Mets fans rejoice – The National League East is awful

As the New York Mets come back home to Flushing after a 7-game road trip where they went 3-4, there is hope.

As the team looks at their last 13 games where they went 5-8, there is hope.

As the Mets open the newspaper and see an overall record of 34-41 and sitting in fourth place in the division, there is hope.

With all this misery, how can there be any hope for the fans and the team themselves you ask?

Because the National League East is so awful.

Of the five teams in the National League East, only the Nationals are an above .500 team going into Monday with a 45-30 record.

The remaining four teams — Braves, Marlins, Mets and Phillies are ALL sub-.500 teams with a combined record of 128-170.

That’s pretty bad — and that’s why the team and  fans should have hope.

Going into Monday, the New York has 12 games remaining before the All Star break and ride a mini-hot streak after sweeping the San Francisco Giants.

Nine of the next 12 games are against the National League East with games against the Marlins, Phillies and Nationals.

There is hope.

There is a chance with a good series of games over the next 12 that the Mets could make a mini-run and move up in the division.

As Kris Kringle said in the classic movie ‘Santa Claus is Coming To Town,’ you have to put one foot in front of the other.

Step by step, the Amazins’ have a chance if they take the proverbial one game at a time.

If they are going to try and do the improbable and make a third consecutive run for a playoff spot, these next 12 games are going to make or break their season.

The Mets need to target the division, not the Wild Card.  The teams in the National League Central and West, respectively, have better records and stronger leads.

Going into Monday, the Nationals have a 11 game lead, but there is hope.

Remember 1969 Mets fans?  They were 10 games back of the Chicago Cubs and were thought to be dead in the water.

Then, the miracle Mets were born.

The National League East and the Washington Nationals are the target – and target practice needs to start in these next 12 games.

Next: Mets turn in big series ahead of favorable schedule

BITES OF THE APPLE: The Mets only have six more games versus the Nationals in the second half of the season… After the All Star break, the Mets won’t play a National League East opponent until August 10 (Phillies)… If the Mets can keep it close, the final 16 games of season are all against the National League East…

Do you think the Mets will make a run and get to the playoffs for a third straight year?  Email me at charlesz1972@yahoo.com or hit me up on Twitter @zito1972.