The Mets Yo-Yo season continues
After losing 7 of 8 in the middle of May, the Mets have won three straight series', taking two of three from the Marlins, three of four from the Dodgers, and two of three from the Giants.
Pedro Martinez made a very successful return in the second game of the Giants series, going six innings and throwing more than 100 pitches.
One of the most promising signs for Pedro is his velocity; he topped out at 92 mph with his fastball, and his breaking stuff had some serious bite.
The Mets head into San Diego for four with the Padres starting tomorrow. They look to beat up on the struggling Pads and keep their momentum rolling, and they're going to need it. After San Diego, the Mets face off with the Diamondbacks (first in the NL West), Josh Hamilton and the Texas Rangers, and the LA Angels (first in the AL West), before two series with the basement dwelling Rockies and Mariners.
The fate of the Mets may very well be tied to two of its more fragile, older players in Martinez and Moises Alou. 
Martinez has showed promising signs of anchoring down a pitching staff that has been in serious need of one more starter. Alou has suffered from a hernia as well as calf and ankle injuries, and while he may be back in the lineup by the end of the current road trip, his health could go a long way to solidifying the Mets outfield along with Carlos Beltran and the surprising Ryan Church.
The next month will go a long way towards establishing the hierarchy in the NL East. The Marlins have been anything but consistent, losing series' against the Mets and Phillies, and on the verge of losing another to the Braves.
The danger for the Mets is the Phillies pulling away with it. Philadelphia is two games up on the Marlins and four games up on the Mets and Braves. The season is barely one-third of the way done, but these next few weeks could determine if the Mets are a contender or a pretender.
--Tim Fiorvanti
