Mets' glass is half-full

You get that certain something from climbing back to a .500 record, don't you? Satisfaction? Peace of mind? Chance for a fresh start?

"It's awesome, man," Jeff Francoeur said Saturday after the Mets defeated the Braves, 3-1, at Citi Field to even their record at 9-9.

"It is important," Jose Reyes seconded.

"We can build off of this," David Wright said.

"Five hundred, I guess, is .500," Jerry Manuel said.

For us, on the outside, the Mets' rise from a 4-8 start - not to mention that they started the day in the National League East's basement and finished it tied for third with Washington - provides us the perfect opportunity to reassess who the Mets are and what they have. With the understanding that the season is only one-ninth complete.

1. They have pitching.

A 3.26 ERA now. Jon Niese looks like Andy Pettitte Jr., getting into trouble and then escaping. Against Niese yesterday, the Braves were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Then a bullpen brigade of Manny Acosta (a waiver claim from the Braves), Fernando Nieve, Pedro Feliciano and Francisco Rodriguez picked up the final 11 outs, putting up zeroes.

"I think the biggest thing is, we're getting great pitching," said Wright, who received a shower of boos after fouling out to Atlanta catcher David Ross in the sixth. "They're taking a lot of pressure off of us offensively when we get our starters in there throwing the way they are. Our bullpen has come in and done a phenomenal job."

2. They have luck.

Look, they deserve props for winning that 20-inning marathon with the Cardinals last week, but Tony La Russa was begging them to win that game. These last two days, they've seen the Braves melt down fundamentally the way the Mets usually do.

Yesterday, the Braves had men on second and third with one out in the fifth when Troy Glaus launched a fly ball into the right-centerfield alley. Jeff Francoeur, pursuing the ball, assumed that Yunel Escobar would tag up and score from third base.

"I feel like I've got a pretty good arm, but I couldn't have thrown him out at home," Francoeur said. "I feel like we caught a break. A big break."

Indeed, Escobar didn't tag, and when Martin Prado did try to advance from second base, the Mets had themselves a rundown. They nailed Prado between second and third.

Did they ever catch a break like that last year? Doesn't feel like it.

3. They have something coming.

From Wright. From Jason Bay, whose sixth-inning double drove in Reyes to tie the score at 1. From Carlos Beltran, if he ever can get healthy.

They have positive energy, for now. Of course, they had that last year as late as May 16, with a 21-15 record. Which leads us to . . .

4. They have reality.

Mike Pelfrey probably will allow a run at some point, perhaps as soon as tonight. Francoeur has a performance history to overcome. The bullpen will slump, because that's what bullpens do. Luck will turn, because that's what luck does.

And when those speed bumps arrive, will the Mets possess the organizational depth needed to power over them? Doesn't look like it, which makes it all the more appalling that Jenrry Mejia is hanging out in the bullpen rather than working as a minor-league starter.

But hey, enjoy what you have, Mets fans. After 70-92 last year and 4-8 this year, 9-9 must feel sweet.

And if they repeat this 18-game stretch eight more times, finishing at 81-81? With progress from the youngsters? It might not be awesome, but it would be important, and something to build off.

And in the Mets fan experience, that just might be tolerable enough for some of you.