national league
Matt Harvey Is Wide Awake in the Mets' Dream Season
Matt Harvey was once a player that Mets fans dreamed on, but as New York continues their improbable dream season, he has emerged in a surprising new role: buzzkill.
The Happy, Scary Cubs and the Rough Justice of the Wild Card
There's nothing fair about a system that makes the second- and third-best teams in baseball play a one-game playoff, but the injustice makes it that much more fun.
The New York Mets, and the Last Meaningless Game
After nearly a decade of failure, the Mets ran away with the National League East and earned themselves some meaningless games in October. These felt different.
There Is No Right Answer to the National League Cy Young Debate
Three pitchers dominated the National League in 2015, each in different ways. But only one of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Jake Arrieta can win the Cy Young.
Travis d'Arnaud is the Mets' Not-So-Secret Weapon
Yoenis Cespedes has gotten all the hype for the Mets turnaround, but a healthy Travis d'Arnaud may be their real MVP.
Bryce Harper, Jonathan Papelbon, And The Problem With Unwritten Rules
There's nothing all that complicated about Jonathan Papelbon choking out Bryce Harper. But it's no surprise in a game governed by contradictory, unwritten rules.
The Slapstick Slap Fight That Sums Up The 2015 Washington Nationals
On Sunday, Jonathan Papelbon and Bryce Harper got in a brawl in the Washington Nationals dugout. It didn't look good, but it was the Nats' 2015 in a nutshell.
Watching Clayton Kershaw, Who Makes It All Work
Clayton Kershaw is still one of the best pitchers in baseball, if not quite as effortless as he's seemed in the past. It's only made him more thrilling to watch.
Curtis Granderson Is Your Favorite Met
The New York Mets are having a special season, and while Curtis Granderson isn't the team's best player, he's the one who seems to be enjoying it the most. It shows.
Matt Williams, Terry Collins, And The Mystery Of Managing
Matt Williams was the National League Manager of the Year in 2014. In 2015, he's getting criticized and kicked around. He didn't get worse. He just has a weird job.
The New York Mets Are Really Doing This Thing
The Mets have always been weird and, for most of the past decade, they've been the punchline to a not very funny joke. Right now, however, they're very good.
David Roth's Weak in Review: Meaningful Games in August
The New York Mets are suddenly looking very good. It's just August, but it already feels like time to get extremely stupid about all this.