[Evil Vito]

Last night was the first time in 9 days that the Mets actually lost ground. But whatever, they're 8.5 games up with 17 games to play (better than the 7.5 games up with 17 to play that the historic choking 2007 Mets were). More importantly, the magic number dropped from 23 to 10 in that span.

I mean, I really only consider it a 5.5 game lead because they wrap up the season with a 3-game series vs. the Nats and, if the division was somehow still on the line by then, it means all hell broke loose in the division. The Mets and Nats combine for 29 games between now and then. I'd really like to think they can arrive at the magic number of 10 before that series.

And yet in spite of there being no logical reason to think this Mets team will choke given how they've played since the deadline, I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a part of me that still worries about it happening especially since the Nats will see very little resistance between now and that last series. Life as a Mets fan, I guess. Need to officially clinch to eliminate those ghosts of September past.