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Are you like Ashie, and feeling all eighty-sixy? Feeling like the Mets can find a way to win every day?
That's good. But the eighty-six Mets weren't yet the eighty-six Mets until the put a hurting on the remains of the eighty-five Cardinals.
So mark your calendars now for when the Mets go up against the league's top teams, and show if they have the makeup to dominate through the whole year.
[list]vs. SFG — April 26-May 1
Giants haven't made their move yet, at 7-8, but in recent track record, a tough division, and a killer pitcher or two suggest they are a top contender until shown otherwise. This weekend set may be a chance to show otherwise.
vs. WSH — May 17-19
The Nats are already up by three games and the defending MVP is off to a wicked start, along with erstwhile Met Daniel Murphy. Is it all real, or just an illusion born of playing the Braves? And will they feel the lingering psychoburden of the pantsing the Mets put on them the second half of last season? After hosting the Brews following this series, the Mets head down 95 to do three more, so it'll be a big week.
vs. LAD — May 27-29
This is also a weekend series, with the team saluting surviving 1986 legends on Saturday. At least, they'll be saluting the surviving 1986 legends who aren't coaching for the Braves. If the Dodgers throw Kershaw every fifth game (rather than every fifth day), he should be starting that Saturday game. But get tickets to Friday (free shirt!) and Sunday (Mr. Met Dash!) also if you can.
vs. CHN — June 30-July 3
The team that has been most aggressive in the free agent market is also a team that swept seven of seven from the Mets last year. Thankfully, the Mets turned that momentum around in the post-season. But a four-game holiday weekend matchup is sure to be event baseball. The Cubs already have already overtaken the Orioles as owners of the best record in baseball. And Saturday is Fireworks Night and stuff. The Gruccis![/list:u]
Worth noting that the Mets meet each of these teams for the first time this season before a home crowd.
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