WASHINGTON (AP) - If the New York Mets are concerned about reliving 2007, they should be aware Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez plans to play his regulars during a season-ending series at Shea Stadium - just like a year ago.
"We're going to jump from the frying pan right into the fire and be in a significant series - 'spoiler' or whatever you want to call it," Gonzalez said Wednesday before the Marlins played the Washington Nationals.The Mets host the Marlins for three games Friday through Sunday to close the regular season. New York, trying to clinch a playoff berth, entered Wednesday 1 1/2 games behind Philadelphia in the NL East and a game ahead of Milwaukee for the wild card.
Florida was mathematically eliminated Tuesday night.
A year ago, at Shea, the Mets dropped two of three games to last-place Florida on the regular season's final weekend to complete a historic collapse from leading the NL East by seven games with 17 to play to missing the playoffs.
In explaining why he was putting some young Marlins prospects in the lineup Wednesday against Washington, Gonzalez noted that, "If everything stays the same, we're getting ready to go play a real significant series in New York."
"We're going with our guys, with the guys that played the significant amount of games. The regulars," Gonzalez added.
Asked why, Florida's manager said: "For the integrity of the game and for the way you should play the game. That's the only way to do it. Like we did last year."
