As we impatiently await the 10pm start time of the night game, the question to ask now is does the past few days mean anything?

The Mets went up against one of the best teams in baseball, and took two out of three. The team is finally healthy. Not 100%, but if we learned anything the last few seasons it never will be. Chances are one of our starters will be hurt, this is the organization that went through over a dozen starters in a season, sinking as low as Jose Lima. Chances are Pedro and Duq will not be healthy at the same time, and even if they are lets face it, someone else won’t be if and when that day comes. Joe Smith might have hit the wall again. Ollie could have dead arm. Alou might have shattered into pieces or Castillo’s knees could buckle. This is as healthy as they’re getting.

With the renewed health, we’ve seen the offense return from its slumber. Is it the return of Alou and Schneider? Partly. Is it a team with renewed fire, after being embarrassed by one of the worst teams in baseball? Perhaps? But quite honestly, who cares. All we need to know, is can they keep it up? So far they’ve taken down some good pitchers in Atlanta and Arizona. Did they take advantage of good pitchers having weak moments? Yes, but thats what good teams do. They take advantage of a weakness. Its what others teams have done to Ollie. What opposing pitchers have done to Delgado. Its what until now, the Mets have failed to do. But for all this to mean something, they have to do it again. And again. Because that is what good teams do. They don’t just do it every once in awhile. They don’t just do it against the good teams and mail it in against the bad. They do it regularly. No one can ask for perfection, not even fans in New York. Sure, technically they can, but they won’t get it (see attached files, Met No Hitters, Met MVPs). But to prove they’ve finally turned, they need to do it often.

So the last few days were not the test. The Royals have beaten the Yankees. The Rays the Red Sox. Anyone can take a series. The next few are the test. Of can they do it again. Of can they be consistent. When they do that, then we can acknowledge a turning point.