'Ya gotta believe!': Could surging Mets repeat a 50-year-old feat?

The 2023 New York Mets are considered an afterthought for the postseason after trading away a majority of their star players at the deadline. While most fans of the Amazins already have their sights set on 2024 and beyond, another Mets team that stood in similar shoes raises reason for hope.

In August 1973, the Mets were an underperforming team that hardly anyone believed was capable of making a run in the playoffs. Yet the scrappy group defied all odds, going on to win the National League pennant before losing to the Oakland Athletics in Game 7 of the World Series.

On Aug. 22, 1973, the Mets sat at 57-67, 10 games under .500 and six games out from the playoffs. Entering play Tuesday, fourth-place New York is 59-67 — 6.5 games out of the NL wild card.

Following a 10-4 rout of the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Monday, the Mets have won seven of their past nine games and are back in the postseason hunt. Their present-day roster draws several comparisons to the 1973 team that almost won it all.

In 1973, the Mets had a formidable front end of the rotation. Headlined by ace Tom Seaver — who had a 2.08 ERA that season — New York also carried starting pitchers George Stone, Jerry Koosman and Jon Matlack, who all made 20+ plus starts and finished with an ERA at or below 3.20 (2.80, 2.84 and 3.20, respectively.)

At this year's trade deadline, the Mets dealt struggling co-aces, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. In 1973, the Mets dealt veteran infielder Jim Fregosi — a six-time All-Star prior to joining New York. With a gaping hole at the top of the rotation, the 2023 Mets have turned to starters Kodai Senga and José Quintana, who have shined.

Senga boasts a 3.19 ERA and surpassed 150 strikeouts this season in his last start, becoming just the seventh Mets pitcher to strike out that many as a rookie. Since returning from injury, Quintana holds a 3.03 ERA and has pitched at least six innings in five of his starts without allowing more than three runs.

The 1973 club, however, wouldn't have made its late-season push if it weren't for star closer Tug McGraw. The lefty was lights-out in his final 19 appearances, recording 12 saves, five wins and an astounding 0.88 ERA.

Now, the 2023 Mets may be getting back a stellar closer of their own. Former All-Star Edwin Diaz, who suffered a torn patellar tendon amid celebrations at the World Baseball Classic in March, threw off a bullpen mound recently for the first time since spring training. Manager Buck Showalter floated the idea of Diaz returning this season, stating it'd be beneficial for the 29-year-old.

The Mets, who play first-place Atlanta again on Tuesday, have a lot to overcome if they want to compete in this year's postseason. But as McGraw put it in 1973, "Ya gotta believe!"