. Mark Vientos showed some signs of life in Milwaukee. J.D. Martinez broke out of his awful slump. Maybe all the pieces are coming together today.

I also can’t believe Spencer Schwellenbach continues to dominate the Mets the way he has up to now, so I think facing him a third time works in the Mets’ favor. (I’m focusing on the first game here because I’m hoping there’s not a do-or-die second game.)

And that leads us to Pete Alonso. He’s been up in so many key spots this stretch run. He’s walked some of the time because teams aren’t giving him much to hit. But he has also failed to come through when he’s had the opportunity to hit. For fans who remember Carlos Beltran more for taking strike three from Adam Wainwright than for a great 7 years in Queens…there’s a chance what happened in September 2024 could paint fans’ memories of Pete Alonso’s time with the Mets.

He has a chance to re-write that story beginning this afternoon. All else will be forgotten if he comes through big.

And then all of the Mets have a chance to make October 2024 one for the Mets history books.

Hopefully I’ll write about that tomorrow.

Let’s Go Mets.