Opinion: I Still Believe, You Should Too
Tonight the Mets will begin their final homestand of the regular season, with four games against the National League Central champion Cubs, followed by three games against the Marlins.
David Wright, speaking to reporters following yesterday’s loss to the Braves, said:
“We’re still in control of getting into the playoffs the last seven games, and that’s what you ask for…We’re going to see what we’re made of.”
Wright is, well, right. The Mets do control their own destiny, as far as the winning the Wild Card is concerned. Even if the Mets go 4-3 over their next seven games, the Brewers would need to win five over their last six to tie the Mets and force a one-game playoff.
Of course, last season the Mets controlled their own destiny as well, and promptly orchestrated the greatest collapse in baseball history, but I firmly believe this is a different team.
The tougher task lies in the Mets chances of winning the National League East. In order for the Mets to win the division, they must play two games better than the Phillies.
The Phillies play their final six games at home versus the Braves and Nationals, which the Phillies are a combined 22-8 against this season.
With that said, I still believe in this team, and you should too. Yes, the bullpen is horrific and the offense is spotty late in games, but this is no time to abandon this team or be negative.
We are Mets fans, dammit! We’re not front runners. We’re a collection of hopeful believers that loves our team until the very end, regardless of how joyful or brutal the outcome.
This team needs our support and we should all give it, with no strings attached.
If you will be at the games this week, I urge you to refrain from booing and cheer this time with everything you have. You don’t need to bring anything more than your loud voice and your heart.
As the late great Tug McGraw told Mets fans in 1973, ‘Ya Gotta Believe!’
