After yesterday's disappointing loss to Pittsburgh, Mets fans may be wondering whether it's time to throw in the towel and look to next year. With the All-Star break beginning Monday, it is time for reflection, but Base10 says it's too early to give up.

First, the current series isn't over yet. If the Mets win this series they go into the All-Star break on a positive note and above .500. The spread in the NL East is such that if any team manages to put together a good winning streak, they can take the Division.

Second, perhaps the more important test will be the first series after the All-Star break: a four-game homestand against Atlanta. A poor performance then really will support the towel throwers.

Third, the Nationals will come down to earth.
I don't want to take away anything from the Nationals, they have after all come in out of the Canadian cold and given their new fans quite a show, but they are beatable. The fact that they can do so well with their talent level is a testament to good coaching. But unlike football, where the talent level is so similar across teams and coaching is the difference between 8-8 and a Superbowl ring, in baseball, in the long run, coaching cannot make much of a difference in a player's batting average.

- posted by Base10 @ 12:12 PM