SNY's Andy Martino will be responding to and breaking down answers to questions from readers. Here's the latest...

@jd_isaacs: Hey Andy, in your own words, are the Mets the real deal or is this just a mirage?

I want to give some context for what will end up being an affirmative answer for this question. Covering the Mets for many years, there was often a familiar pattern -- the team did not project to contend then started off well. Fans, starved for a pennant race, became excited.

What pieces will we get at the trade deadline, they would tweet at me. Roy Oswalt? Ted Lilly? Cliff Lee?

None, I would say, in just about every year but 2015 and 2016. Because the Mets aren’t actually good, and their front office knows it.

This is all to explain why, when I say, YES, THE METS ARE REALLY CONTENDERS THIS YEAR, it’s after more than a decade of poo-pooing such questions. You always took the under with the Mets. This year feels different.

One doesn’t have to be a professional to recognize the reasons: Collecting wins with so many players on the injured list. The best pitcher in baseball, followed by the best versions of Taijuan Walker and Marcus Stroman. A deep bullpen.

A Francisco Lindor who has barely contributed yet but might be waking up. Michael Conforto and Jeff McNeil returning soon enough. The best run differential in the National League East.

A young manager turning into a star before our eyes. An acting general manager who appears up to the challenge, picking the right plug-and-play players (Billy McKinney) and cutting bait quickly when he does not (Cameron Maybin).

Folks, it hasn’t often been real with the Mets. This one seems to be.

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