The NLCS was along the backdrop of Atlanta power hitter Chipper Jones cementing his MVP award that year by crushing Mets pitching for 4 home runs in three games, and 5 walks in the last days of the regular season the Braves swept the series and moved 4 games ahead of the Mets with 9 games to play to their eventual division crown. Thinking that the Braves had eliminated the Mets from playoff contention as they had the year before, Chipper Jones infamously remarked: "now all the Mets fans can go home and put their Yankee stuff on." Despite the setback, the Mets made the playoffs for the first time since 1988. Both had moved forward in the NLDS to see each other for the first time in post-season history since division realignment and since their initial post-season meeting during the 1969 NLCS and the "Miracle Mets."