Two in a row! For the first time since May 21, the Mets have won two games in a row. Chalk it up to a bad bullpen, a lack of offense, injuries, or bad luck in general; whatever you want. But after scoring five runs in each of their last two games, the Mets face a choice.

Obviously, any team would choose to win ballgames rather than lose (except the Marlins and Orioles). These last two games have showcased an energy the Mets haven’t shown in a very long time, and for the first time in that long time, they were fun to watch.

Down by two runs in the top of the 9th inning with two outs and Jose Reyes up at the plate against the Diamondback’s closer… We all knew they were going to lose. There was no chance they were going to come back and win, so as the Mets seemed to have been doing for the past month, we signed off. Then, all of a sudden, the Mets caught a break.

Reyes laid down a bunt, and whether or not you think Alex Avila should have let that ball roll, Reyes made something happen. He provided a spark and, for a second, pre-2011 Reyes came back from the dead. Even then, with Jose Bautista as the tying run at the plate, we still knew the Mets would lose.

Then, on a 2-2 count, Bautista hit a long line drive to right field. If the last month were any indication, the ball would have been caught and the game would be over. But the Baseball Gods were in a good mood and the ball clanked off Jon Jay‘s glove to score Reyes and put Bautista on second base.

All of a sudden, we were sitting up in our chairs. Some of us even at the edge of our seats, because who was coming up to bat? Brandon Nimmo. We got that feeling in our stomachs, almost a premonition that we knew what was going to happen.

The Mets took the lead thanks to that Brandon Nimmo home run, and the few fans that kept the Pix-11 channel on were either cheering or, like me, silently watching with their mouths agape trying to process what had just happened. Before we could fully process the home run, Asdrubal Cabrera hit another one and the Mets had an insurance run. Mets win 5-3.

So here is where the choice comes in. The Mets are at a fork in the road right now and, as Yogi Berra would say, they need to take it. They’ve been cruising at 45 mph in the right lane with their hazards on, letting the other teams zoom by at 70 mph. They can either keep doing that, or they can man up and play to their potential.

We all knew coming into this season the Mets had the talent necessary to get to the playoffs. The only difference between now and then, really, are the losses of Juan Lagares, Travis d’Arnaud, and Matt Harvey. But to fill their places have been Brandon Nimmo, Devin Mesoraco, and Seth Lugo. With players starting to filter back in from the disabled list, the lineup just keeps getting deeper.

Guys who have been underperforming are starting to dig themselves out of the hole. Yes, some guys are still struggling like Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier, but hitting is contagious. They are too good to stay in these slumps and they absolutely will come out of it.

When it comes down to it, the point of this article is to remind you that it’s okay to be optimistic. It’s healthy! I know it’s hard considering how crappy the Mets have played, but you need to remember, that these guys have been doing this for a long time and they’re really good at it — That’s why they’re paid so much money.

The Mets bats all seemed to hit a slump at the same time. Slowly but surely, one by one, they’re starting to come out of it. As I said, hitting is contagious, and the bug seems to be spreading in the clubhouse with Brandon Nimmo being patient zero.

The starting pitching has been superb despite all these rough times, and the bullpen has been better of late with the dominance of Robert Gsellman. If the bats come around, and the starters just keep doing what they’re doing, all of a sudden the Mets are winning ballgames.

The team went 11-1 to start the season. If they could do it then, they can do it now. And really, they must put together a run like that. It is still June, and it’s no time to panic, but this is a crucial turning point. The next few weeks will decide what happens at the trade deadline, and thus, the rest of the season.