It came to my attention earlier this year when MLB released the 2007 schedules.

From June 5th to July 1st, the Mets will play 8 straight series against 7 of the best teams in baseball.

June 5-7: Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies
June 8-10: Mets @ Detroit Tigers
June 11-13: Mets @ Los Angeles Dodgers
June 15-17: Mets @ New York Yankees
June 18-20: Mets vs. Minnesota Twins
June 22-24: Mets vs. Oakland Athletics
June 25-28: Mets vs. St. Louis Cardinals
June 29-July 1: Mets @ Philadelphia Phillies

You'll notice that the mets will play all 4 of last years AL playoff teams, as well as the reigning World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals, last season's NL Wild Card team the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the wild card runner up and division rival Philadelphia Phillies twice.

Coming into this season, one could argue that in this stretch of games the Mets would play arguably the 7 other teams (aside form the Mets) who could conceivably make the playoffs.

I have no way to check this, but I am almost positive no team has ever played every playoff team in one season, let alone all of them back to back.

Of course a lot has changed since then, almost nobody expected the Cards or Yankees to play as poorly as they have.

The Mets were swept in the opening series of this set of games by the Phillies, the remaining seven series will essentially make or break the Mets season. It's time to separate the PRETENDERS from the CONTENDERS.

We shall wait and see...