Pump the Breaks on the Gloom and Doom

After starting off 7-3 and holding the league's best record, the Mets looked destined for another playoff run. They then went into Washington maintaining an 8-13 record and 1-10 in their last 11 games. A great start was meddled by terrible situational hitting, a not so good bullpen, horrendous managing, and a galore of injuries. The Mets then proceeded to win four consecutive series' in a row from the Nationals, Braves, Marlins, and Giants. Making their mark at 16-17 and going 8-4 in their last 12 games. Through injuries, controversy, and some laughs, the Mets are back at 1 game under .500 because of their outstanding hitting. Players like Michael Conforto, T.J. Rivera, Jay Bruce, and Rene Rivera have all stepped up to the task and have replaced the production of Yoenis Cespedes and Travis d'Arnaud. The pitching, on the other hand, has yet to step up. Jacob deGrom and Zack Wheeler have both been solid on the mound, while Robert Gsellman, Rafael Montero, Adam Wilk, and Matt Harvey have all been subpar. Gsellman has yet to take the second step in his sophomore season, Montero just can't find the strike zone, Wilk took one for the team after Harvey was suspended, but isn't an MLB pitcher, and Harvey is a troubled diva, who needs to get out of his own way and just think about pitching and not Adriana Lima. Tommy Milone looked serviceable in his Mets debut but resembled a poor mans Jon Niese too much for his own good.

Mets cap off comeback vs. Giants with a Neil Walker walk-off RBI Single

The Harvey situation is a lose-lose situation for both sides. If you don't know already, Matt Harvey claimed he had a "migraine" after going out golfing, when he really was out partying until 4 am because he was upset that his supermodel girlfriend was spending time with her ex-boyfriend, Patriots wide receiver, Julian Edelman. Harvey skipped out on the Mets game on Saturday and that was apparently the last straw for the "embattled diva". The immature 28-year-old was suspended three games without pay and made a heartfelt apology to his teammates after Adam Wilk has flown in after no sleep to take one on the chin for a suspended Harvey.

The plethora of injuries started with Yoenis Cespedes pulling up lame on a double and re-injuring his hamstring even worse than it was before. Cespedes had tweaked his hamstring before and rested during a three-game series. After resting Cespedes then re-injured his hamstring and was placed on the 10-day DL. Travis d'Arnaud injured his wrist after hitting his hand on the back of a bat barrel trying to throw out a runner. He too, rested a few days and then was back in the line-up, only to also re-injure himself. Noah Syndergaard refused to take an MRI on what was called "Biceps Tendinitis", felt he was good to go on that Sunday afternoon, gave up 5 runs in the 1st inning, and then partially tore his lat muscle in the 2nd inning. Leading to a disastrous and embarrassing 23-8 defeat after winning the series in Washington. This all goes into the notion that the Mets mishandle injuries like there is no tomorrow. Their training staff has to be the worst in baseball and year after year, there is always a barrage of injuries, no matter what. Something has got to give with that, you just cannot be the most unhealthy team in baseball season after season, year after year. The Mets have been mocked mercilessly due to their mismanagement of injuries, as Cespedes, d'Arnaud, and Syndergaard have joined already injured players such as David Wright, Steven Matz, Seth Lugo, and Lucas Duda.

The injuries can not overshadow how well the Mets have played as of late though. The offense has clicked on all cylinders and the bullpen has been extremely solid minus the Jeurys Familia blown save that he was due for yesterday. This team has guts, and they are fighters. I really did not expect them to come back to .500 or near .500 this quickly. I am not a fan of him, nor do I like his bullpen management styles as Addison Reed, Jerry Blevins, Fernando Salas, and Hansel Robles are all near the top of the MLB in appearance, which does not seem sustainable, but you have to give Terry Collins a little bit of credit for his team not quitting during this bombardment of injuries. During the past two seasons, through all his bad decision making, Collins has kept his team together through the thick and thin of controversy and injury, and they somehow this season, have bounced backed again through the controversies of Matt Harvey and Noah Syndergaard and every single injury that has impacted this team.

The Mets are also extremely fortunate that the current holders of first place in the National League East, do not have much of a bullpen at all. They are only 5.5 games back when in fact, it could be much much worse. The Nationals have the best and deepest lineup in baseball, but if the Mets can figure out their rotation, they sure as hell can go toe-toe with the Nationals any day of the week.

Through tough times, this team has battled like no other. The depth of their offense will create good problems, and the lack of depth of their pitching will create bad ones. If this team can play like they are right now, and keep taking series', they'll be a fun watch down the stretch. They are for sure a second half-team, proven for two consecutive seasons in a row. For now, they need to focus on their upcoming three-game series in Milwaukee vs. the Brewers with Matt Harvey on the bump trying to win a fifth consecutive series.