Leading up to the MLB All-Star Game break, at 47-38 and only three games out if first in the NL East, the 2010 New York Mets are seemingly for real. One of the keys elements of the first half of the Mets’ season has been the fact that some players have been doing many of the little things well; the types of things that do not show up in the box score, and the things they will need to do to beat first-place Atlanta in the last weekend series before the break.

Examples of those little things have been along the lines of the New York Mets being able to finish when they are supposed, playing it smart on the base paths, leaving opposing runners on base, and making tough plays in the field.

The Mets have come through fifty-seven percent of the time when a hitter steps to the plate with a runner on third and less than two outs. This is a great rate, and only San Diego is higher at just over fifty-eight. The standouts here may not be anyone you may have expected; Ruben Tejada is a perfect 5-for-5 and, at 19-of-26 (73%), Jeff Francoeur is cashing in at much greater-than-average rate as well.

As for the base-running, it is yet again another unexpected New York Met, as Jason Bay’s instincts here have been very good. Not only is Bay 10-for-10 stealing, but he leads the Mets with thirteen bases taken due to fly balls, passed balls, wild pitches, balks, and defensive indifference. As for the opposition, Pedro Feliciano has left 21 of the 24 runners he has inherited so far this season; a strand rate of 87.5 percent which ranks sixth in all of baseball, fourth in the National League, and is an upgrade after having finished 12th in the majors in 2009.

There has also been a noticeable improvement in the New York Mets’ defense, especially David Wright's. According to Baseball Info Solutions – who does video analysis of defensive plays, evaluating players in more than eighty categories – the third-baseman leads all of MLB with fifty plays classified as "Good Fielding Plays", such as diving stops, lunging catches, and other such great efforts likely to show up on ESPN. This total is already six more than Wright had all last season, and an astonishing fourteen more than the next closest player, Tampa’s Evan Longoria. Additionally, the upgrade of Ike Davis at first base over Daniel Murphy has had a great impact; Murphy ended 2009 with the second-most "Misplays" at first base – 32 in 101 games (only Washington’s Adam Dunn had more) – while Davis has only nine so far, putting him on pace for much less there this season.

Just one year after the brand new Citi Field opened its gates, it seems as though this team is doing its best to open the door on a new era of success. Get your New York Mets tickets today and come on out to see if they have what it takes to keep up the pace the rest of the way.