5 reasons the New York Mets can actually pull off a miracle comeback

1. Ya Gotta Believe

Of the three teams fighting for the final NL playoff spot (we’ll go ahead and assume the Nationals are safe with their 3.5-game lead), the Mets have the least to lose and are playing a very free-spirited brand of baseball. Everyone told them to sell at the deadline. No one bought into their 21-5 sprint to start the second half. Everyone thought they would fold when the schedule got tough in August.

That didn’t happen. Not even a little.

The Mets have continued to find ways to stay in the playoff race despite all of the doubt. A six-game losing streak at the end of August at the hands of the Braves and Cubs should have ended their playoff hopes on the spot. Instead, here they are.

Mets management sent this team a signal when they acquired Marcus Stroman at the trade deadline and refused to move Syndergaard — we believe in you. The Mets are young and not playing scared like the Cubs. The Brewers have a similar type of energy as they attempt to rally around Yelich, but the Mets have more firepower and a dominant rotation.

Confidence and momentum do play a role in deciding sporting events and playoff races. Mathematical models and analytics will never fully buy in, but there is just so much anecdotal evidence from decades of baseball. The Mets have a special energy around them right now which cannot be discounted.