The Mets have a huge nine-game homestand that is underway with the Indians, Braves and Cubs ahead of them in a tough stretch. They will only have games against teams over .500 the rest of the way with the exception of a few series in September. It's go time now.
Former Mets great and SNY broadcaster Keith Hernandez joined WFAN's Mike Francesa Tuesday to talk about the state of the team and their emergency in the past month.
"I think they are confident, they're exuberent. I worry a little about the exuberence because they're young," Hernandez told Francesa. "This will be such a learning curve for the young players. They were down in the dumps and out. I'll be honest with you, six weeks ago, I thought we would be calling meaningless games. Now they're in it and I think it's a great experience for them. It's never over until it's over. They're back in the hunt and let's just see what happens. They have only got the Marlins now. They got to play against the big boys now. It's going to be great fun."
The fans are back in it after the team looked dead and gone before the All-Star break. They are now just two games out of the second NL Wild Card spot.
"The fan base here. They love their team, they play with emotion," Hernandez said. "I think that Alonso has taken over as the mouthpiece of that clubhouse for the press. I've been reading. I never read game stories. I see the games. I don't have an interest to read game stories, but of late with Alonso talking to the press and taking the leadership vocally, and he says all the right things. He's a team guy. I find myself going in there and looking in and see what Pete has got say day in and day out. This team is behind each other. It's a group effort. They have got the fever. It will be great."
Edwin Diaz has been a big reason why the Mets aren't in a playoff spot. He's been brutal as the team's closer and has struggled mightily since July in multiple roles out of the bullpen.
"Things tend to snowball. This has not been a good year for him," said SNY's Hernandez. "Even in spring training he gave up home runs and didn't pitch well. This has been the entire year from the very beginning. It's a new fan base, puts a little bit more pressure on you. It's New York, a little more of a glare on you with expectations. It may take him a year to get acclimated here. If they don't have him down the stretch ... if he got it together and pitched like he did last year down the stretch run, look out."
You can hear the entire interview with the former Mets Gold Glove first baseman in the audio player above.
