The Message

We knew what we were in for the moment the schedule was released. Three in St. Louis. Three in Atlanta. Three at home vs. Philly. Three series, three playoff hopefuls. There would be no easing in to 2007.

The difference from 2006 couldn't be starker. That team, that time, that season began with 8 eight games against the Nationals and Marlins, teams that finished a combined 26 games under .500.

This year we were thrown right into the fire, but none of us mind that, do we? I don't. I've never wavered with my confidence in this team, so I say fuck it all, give me your Cardinals, give me your Braves, give me your Phillies, let's get right to it. Do you know how they teach birds to fly? They push them out of the nest.

This Mets team is flying high right now, having swept their 2006 nemesis to open the season. That was fun, and it was significant from a morale perspective, but it's the opportunity to send an altogether more important message that we're presented with tonight.

The N.L. East belonged to Atlanta nearly as long as some of us can remember, but last year was different. The Mets owned the division virtually the entire season. When it was over, the Braves, the perennials champs, had finished 18 games behind the first place Mets. It was fun while it lasted.

Zoom forward to the present and the Mets and Braves are each 3-0. The Braves are a better ball club than they were last year, with a more reliable bullpen and, theoretically at least, a better rotation. Fresh off a sweep of the self-proclaimed team to beat, the Braves' confidence should be riding high.

This is an important series, potentially a tone-setting series. Nothing will be determined by the end of these three games, but if the Mets take two of three or sweep, it'll send a message that last year was no fluke. It would announce, loud and clear, that once again we're for real.

I thought the best piece of commentary all week about the Mets' sweep of the Cardinals came courtesy of Ron Darling. Almost as an aside, Ronnie said that by sweeping the Cards, the Mets were saying, in effect, "Hey, we're gonna be great again. How about you?"

We've already proven it to St. Louis, now a new challenger awaits, one which on paper at least appears to be more legitimate.

We kick things off with Oliver Perez. Like the Mets, Perez has a chance to set the tone for himself tonight. We're counting on Ollie, we've really got a lot of eggs in his basket. A solid start tonight would be as confidence-inducing as John Maine's performance on Wednesday, and a win would put the Mets back in familiar territory.

Familiar territory? First place, sole possession. Here's hoping we send the send the same message to Atlanta that we just delivered to St. Louis.

The message: We're gonna be great again. How about you?

- A.F.O.M.G.

(Image courtesy of static.flickr.com)