Pushing Past .500 And Beyond; Crucial Stretch Upcoming for Mets

With Friday night’s pummeling 8-1 defeat to the Texas Rangers, the Mets are now 5-11 in games where they can back to .500, at .500 and over .500. The Mets returned the favor Saturday night and demolished the Rangers 14-5 and once again have a chance to reach .500 in Sunday’s finale. Is the .500 mark beginning to wear and tear on the team’s psyche?

The .500 mark has been made into such a big deal over the past couple of weeks in New York, but when you step back and think about a team playing in the country’s the number-1 market, a team with a $140 million dollar payroll, and a team with multiple superstars playing .500 is nothing but mediocrity. Are Mets fan finally beginning to accept mediocrity in a town that’s emphasis is win now.

The last time the Mets were over .500 was when they were 3-2, which seems sometime ago now. I continue to hear from all around the Mets are legitimate contenders for the National League’s wildcard, but from what I’ve seen from this team the past few weeks now, is nothing more than an average team at best.

I understand the Mets have been without the services of Johan Santana all season long and have missed sluggers Ike Davis and David Wright for sometime now. But over the past few seasons now injuries have caught up with this team, and it’s not an excuse anymore. Just as the age old theory goes in the NFL when one man goes down, the next man up, the same should be said for the Mets team.

Justin Turner, Daniel Murphy, and Ruben Tejada have done more than anyone could have ever expected coming into 2011, but every time the Mets seem to be turning the corner and hurdling this .500 mark, one thing or another continues to hold them back.

These next 5-series coming up, which will take the Mets to the All-Star break will undoubtedly tell the story if this team are pretenders or contenders. With David Wright’s return expected shortly after the All-Star break, but still no estimate on Ike Davis or Johan Santana’s return, if this team can somehow remain in the thick of the things, this may be a stretch where the Mets look back on in September as a potential turning point to their season.