NEW YORK It was at some point in the fourth inning, probably as Yoenis Cespedes home run was searing towardthe second deck in left field, that the Mets and Dodgers realized Game 3 Ryne Sandberg Jersey of the NL Division Series was already history. The TV cameras were still rolling, of course, the fans were still living and dying with every pitch and still calling for Chase Utleysneck but the playershad already moved on.The battlelines were being drawn for tonights Game 4. The Dodgers turned their gaze towardClayton Kershaw, their last line of defense, and perhaps the only one who can preserve Don Mattinglys job.MORE: Photos from the NLDS | Mets deliver best po sible response in Game 3 The Mets are holding their breath, too. Even though theyre in a commanding position in this Series, theyre neverthele s asking rookie Steven Matz to out-pitch Kershaw, not to mention deal with a crowd thatll border on riotous. If you thought Citi Field was out of control on Monday night and it was theres no way to quantify whats about to be unleashed in a few hours.In Anthony Rizzo Jersey fact, the Mets 13-7 whipping of the Dodgers in Game 3 brought out the inner beast in greater New York. It almost felt like Shea Stadium in the late 80s, back when the Mets owned the town, and a night at the ballpark could leave you with a ringing in your ears.The old place could actually shake on a good night. It felt that way again in the new ballpark, as the Dodgers were collapsing under the weight of a 10-run avalanche in a three-inning span. The tickets buyers showed up looking for revenge against Utley, but the Mets delivered a more meaningful gift a chance to advance to the NL Championship Series with just one more victory.Nine innings thats all. Its no stretch to say the entire Mets family, which has been starving for October succe s since 2006, will be ready.Im sure the place will be jumping, is what David Wright had to say after Game 3. He would know, having lived through the 06 surge, which left the Mets one pitch short of the World Series. Who ever thought Carlos Beltrans last, frozen look at Adam Wainwrights curveball in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series, would represent the start of a nine-year drought?Wright has lived through some awful summers in Flushing, which is why closing out the Dodgers Ron Santo Jersey would mean so much to him tonight. But the third baseman isnt ready to think that way, not by a long shot, not with Kershaw still standing in the Mets way.Even though the Dodgers ace has a 1-6 career record in the postseason, Don Mattingly said, I feel good about (Kershaw).Even starting on three days rest?The manager nodded.I always feel good about Clayton, any time he takes the ball, he said.Kershaw says it would be a mistake to underestimate him, even on short rest, even in front of a hostile crowd. Hes right when he says, the adrenaline takes over in late October. If Kershaw is right, if he has the big, 12-to-6 curveball working Anthony Rizzo Cool Base White Jersey , the Series might very well go back to LA for Game 5.But if it does, the Mets still think they have the upper hand, since Jacob deGrom will be working on full rest. So will Zack Greinke, the NLs ERA champ, but after out-performing Kershaw in Game 1, deGrom has emerged as the Series most dominant figure. One major league executive said, (deGrom) is in the Dodgers heads, I guarantee you that. I dont think they can hit him.Terry Collins had considered using deGrom, but it wouldve been only as an emergency, in case Matt Harvey failed in Game 3. He almost did, allowing three runs in the second inning, working without much of a fastball. Collins said, Matt didnt have his good stuff but lucky for the Mets, Brett Anderson and reliever Alex Wood were even worse.Thats why the uproar over Utley came and went, like a wave crashing on the beach, only to recede in silence. There were the expected chants of "Utley sucks and one banner quickly confiscated by stadium security, proclaimed Chase Utley (loves) ISIS.But the war between the two teams never happened, in part because Utley never got in the game, and also because commi sioner Rob Manfred spoke with Mattingly and Collins in the hours before the first pitch. While stopping short of i suing a formal warning, Manfred neverthele s reminded both managers what was at stake (the games reputation), the platform (the postseason) and who Kris Bryant Cool Base White Jersey was watching (everyone).Its about representing the game the right way, Mattingly said, recalling the conversation. He and Collins agreed before the teams took the field: the game would not turn into a European soccer riot.But thats not to say the atmosphere wont be charged this evening. Charged? Think: open air asylum. With the Mets on the brink of winning the Division Series, Flushing is getting ready for the time tunnel, back to the 80s when the Mets ruled the Big Apple. Theyre almost there.
