It was fitting that the last three games of the homestand that saved the Mets' season were played in conditions that only a wind farmer could love.
It wasn't quite the tornado that lifted Dorothy out of Kansas, but it was darn close. The sweep of the Dodgers left the Mets in first place, which is just as unfamiliar a surrounding as Oz when you think about it.
The big difference, of course, is that Dorothy desperately wanted to return home while the Mets are being forced to leave it. When Dorothy did get home, it turned out her fantastic voyage was nothing but a dream. Will the same fate befall the Mets when they arrive in Philadelphia?
We can't know for sure, but we can be pretty sure that their story diverges from the one in "The Wizard of Oz" in another significant way. The Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion had what they thought they were missing inside of them all along, they just didn't have the confirmation they were looking for. The Mets, on the other hand, remain the same group of players that started the year 4-8 and inspired many a fan to sign up for needlepoint classes that coincided with every game for the rest of the season.
The worst lesson for the team to take from this winning streak would be that the bad two weeks were an aberration. Sitting back and doing nothing to improve the Mets isn't an option if the team hopes to remain in the mix for the first place spot they snatched so unexpectedly this week.
That doesn't mean there's some other shoe about to drop and ruin all the fun, it just means that the last 10 days were enjoyable fun that shouldn't be savored until the taste goes away. As hot as the pitching has been during the homestand, it would be the height of wishful thinking to believe that it is just going to continue for the rest of the season. John Maine had his best start Wednesday, but was still brutally inefficient en route to the victory. You can throw a bunch of different ingredients into a pot without looking and it will turn out to be a tasty dinner on occasion, that doesn't mean it's the best way to feed yourself every night.
Planning ahead with a smart shopping list is the best way to feed yourself and it's the best way for the Mets to build out their team for continued success.
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com. You can follow him on Twitter.
