That Unknown Sensation You've Been Feeling? Maybe It's Confidence

A few weeks back I wrote that I don't derive any kind of schadenfreudistic pleasure in reading about the misery of other teams' fans.

I think I should revise that. I've gotta admit something here: my new guilty pleasure is reading the Atlanta Journal Constitution (Link: http://www.ajc.com).

After suffering so long with the Mets, I wanted to take the high road on matters of this nature. I didn't want to admit to myself how good it feels to get a little retribution on the Braves for all those years of torment.

But I can't lie to myself any longer. The truth is, I derive actual pleasure by reading quotes from John Smoltz saying "there's not much to be confident about", or seeing headlines that reference how this team is now worse off in the standings than any Braves team in X amount of years (today, the number is up to 16). And don't even get me started on the comments these articles (really, the losses the Braves keep piling up) provoke.

This is all going to sound spiteful, but I love reading about the Braves' struggles, about the misery inflicted upon their fans. As far as I'm concerned, Braves fans deserve that misery. They deserve it because every fan needs to know what it is to suffer. They deserve it because they take success for granted.

But not Mets fans. We don't take any of this for granted. Indeed, a lot of us are probably waiting for the other shoe to drop.

We look at Aaron Heilman's struggles the past couple weeks, or at the gopher balls Glavine has allowed his last two times out, or at the gopher balls Pedro has allowed all season, and tell ourselves that things can't possibly be this good.

And the truth is things won't always be this good. As Bobby Valentine was quick to say, no team is as good as it looks when it's winning all the time, and no team is as bad as it looks when it's losing all time (note: this might not be true in the case of the Kansis City Royals).

But while I can acknowledge that we won't win out our schedule, and while I can acknowledge that at some point the bats are gonna fall cold and the team may have a disappointing week, I will admit to feeling a bizarre (and hitherto completely alien) sense of confidence about the Mets.
It's the same point I was making on the comment board yesterday. It just looks to me like this Mets team has too many weapons to fall into a prolonged slide.

Last night's game is a great example. Yeah, we used the long ball a little bit, but just as important were the exploits of Mr. Glass as he led off the game with a bunt base hit, stole second, and scored on a single by the Duke.

And there he was again in the 6th inning, scoring from second on a ground ball to third. Sure, there was an error mixed in there, but can you think of another player in baseball (with the possible exception of Dae Sung Koo) who would have scored on that play?

Reyes is a microchosm of the entire team. If it's not him, it's the lethal middle of the order. Or it's Chad Bradford coming into the game and turning momentum back in our direction. Or it's David Wright's nifty glovework at third (so much for having no faith in his glove in the 9th inning).

It's all about finding ways to win. It's about teammates picking each other up. Bradford picked up Glavine. Wagner picked up Heilman. Wright picked up Wagner. Add it all up and the Mets won again.

Now look, I may look back at this post a week from now the way I look back at the "Moon Men Walking" piece I wrote one week ago today. Things can change so quickly in baseball.

But there are some things I don't expect to change. For the first time in my memory as a Mets fan, I don't expect the Mets to fail, and I don't expect that to change.

They've just got too many pieces, too many ways to hurt you. That explains why they've never lost 3 games in a row all season, or why they've got the best record in the National League.

When the Mets fall behind, I think they're still in it. And I think you probably do too.

It's a strange time to be a Mets fan, but it's nice having actual, legitimate confidence in your team.

And I won't lie, it's also kind of nice knowing how much it all bothers Braves fans.

It's been a nice, fun ride to this point. Seventeen games over .500, 7.5 games up on the Phils. We just need to keep it up.

After watching this team through 63 games, I fully expect we will.

- A.F.O.M.G.