Don't Count Them Out Yet

The Mets may have lost the weekend series against the Phillies, but I wouldn't write them off just yet. There are a few positive things to consider when thinking about the state of the Mets. With roughly half of the season left to play, they have more than enough time to catch up. We are near the halfway point in the season and many people are starting to have doubts about the Mets' playoff chances. While they have struggled, I don't think this is a time to worry. We must consider a couple of points before bidding the Mets a farewell. First, despite the record that is under .500, the Mets are only 4 games out of first place. Second, sure they have a lot of injuries, but a considerable portion of those players will return after the all star break. Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, John Maine, and Oliver Perez will be returning for duty. This will relieve the Mets of some of their struggles, particularly in the lineup and on the field. Simply having Reyes back will shake up the lineup severely because of his speed and Beltran can bring back some power. One of the problems they've experienced has come on defense, and these two players should help restore some consistency. In addition, it's too early to call it quits because they will also be getting most, if not all, of the remaining players on the DL back. This will happen by september, a crucial time during the season. These are all proven players who can help the Mets get back on a winning pace. Look for the Mets to make a push in the second half of the season and give the Phillies and Marlins a run for their money.