Mets making playoffs would be first step in much-needed standard change

Just getting into the playoffs this year is enough for now for these Mets. But in the big picture, it must be a step in Year 1 of the Steve Cohen/David Stearns partnership.The larger ideals they are pursuing are across from them at Citi Field this weekend and looming in the coming days in Atlanta. On Friday night, the Phillies routed the Mets 12-2 to clinch a playoff spot.

Afterward, their personnel went through a subdued celebration.The expectation the larger-scale champagne spray-a-thon would come with clinching their first NL East title since 2011, which was in play beginning Saturday at Citi. Still, it is clear now that simply getting in is not enough.

The Phillies have moved their goalpost by reaching the postseason for a third straight year.After Friday’s playoff clincher, their manager, Rob Thomson, said, “This is the standard.

The goal is now firmly entrenched that it’s to win a World Series.And that’s it.

And that’s good to feel.It really is.” I asked Thomson to go deeper on the “standard” before Saturday’s game and he explained, “It’s a mindset you bring going to spring training — it’s not OK to just be talking about playing .500 or wanting to be better or wanting to make positive change.

It’s not good enough.It’s just not.

I always say that teams that get over .500 are good, that teams that get to the playoffs are very good, but the team that wins the World Series is a great team.And we want to be great.

Every year.” Thomson said that became embedded in him during his nearly three decades working for the Yankees mostly during a championship-or-bust phase.Carlos Mendoza said his “standard” also was formed in more than 15 years working with the Yankees. “We know we are in a tough division and that the league around us is getting better,” Mendoza said.

“But the standard for us just can’t be playing meaningful games in September.We have to be playing games in October — and deep into October.

Those m...