CINCINNATI — When the Mets arrived to the visitors’ clubhouse Sunday morning, the scent of champagne still hung in the air and the carpet was still wet from the night before, from their celebration after they clinched their first postseason berth since 2006. Many players trudged in just after 11 a.m. with bags under their eyes, clutching iced coffees.
They headed straight for the kitchen for breakfast, and laughed and carried on. Batting practice had been canceled, and several veterans were getting the day off, as a reward. Manager Terry Collins wanted everyone to breathe easy Sunday and Monday, the off day, and then ramp up for the final six regular-season games to try to earn home-field advantage and prepare for the Los Angeles Dodgers, their likely opponent in the National League division series.