Just looking at their overall record, most would assume the Mets are a mediocre team at best. They are currently nine games below 500 at 38-49, are 9.5 games behind the NL East leading Braves, and they sit in fourth place. And yet I see reason for optimism.
The Mets currently are 22-21 on the road, the third best road record in the National League, behind only the Pirates and Cardinals. Normally that would be great. In this instance, it leads to a bit of a head scratcher. The Mets are unique to the other 29 teams, as they are the only team that are above 500 on the road and below 500 at home. In fact, their 17-27 mark is the worst home record in the National League.
How can a team be so good on the road, and so dismal on their home turf? That's why I'm optimistic. They simply can't continue to be this bad in Citi Field for the rest of the season, can they? And if they do exercise whatever demons, metaphorical or literal that may be inhabiting Citi Field (my bet's on a succubus), then I think they'll wind up with a respectable overall record.
The postseason might be an overly lofty expectation. This 2013 team has a pretty weak offense and a shaky defense. Their pitching staff is great and will keep them in a lot of games. 80 or so wins doesn't seem too out of the question, but barring several teams going on insane losing streaks, the Mets will sit October out for the seventh straight year.
Unless Citi Field falls into a black hole, requiring the Mets to play the rest of the schedule on the road. If that happens, they might go all the damn way.
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