Sometimes, there's no explaining this stuff. Maybe that's the best way to put into proper perspective what the New York Mets are doing. Or maybe baseball is the same as it ever was.
Maybe the Mets are the hottest team in the Major Leagues -- New York is 14-4 over its past 18 games -- because they have the same ingredients that have defined successful teams for more than a century.
That is, a smart, resourceful front office, a tenacious manager and a bunch of players who've kept competing and have focused on what they have instead of what they don't.
Who saw this coming? When the Mets were swept by the D-backs at home last month, things seemed to be coming undone.
After a 9-0 loss on Aug. 11, manager Terry Collins had an epic postgame rant in which he questioned his players' effort, respect for the game and desire.
"I don't care who is not here," Collins said. "There are no excuses here."

And then something strange happened. Right after Collins challenged his players, everything changed.
The Mets started winning. And winning. And winning some more. Injuries? Yeah, they had some. Big deal.
In three weeks, they've made up 4 1/2 games in the standings and moved into a tie with the Cardinals in the race for the National League's second Wild Card berth. And the Mets have the easiest remaining schedule -- based on opponents' record -- among the contenders.
Wasn't it in the second half of last season when when the Mets got hot and ended up in the World Series? There could be some of that magic in the air. At the moment, they're a team without a weakness. Their staff ERA is the second best in the Majors (3.11) during the club's past 18 games. The Mets' offense is scoring more than five runs a game.
Resilience? They've come from behind to win in six of their past nine victories. They've hit 27 home runs in the past 13 games, including three Wednesday afternoon in a 6-3 victory over the Reds.

So ride the wave, boys.
Here's what has this sweet little story bordering on the stuff they make movies about. If the Mets somehow get back into the postseason, it'll be something they'll remember forever.
The Mets haven't just suffered an injury or two. They've suffered franchise-rattling injuries, the kinds that expose holes in the roster and tests the resolve of an entire organization.
Right-hander Matt Harvey and third baseman David Wright -- cornerstone players -- were lost for the season before the All-Star break. Second baseman Neil Walker's year ended Aug. 27.
And the Mets entered the stretch run without starters Steven Matz and Jacob deGrom, first baseman Lucas Duda and outfielder Juan Lagares. Center fielder Yoenis Céspedes and third baseman José Reyes both spent time on the disabled list in August.
As a result, the Mets have used 45 players, including 10 starting pitchers. Collins has started eight third basemen, eight left fielders.
Mets general manager Sandy Alderson acquired outfielder Jay Bruce, infielder Kelly Johnson and lefty Jonathon Niese, who is out for the season, to help fill some holes.
But ... 
Remember how Alderson built the Mets around young pitching? Remember how he stubbornly held onto that pitching, believing it would be the foundation for everything he was hoping to do?
That young pitching powered the Mets to the World Series last season. Guess what? More young pitching is powering the Mets in this run.
Despite not having Harvey, Matz and deGrom at the moment, the Mets' rotation has been baseball's best during the turnaround: 10-4, 2.81 ERA.
When they most needed help, rookie starters Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman provided it, going 5-1 with a 2.13 ERA.
"We had different names on the backs of those young pitchers' [jerseys]," Collins said. "Those young guys we had last year came up and really, really pitched well that last month. We've got a couple new ones, but they're pitching very, very well for us."
Some of the names are familiar. Right-hander Bartolo Colon -- he's baseball's oldest player at 43, but who's counting? -- is 3-0 with a 2.39 ERA during the club's 18-game stretch. Right-hander Noah Syndergaard has also been solid, going 3-1 with a 1.00 ERA in that span.
Cespedes is working his magic for a second straight summer. The Mets are 13-3 since his return from the DL, and he has six home runs and 12 RBIs.

Four of Cespedes' past five home runs have come in the seventh inning or later, and three of them have given the Mets a lead. Right fielder Curtis Granderson has five home runs in his past eight games, and shortstop Asdrúbal Cabrera has driven in 15 runs in 18 games.
In other words, everyone, from the top of the order to the back of the bullpen, is contributing. Speaking of the back of that bullpen, closer Jeurys Familia has established himself as one of the NL's best. He hasn't allowed an earned run since Aug. 13 and has made good on 47 of 50 save chances.
Now the Mets may be catching a break with the schedule. They haven't given up on getting Matz, deGrom and Duda back before the end of the season. For the moment, though, what they've got is working just fine.