The NL East race has not begun, yet one prediction has already stirred unease among Mets fans who remember exactly how this story once ended.
Aug 22, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) celebrates a home run hit against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images | Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
Years ago, confidence turned into caution after a bold declaration prematurely crowned the Mets champions before the season truly unfolded.
That moment still lingers, not because it was outrageous, but because of how spectacularly wrong it became.
The Mets once held a massive lead, looked untouchable, and seemed destined for October glory.
Then everything changed, and the division slipped away while rivals surged forward without mercy.
Now, that same voice has returned with another prediction, though framed far more carefully this time.
Sal Licata believes the Mets will win ninety-two games and finally reclaim the NL East crown.
Unlike before, there is no victory lap, no declaration that the race is already over.
Still, Mets fans cannot ignore the symbolism, nor the uncomfortable timing of this renewed optimism.
Just one year ago, projections were even higher, promising nearly one hundred wins and dominance across the league.
Instead, the Mets fell well short, landing in the low eighties and missing the postseason entirely.
That gap between expectation and reality proved devastating, exposing how thin the margin truly was.
This seasonās prediction is more modest, almost reasonable, which somehow makes it more dangerous.
Ninety-two wins sounds achievable, logical, and grounded in recent roster improvements.
Yet logic did not save the Mets before, and memories have a way of resurfacing when confidence builds too quickly.
Some predictions age poorly, while others quietly redeem their authors over time.
The Mets now carry not just expectations, but the weight of past certainty gone wrong.
If this prediction finally hits, it may rewrite an old narrative once and for all.
But if it fails, it will only deepen the superstition Mets fans wish they could forget.
Until then, optimism walks hand in hand with anxiety, waiting for the season to decide which feeling was justified.
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