What of the Mets?
Well, it's that time of the year again. It is a time for reflection and assessment. It is a time for sober analysis. It is a time to set aside fan-feelings for reality. In short, it is the All-Star break.

Before I begin, let me relate one of my favorite sports trivia questions. This is a good one and few people ever get the right answer.

Q: What are the two days every year that you can guarantee there will be no games involving the four major professional sports, i.e. the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL?

A: Why it's today and Wednesday, the day before and the day after the baseball All-Star Game.

People rarely get this one. The way the question is phrased, people immediately assume it's a holiday when no sports are played, but that's not the case.

Anyway, how 'bout them Mets?

Let's look at the obvious first. With their win over the Pirates on Sunday, the Mets are again at the .500 mark. So, once again we have achieved mediocrity! But take a look at the NL East standings:

Team             W        L      Pct     GB
Washington      52        36     .591    --
Atlanta         50        39     .562   2.5
Florida         44        42     .512   7.0
Philadelphia    45        44     .506   7.5
NY Mets         44        44     .500   8.0

The Mets, while in titular last place, are pretty much the same as Florida and Philly. While we do have a 5 1/2 game deficit to Atlanta, remember we have a four game series against them at Shea right after the break. That could virtually eliminate the deficit. While I'm not suggesting a sweep of Atlanta will be easy, you can't say we're out of it.

Unfortunately, the hitting stats are dismal. Click here for sortable stats at Yahoo. The Mets seem to lead only in stolen bases--thanks mostly to speed merchant Jose Reyes. The pitching stats are much better. Here the Mets are in the top half in all categories. Hey, it's not great, but it is something to work with.

And, while it's premature to talk about a wild card, the open spot will likely go to our division (or possibly Houston). The season is by no means over.

For a hysterically funny mid-season report card (and a genuinely good Mets blog for that matter), click here.

So, bottom line, where are the Mets? In Flushing, of course.
- posted by Base10 @ 11:39 AM