“I assure you, we’re better than what you’ve seen the last three days. We’ll catch the ball better. To be honest, we’re a lot better team defensively, we’re a lot better team offensively than we’re seeing right now. It’s three days, and certainly it leaves a sour taste in your mouth when you start out the season like this, but I can remember a few teams that ended up being pretty good that got off to slow starts.”
- Terry Collins, after an 8-2 loss that dropped the Mets to 0-3

It’s not too snarky to respond with a “gee, I sure hope so,” is it? In three losses against the Nationals to open the 2014 season, the Mets were beaten into submission to the tune of being outscored 22-10. Fans Bore witness to plenty of strikeouts by their not-so-fearsome lineup and a seriously shaky bullpen that would blow more saves if they actually got more save opportunities but will settle for putting games out of reach.

Then there’s the off the field noise that’s already enveloped the club. At least the Bobby Parnell and Chris Young injuries are legit news stories (not to mention legit LOLMets) but the Daniel Murphy paternity leave nontroversy? That’s pure NYC media-driven crap that just serves as a reminder as to why anyone would want to play here if given a comparable offer elsewhere.

Lost in all the gloom and doom is that the Mets were simply outclassed by a team that looks like a strong contender to win it all this season. That doesn’t make it any better but it sure as hell puts it into context. Throw in the Reds coming into town this weekend and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Mets limped into their road trip with a 1-5 record (if not worse).

Cheer up, Mets fans — we still have one of the best team songs ever… unless it’s sung this way, that is…

Based on my horribly imperfect Pythagorean projections (see work below), I’ve got the Mets going 31-131.

EW = GW + (RS^1.82)/((RS^1.82)+(RA^1.82))*GR
EL = 162 - EW

EW = 0 + (10^1.82)/((10^1.82)+(22^1.82))*159 = 31
EL = 162 - 31 = 131