Mets Minors Affiliates Push for the Playoffs

As the minor league seasons come to a close, the Mets have several minor league teams that are on pace for a playoff appearance. Reviewing the playoff procedures for each league and what the Mets affiliates have to do to get in.

            While the Mets have plenty of September call up options, I’m not expecting the Mets to make a lot of roster moves on September 1, which is the day rosters expand to 40, as their top two minor league clubs should be busy preparing for round 1 of the playoffs.

Las Vegas 51s

Current Record: 69-55, 9.5 Games ahead of 2^nd place El Paso in the Pacific Southern division of the Pacific Coast League.

Games Remaining: 20 Games, 8 at home

Playoff Procedures: The PCL has the American Conference (North and South divisions) and the Pacific Conference (North and South divisions). The best record in each division advances to the playoffs. In round 1, the division leaders in each conference square off in a best-of-5 series. In round 2, the conference champions face off in a best-of-5 series.

If the 51s make it, they would host games 1 and 2 in round 1 and round 2, and games 3-5 would be on the road. If El Paso manages to catch up to the 51s and the teams end in a tie, the 51s would still advance due to their better record in head-to-head matchups.

How they make it: Don’t collapse – they have the division pretty well wrapped up.

Binghamton Mets

Current Record: 72-48, 2 Games behind the Portland Sea Dogs in the Eastern division of the Eastern League, 14 games ahead of 3^rd place Trenton.

Games Remaining: 22 games, 11 at home

Playoff Procedures: The EL has two divisions, Eastern and Western. The two best records in each division advance to the playoffs. In round 1, the top two teams in each division face off in a best-of-five series with the 2^nd place team hosting games 1 and 2. In round 2, the winners of round 1 will square off in a best-of-5 series.

If the BMets make it to round 2, they would host games 3-5. If the BMets and Portland are tied, Portland is treated as the 1^st place team due to the head-to-head advantage.

How they make it: Don’t collapse – they have at least a 2^nd place finish pretty well wrapped up.

St. Lucie Mets

Current Record: 64-52 overall, 24-23 2^nd half, 5.5 Games behind the Bradenton Marauders in the South division of the Florida State League, 9 games ahead of last place Jupiter.

Games Remaining: 22 games, 9 at home

Playoff Procedures: The FSL has two divisions: North and South, and splits their season into a 1^st half and a 2^nd half. Each division produces two playoff teams, one for the 1^st half champ and one for the 2^nd half champ. In round 1, the division champions are determined by a best-of-3 series, and the 1^st half winner has the option to host game 1 or games 2 and 3. In round 2, the North division champ faces the South division champ in a best-of-5 series.

If St. Lucie makes it to round 2, home field advantage goes to the North Division champ for 2014.

How they make it: Strangely enough, the easiest route to the playoffs for St. Lucie is if the Fort Myers Miracle repeats as South division champ for the 2^nd half. If the Miracle repeat as champ, the team with the next best overall record earns the second playoff spot. Overall, the Mets are still only in 4^th place, but they are just a half of a game behind the Bradenton Marauders and the Palm Beach Cardinals thanks to a strong 1^st half record. The Miracle are 1.5 games behind Bradenton and half of a game behind Palm Beach in the 2^nd half standings, so they have a better chance of ending up in 1^st place again. Unfortunately, including today (August 12^th), the Mets play 5 games against Fort Myers.

Savannah Sand Gnats

Current Record: 76-41 overall, 32-19 2^nd half, 3 Games behind the Asheville Tourists in the Southern Division of the South Atlantic League, 6 games ahead of 3^rd place Charleston.

Games Remaining: 19 games, 9 at home

Playoff Procedures: The SAL has two divisions: Northern and Southern, and splits their season into a 1^st half and 2^nd half. Each division produces two playoff teams, one for the 1^st half champ and one for the 2^nd half champ. In round 1, the division champions are determined by a best-of-3 series, and the 1^st half winner host’s games 2 and 3. In round 2, the Northern division champ faces the Southern division champ in a best-of-5 series.

If Savannah makes it to round 2, they will host games 1 and 2.

How they make it: They already have, they were the 1^st half winners.

Brooklyn Cyclones

Current Record: 30-27, 9 Games behind the Hudson Valley Renegades in the McNamara division of the New York-Penn League, 2.5 games ahead of 3^rd place Staten Island; 1 game behind the Connecticut Tigers for the NYPL Wild Card, 2.5 games ahead of next-best Lowell.

Games Remaining: 19 games, 9 at home

Playoff Procedures: The NYPL has three divisions: McNamara, Pinckney and Stedler. The four-playoff spots go to the best record in each division and one Wild Card playoff spot. Round 1 is a best-of-3 series, with the Wild Card facing off against the team with the best record, leaving the other two division winners to square off. In round 2, the winners from round 1 face off in a best-of-three series, with home field advantage determined by record.

How they make it: If they win the Wild Card.

Kingsport Mets

Current Record: 25-26, 4 Games behind the Elizabethton Twins in the West division of the Appalachian League, 9.5 games ahead of last place Bristol; 2 games behind both Greeneville and Johnson City for 2^nd place.

Games Remaining: 17 games, 9 at home

Playoff Procedures: The Appy league has two divisions: East and West. The best two records in each division move on to the playoffs. In round 1, the team’s battle for their division title in a best-of-3 series, with the division leader hosting games 2 and 3. In round 2, the East division champs face the West division champs in a best-of-3 series.

How they make it: By finishing in 2^nd place. They have two teams to pass, but two games out with 17 games to go is not an insurmountable deficit to overcome.