Cliche': "What a difference a year makes"

I'm not big on cliche's. However, it seems fitting right now. The fact that the Mets currently sit only 1/2 a game out of first place on June 16th is staggering considering how poorly they started the year and how poorly they have played on the road this year.

On June 16th
2010 - 36-28, 1/2 a game back of the Braves for 1st place
2009 - 33-29, 3 games behind the Phillies for 1st place

While the overall records are similar, they don't tell the whole story. The Mets started out hot last year and the wheels began to fall off in late May when the injuries started to really handicap the team. There was no depth, no help in the minor league system. At this point last year, the Mets run differential vs. opponents was +6. This year, they are +37. Stark contrast.

This year, after a slow start, the Mets have really turned it on, winning 16 of their last 21 games. While their hot play of late cannot continue, I think the Mets are built to stay in the racethe entire year. If they can pick up a big piece or 2 (trade for another starting pitcher and Beltran?), the Mets could become the favorites in the NL East. This is especially true if the Phillies continue to stumble.

Now that was the glass half full way of thinking. What if the Phillies remember that they are the Phillies and start scoring 8 runs a game again? What if R.A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi remember why they are journeymen pitchers? What if the Mets have an injury or 2 to their 'core'?

It's a long season, but the current track of the Mets is a good one, especially when compared to this point in the season last year.

LETS GO METS!!! YA GOTTA BELIEVE!!!