Since today is an off day for the New York Mets, I thought it would be a good time to celebrate what may be a temporary and deserving plateau - a .500 record in late May. It's been a while. This year's team is a hobbled hodge-podge of talent, led by three aging starters - Tom Glavine, Steve Trachsel, and Al Leiter. The team lists a payroll of over $90 million, but that includes Mo Vaughn's ill-fated $17 million final year guaranteed contract, so this team is really closer to $70 million. Can they contend? Will Jose Reyes play meaningful games in mid-summer? Will Mike Piazza continue his offensive return to form from first-base?
Who knows - but it's great to wonder, at .500, in late May.