Unlike the past three seasons, when they reached the All-Star break still in the playoff mix, the Mets already are buried in both the NL East and wild-card race.
And yet, when the Mets open the second half tomorrow night, hosting the Phillies at Citi Field, a sense of optimism will exist within the clubhouse walls. Maybe not the kind of blind optimism that says the Mets (41-50) will rebound and end a playoff drought that dates to 2006, but the idea this team can reach .500 and avoid a losing record for the first time in five years.
The Mets finished the first half on a solid 17-11 (.607) run. If they continue at that clip over the next 28 games, they still will be below .500 in mid-August. That gives you a sense of just how difficult it will be for Terry Collins' crew to escape this hole.
Anthony J Causi
First-half LVP
Ike Davis has been brutal. At no point this season has his average been higher than .190, and during one stretch in May, he went 24 at-bats without a hit.
But players such as Eric Young Jr., Marlon Byrd, Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Josh Satin have injected energy into a previously dormant lineup, making such a turnaround seem plausible.
As the Mets move into the second half, a look at the questions they are facing:
1. Who's on first?
Ike Davis had a three-hit game in his return from Triple-A Las Vegas nearly two weeks ago, but is 2-for-21 (.095) since and again is chasing too many pitches. If the Mets didn't have an alternative at the position, it would be easy to keep inserting Davis' name into the starting lineup, but Satin continues to show he belongs in the major leagues. And Collins might have provided an indicator of where this is headed when he started Satin against right-hander Gerrit Cole in Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Only complicating matters, Lucas Duda is expected to soon begin a rehab assignment and could figure into the first-base mix if Collins decides against disrupting an outfield equation that has been successful in recent weeks: Young and Byrd in the corners with Nieuwenhuis and Juan Lagares platooning in center.
2. To trade or not to trade?
Byrd, who will open the second half with 15 homers and 51 RBIs, is of interest to teams seeking a right-handed bat with pop. But general manager Sandy Alderson won't deal the veteran unless the Mets can get a legitimate building block in return. In a perfect world, the Mets could deal Byrd and get a starting shortstop, but it remains to be seen if there is a big market for a 35-year-old outfielder having a career season.
Bobby Parnell isn't untouchable, but Alderson again will seek a huge return — think Zack Wheeler-type prospect — for his closer. Parnell gives the Mets the kind of dependability they enjoyed in the ninth inning with expensive closers such as Billy Wagner and Francisco Rodriguez at a fraction of the cost and won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2015 season.
3. Is Ruben Tejada
the answer?
Tejada will have to earn his way back to the major leagues, and doesn't appear close. In 13 games at Las Vegas he is batting .245 with a .595 OPS. Omar Quintanilla has done a solid job at shortstop, but isn't viewed within the organization as a long-term solution. Tejada, like Davis, could be headed toward a new address this offseason.
5. What about Frank Francisco?
The veteran reliever finally is pitching in minor league rehab games, but Mets officials are wary of putting a timetable on Francisco's return. The right-hander is earning $6.5 million this season in the final year of his contract.
There has been much grumbling within the organization about Francisco's desire, work ethic and influence on the organization's younger players. One team official recently speculated Francisco will return soon if for no other reason than he has to pitch for a contract somewhere next year.
If the Mets were to get a healthy Francisco for the final two months, it could dramatically alter the bullpen dynamic. A healthy Francisco setting up Parnell would give the Mets a 1-2 punch they have lacked in recent years.
mpuma@nypost.com
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