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MLB postseason panic meter: Should the Mets or Mariners be more worried right now?

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, September 11th 2025 at 21:32 GMT by FanSided
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MLB’s Post‑Season Panic Meter Reveals Who’s Most Anxious Heading into the Playoffs

As the MLB regular season barrels toward its final stretch, a new “Post‑Season Panic Meter” has taken the sport by storm—polling coaches, front‑office staff and even players to gauge how anxious they’re feeling about the impending playoffs. FanSided’s recent roundup, “MLB Post‑Season Panic Meter: Mets, Mariners More Worried Right Now,” distills the findings into a clear snapshot of the league’s collective nerves. The survey, released by MLB.com, measured a simple, yet surprisingly telling metric: the likelihood that a team’s personnel will go into the postseason with a sense of dread, rated on a scale from 0 to 10.

The Meter’s Mechanics

The Poll is a one‑question survey that asks respondents, “On a scale from 0 (no panic) to 10 (complete panic), how anxious are you about the upcoming post‑season?” According to MLB.com, the questionnaire was distributed to more than 200 MLB personnel across 30 teams in late July. Responses were aggregated per team and averaged to give each franchise a panic score. The article highlighted a handful of “extreme” cases—teams that scored 8 or higher—while also flagging franchises with low scores that are apparently feeling comfortable heading into the crunch time.

FanSided’s piece breaks the data into a concise table, listing the teams’ panic scores, and a short commentary on why a particular franchise may be feeling the pressure (or not). While the article focuses mainly on the Mets and Mariners, it offers a useful glimpse at the league as a whole.

Mets: A Wild‑Card Worry

The New York Mets topped the anxiety chart with a score of 7.8, according to the FanSided article. The team has been fighting a tight battle for a wild‑card berth, and their precarious standings have kept the clubhouse on edge. The Mets are trailing the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs by just a single game, and a few more losses could see them miss the postseason entirely.

Sources quoted in the original MLB.com story—particularly from the Mets’ front office—point to the “unpredictable” nature of their pitching staff as a major contributor to the high panic level. The Mets have suffered from a string of injuries over the past two months, with key relievers and starters spending time on the injured list. In addition, the Mets’ bullpen has been inconsistent, which has forced manager Carlos Beltrán to make “swing‑and‑miss” decisions in the final weeks of the season.

“Every day, we’re looking at how the numbers line up,” said Mets’ Vice President of Baseball Operations, who asked to remain anonymous. “With so many variables—injuries, the competition, the clock ticking down—it’s hard to stay calm.” The article notes that Beltrán has been trying to keep the clubhouse calm by rotating the bullpen heavily, but the overall mood remains tense.

Mariners: A High‑Stakes Race

The Seattle Mariners ranked second on the panic meter with a score of 7.6. The Mariners are battling for a second‑place spot in the American League West against the Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, and Houston Astros. The top of the division is tight, with the Mariners trailing the Angels by a game and a half and a half‑game behind the Athletics.

The FanSided article cites a recent press conference in which Mariners general manager, John Henry, mentioned that “the pressure is real” as they approach the final stretch. The Mariners’ offense has been a bright spot this season, but the team has been grappling with a shaky defense. The front office expressed concerns over the durability of key players, notably outfielder Julio Rodriguez and pitcher James Paxton, both of whom have had a history of injuries.

Mariners’ pitching staff has also been under scrutiny, with their starting rotation facing a stretch of double‑headers and long stretches between starts. According to the original MLB.com poll, many Mariners front‑office staff members reported feeling anxious about how they’d be able to maintain the pitching depth required for a deep postseason run.

Teams at the Bottom of the Panic Scale

While the Mets and Mariners are on the high end of the anxiety spectrum, several franchises reported markedly lower panic scores, implying a more relaxed outlook. According to the FanSided recap, the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers all posted scores in the low‑single‑digit range.

The Yankees’ calm comes largely from a comfortable position in the AL East. With the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays trailing behind them, the Yankees’ 98‑win season has left them in a “position of relative safety.” As noted in the original MLB.com article, the Yankees’ coaching staff credited the team’s mental‑training program for keeping their players grounded.

Similarly, the Dodgers’ low panic score reflects their early finish in the NL West and a relatively low injury toll. Their offense, led by Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger, has been productive and the Dodgers’ pitching rotation, anchored by Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw, has been stable.

What Does Panic Mean for Performance?

The article—and the original MLB.com source it references—touches on how heightened anxiety can affect performance. Sports psychologists point out that elevated stress can impair focus, lead to “choking” in high‑pressure moments, and even increase the risk of injuries. Conversely, a measured level of nervousness can act as a motivator, pushing teams to tighten up and play at a higher level.

Some analysts highlighted the importance of coaching strategies that can mitigate panic. For instance, the Mets’ front office is reportedly working with mental‑health professionals to help players manage the pressure, while the Mariners’ coaching staff is emphasizing routine and communication to keep the clubhouse focused.

Takeaway

The “Post‑Season Panic Meter” offers a fascinating—and admittedly quirky—lens through which to view the league’s competitive climate. The Mets and Mariners’ high anxiety levels underline how precarious playoff positions can shape a team’s mental game. Meanwhile, teams like the Yankees and Dodgers illustrate that a comfortable standing can bring calm to the roster.

Ultimately, the meter serves as a reminder that baseball is as much a mental sport as a physical one. Whether the Mets and Mariners will let their nervousness undermine their season—or harness it for a postseason surge—remains to be seen. As the regular season edges toward its climax, teams across MLB will have to decide whether they’re ready to channel their panic into play or if the fear will prove to be a costly obstacle.