So today it all begins. There will be days we will be happy and days we will be sad. There will be streaks where we will believe the Mets are going all the way. And there will be streaks when we will wonder if they will even make the playoffs. There may be a game that looks like a sure loss that converts to a win. And of course there will be a sure win or two that turn into a loss. We will at times feel euphoric and there will be times we will feel despair. For this is the beginning of another baseball season, another baseball season for the New York Mets. It will be the Mets 47th season, the 45th and the last at Shea Stadium.

In their history the Mets have won 2 world championships, 4 National League pennants, 5 division titles, and 2 wild card births. In all, the Mets made it to the post season 7 times, 15 percent of their seasons. That’s far too few for a New York team. The Mets organization is working hard to become a franchise that enjoys sustained success, something that has eluded them for most of their existence. Only in the 1980s did the Mets approach being a dynasty. But even during those 7 years when the Mets averaged over 90 wins per season, they made the playoffs only twice winning one World Series. It certainly isn’t easy competing in a city that must be shared with the Yankees.

As the season begins today at 4:35 in Miami, the one question every Mets fan wants answered is will the Mets win the World Series this year. Who knows? I know I don’t and neither do you or any of the so called experts. Part of the fun of following baseball is speculating on whom the winners will be and who the losers will be. I have learned over the years, to truly enjoy baseball you must enjoy the journey. In this age of instant gratification, there are too many fans who only will accept the ultimate goal, winning the World Series. Of course that’s what we hope for. But the reality is the Mets like any team have a 1 in 30 chance of winning. Obviously with the talent the Mets have, their chances are better but as far as I know at the outset of any baseball season, no team has ever enjoyed a 1 in 1 chance.

We will here the angry fans calling in to WFAN and ESPN crying that Randolph should be fired the first time the Mets lose three in a row. That’s part of the game but remember baseball is like no other sport. In baseball, a team can lose 3, 5, or more in a row and still win it all. Baseball is not football. You cannot measure the course of a season by a single contest or series. Even the 1986 Mets who compiled the best record in Mets history lost 54 games. In any other sport, that’s a losing season but not baseball. The New England Patriots flirted with a perfect season this past fall. In baseball it’s simply impossible.

They say when there is risk there is reward. The risk in baseball is rooting for your team, hanging with them through thick and thin. But doing so guarantees nothing. Last season, the Mets suffered an historical collapse. However, there were many enjoyable moments during the regular season. There were some great games. And even with the suffering when it was all over, the Mets completed their third consecutive winning season. The definition of a winning season is when a team wins more games than they lose. Today however, there is a notion that a winning team is the team that wins the championship. In baseball that means there is 1 winner and 29 losers. In my opinion, that’s an absurd assessment. The Yankees boast that if they don’t win the World Series, it’s a failed season. Since 2000 the Yankees continued to make it to the post season every year but did not win one crown. I guess they are a failure. No wonder Yankee fans are so despised.

The point I’m trying to make here is enjoy all 162 games. Know that the Mets cannot win every one. They should win many more than they lose. However, they do have questions especially with some of the older players on the club. And of course there is always the possibility of injury. Those of you who are old enough need only remember 1987 to know the best laid plans.

Baseball is so different from other sports. The atmosphere, smells, sights, and sounds are completely unique. Baseball can be enjoyed for so many reasons. The number one reason is winning but even in losing there can be things to enjoy. Two years ago, Jose Reyes hit for the cycle. The Mets lost the game. One of the greatest Mets games I ever attended was Mike Piazza’s last with the Mets. A more moving experience at a baseball game is hard to remember. The Mets were trounced that day.

Today it all begins anew. For the next 6 months we will tune in every night, read the papers and blogs the next day. Some of us will go to a lot of games, some just a couple, and some fans won’t go at all. We’ll argue at work over what Willie should or shouldn’t have done and whether Delgado should be further down in the order. Hopefully, through all the highs and lows we will enjoy the season, regardless of its outcome. With Johan Santana on the mound today, win or lose one thing is for sure. There will be 161 games left when it’s over.