Joe B: Mets have been a pleasant surprise, but still sees them just missing playoffs

As the Mets continue a grueling 10-game road trip, Joe Benigno can't help but express pleasant surprise with how New York is fighting for a playoff spot despite being as low as 11 games under .500 just months ago.

Joe admittedly believed that David Stearns was brought in by Steve Cohen to help operate the Mets like a smaller-market team after spending money hand over foot in recent years, but so far, many of Stearns' additions have worked out, and Joe likes what he has seen from the new president of baseball operations.

"I have been wrong and pleasantly surprised by what has happened to this baseball team, who looked dead in the water in May," Joe said.

"You gotta be happy about that. I don't know how the season is gonna play out, and I still think they're probably not making the playoffs…no matter what the Mets do the rest of the year…I'm just keeping my expectation level low."

Joe is hoping for Mets playoff baseball, but he is keeping his expectations low, and is only asking for there to still be relevant baseball in Queens by the time the Jets open up their season next month. For that to happen, he would simply take a .500 road trip and go from there.

"At minimum, get a split on this 10-game road trip," Joe said. "Get at least 5-5 on this road trip and I'll be happy."