The Pretender?

Let's be realistic here, Mets fans. Yes, the team is 4 games over .500 and only 2 1/2 behind first place Atlanta. They're also tied for second place with Philadelphia (a percentage point behind to be exact.) These are things that, at the least, can be encouraging. But here is the hard truth.

No team that plays .300 baseball on the road will ever make it to the post season. (Captain obvious came to save the day.)

With that, the importance of the next nine games for New York simply can not be understated. Scratch that, I'll go with next six - assuming the Yankees series goes 2-1 in some direction as it most often does.

But this is do or die, early June or not. Why? Because here is a chance to cure road woes (if you can even call it that) against two of the very worst teams baseball has to offer.

If not now, when?

At minimum, the Mets must take 4 of the next 6 and 2 of 3 respectively - if for nothing else to get a taste of road victory and to eliminate a potential monstrous mental block.

What's it going to be, Mets? Contender or pretender? Because 2 1/2 games out is a bit deceiving for an 8-18 road team.


-Tom Greenhalgh (6/11/10)