Optimistic or not, the best chance for the Mets to be serious contenders or fade out of it is coming this weekend. \u00a0Fans often aren’t competitors, and give up before it’s seriously over. \u00a0They make\u00a0judgement\u00a0based on what they believe will happen, and based on what has happened already, or based on small samples or bad losses. \u00a0That doesn’t mean it’s true, or that the Mets are eliminated, but right now the signs do seem bleak as the Mets have had dozens of opportunities to climb back into the race and haven’t.<\/p>\n
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So with the chances slim and the pessimists laughing at you for holding out hope while the Mets still have their own destiny in their hands, each loss becomes a nail in the coffin of this season, each opportunity to gain a game missed hurts all the more. \u00a0 The Mets aren’t competing for a wild card spot although they’re not eliminated either. \u00a0The Mets are one losing streak from the season being all but over, but right now they’re a tease of maybes and what-ifs. \u00a0The Mets could host Atlanta seven (or six or eight) losses back in the wild card race, and sweep the series to get to four losses out with 50 games left to play, which is certainly on the fringes of the race. \u00a0They’ve played the Braves well this season so it wouldn’t be shocking to see that happen.<\/p>\n
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It’s too early, perhaps only days too early, but too early nonetheless to give up on the season. \u00a0Still, many see the high probability of the Mets staying home in October and start thinking about the future. \u00a0They opine about where Murphy should play in 2012, and if he should be getting more time at 2B or RF right now. \u00a0They think about which players will be here, and which won’t. \u00a0Who will be a free agent? \u00a0Which teams should we root for in the playoffs? (that’s easy, the Carlos Beltran Giants)<\/p>\n
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All that discussion is certainly fair given how the Mets have looked lately. \u00a0But they’ll go through a stretch where they look good again too. \u00a0Maybe it comes at the right time and they play the Braves tough. \u00a0Maybe it doesn’t and they’re all but eliminated on Sunday. \u00a0There will be plenty of time for player development discussion when the rosters expand and in the offseason. \u00a0It’s a long offseason. \u00a0You may believe it’s better that the Mets get knocked out now to save us the heartbreak later, but the offseason is long enough as it is and I’ll cling to that small glimmer of hope as long as I can. \u00a0Stranger things have happened than teams like the 2011 Mets suddenly making the playoffs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Optimistic or not, the best chance for the Mets to be serious contenders or fade out of it is coming this weekend. \u00a0Fans often aren’t competitors, and give up before it’s seriously over. \u00a0They make\u00a0judgement\u00a0based on what they believe will happen, and based on what has happened already, or based on small samples or bad … <\/p>\n