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Mets Madness Tournament: Match-Up Schedule for December 1-7

ByTim Boyle|
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 20: Bartolo Colon #40 of the New York Mets pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the first inning at AT&T Park on August 20, 2016 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 20: Bartolo Colon #40 of the New York Mets pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the first inning at AT&T Park on August 20, 2016 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Our Mets Madness Tournament begins this week on Twitter with four play-in matches before the final 64 do battle.

Today the Mets Madness tournament begins on the Rising Apple Twitter page. This offseason bracket tournament to determine the favorite New York Mets player debuts in its first week with four play-in matches followed by three battles from different decades.

On December 1, we dip into the 00/10s bracket where Joe McEwing and Steven Matz battle for the number 11 seed. I’m giving the edge to Matz because of his current presence on the team. I suspect many current Mets will have an edge over the competition.

December 2 includes another play-in with Endy Chavez and Billy Wagner up against each other for the 15 seed in the Overflow bracket. These players couldn’t be much different. Chavez is known for a single play whereas Wagner is a borderline Hall of Fame closer. I think Mets fans will give Chavez the nod here.

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We get to December 3 and go back way into the past for a play-in round for the right to get the number 3 seed. Jack Fisher and Art Shamsky do battle here. I think this will be a closely contested match-up with Shamsky’s presence on the 1969 team giving him the win.

The play-in round finishes on December 4 with Ray Knight playing against Lenny Dykstra. Can Dykstra overcome his off-field issues and defeat the 1986 World Series MVP? The winner has to face Keith Hernandez next so it may not matter who wins anyway. I say Knight comes out ahead.

When the tournament of 64 begins on December 5, we begin in the 00/10s bracket with number 7 Wilmer Flores facing number 10 Curtis Granderson. It’s a war of “good guys” and I think this one will come down to the wire. Ultimately, I think Granderson gets the win in what would be an opening upset. Although, Flores’ recent non-tender may win some votes.

We introduce our first Hall of Famer on the ballot on December 6 when number 5 Gary Carter and former batterymate number 12 Sid Fernandez face off. This pair of 1986 Mets Champions have their share of fans. Carter will win this one in a landslide.

The week finishes on December 7 with a huge match-up; pun intended. Number 3 seed Bartolo Colon and number 14 seed Benny Agbayani will shake the earth. Colon’s more recent appearance on the Mets and lengthier/more successful run should give him an easy win. However, I think the Agbayani fans will make their presence known.

Let’s run down the schedule one more time.

December 1: (11) Joe McEwing vs. (11) Steven Matz (Play-In)
December 2: (15) Endy Chavez vs. (15) Billy Wagner (Play-In)
December 3: (14) Jack Fisher vs. (14) Art Shamsky (Play-In)
December 4: (16) Ray Knight vs. (16) Lenny Dykstra (Play-In)
December 5: (7) Wilmer Flores vs. (10) Curtis Granderson
December 6: (5) Gary Carter vs. (12) Sid Fernandez
December 7: (3) Bartolo Colon vs. (14) Benny Agbayani

Remember to check each day on our Twitter for your chance to vote. You get two of them.

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Who do you think comes out on top in these match-ups?

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