NEW YORK -- Their bullpen performed unevenly before it was compromised by injury and worse after their closer went down. Their offense inexplicably shuts down after inflicting early damage, often conspiring with the bullpen to cancel a potential victory. Their starting pitching has had its moments, its questions and its injuries. They have played much of their season without their projected corner outfielders and have had infielders from their Minor League portfolio assume the positions. Their blueprints for catching and second base had to be scrapped early and often. Their center fielder often was inconspicuous. Their first baseman was quite conspicuous, for all the wrong reasons, until he turned back the clock and turned up the volume.

In a season that has produced no clear-cut favorite to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award, they have no player in the midst of a signature season. They have played in the aftermath of an epic collapse. And they have cost one manager his job.

And they're in first place.

Forty-six years after Casey Stengel christened them, they are then every bit the Amazin' Mets -- full of surprises, able to please and disappoint in the same inning, and move in opposite directions at one time. They can rise -- or fall -- to the occasion, sweep the Brewers in their place and be overwhelmed by the unproductive Padres, crush the Yankees in the afternoon and go scoreless against them that same night.

Their first manager, Willie Randolph, likened them to Michael Jackson. "Moonwalkers" he called them. His replacement, Jerry Manuel, identified them as funambulists.

"We're a tightrope team," Manuel said.

And now these Mets must be called this: the first-place team in the National League East, the team with the best record in the big leagues since the first day of July, and a team "in position to do good things," according to Manuel.

Their lead following Wednesday's victory in Milwaukee gave them a three-game lead in the NL East, a season high, as the second-place Phillies bring their challenge to Shea Stadium, beginning Friday evening. Since the Phillies held a 7 1/2-game lead over them on June 13, the Mets changed from a team on the brink to what they are today, a team on the threshold. With 22 games remaining on their regular-season schedule, they appear to be at least the second-best team in the league. And with the Cubs scuffling and wondering about their best starting pitcher, the Mets may be the class of the league.

The next three days may determine that.

The final homestand • Mets greats, fans say goodbye • Mays' presence inspires awe • Farewell comes too soon • Amazin' greats take last look • Shea's list of lasts • Fans remember the magic • Memorable moments: 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 • Great moments at Shea Stadium • Bauman: Saying goodbye to Shea • Doc, Straw took Shea by storm • Memories: Tom Seaver | Keith Hernandez • Shea continues to embrace 1969, 1986 • Shea Stadium-Citi Field FAQ • Farewell Shea Stadium: Complete coverage Sights and Sounds Shea La Vie: MLB.com covers closing Legends reflect after finale A Shea retrospective Legendary Mets gather at Shea Piazza shares Shea memories Tom's terrific memories Summers of '69 and '86 revisited Shea Stadium in pictures The finale: Pregame | Fans | Game action | Ceremony The history: 1964-1980 | 1986-2000 | 2000-2007

Given their injuries, flaws and early shortfall, their 79-61 record and first-place standing almost seem inappropriate. Cause and effect doesn't seem to be at work here. Moreover, the demons spawned by the September Slide of 2007 seemingly have had zero effect.

Given the unrealistic expectations that developed once they acquired Johan Santana and after they had obtained quite suitable replacements for Shawn Green and Paul Lo Duca, the Mets underachieved in their first 113 games -- 59 victories, 54 losses, a third-place standing and a three-game deficit. But in the subsequent 27 games, they have won 20 times, most recently winning six of eight games in what was supposed to be a most challenging roadtrip.

So they may be overachieving now. Imagine that. A New York team, with a monster payroll and a glittering -- albeit damaged -- roster, overachieving.

Whether by magic, by mortal means or by Manuel, these Mets have come together to form a unit that, for now, appears to be greater than the sum of its parts and a team with a thirst for Oktoberfest. Carlos Delgado, now a Ponce De Leon disciple, has become what he once was: a feared left-handed slugger. At the same time, Carlos Beltran has come out of hiding; Ryan Church has come back; Fernando Tatis has come out of nowhere; and Daniel Murphy, Nick Evans and Brian Stokes have come on.

Mike Pelfrey has become a dominating pitcher, the defense has become a force, and in the most recent four games, the bullpen has become stingy. And all along, Santana, David Wright and Jose Reyes have provided horsepower.

The collapse of last season hasn't been an issue, not even after in-game numbers created an eerie microcosm during a horrible loss to the Phillies eight days ago (the Mets had led by seven runs with 17 outs to go). They laughed when they were made aware of it and then pulled a reversal on the Phillies the following night.

Two nights after the Mets endured a four-game sweep in San Diego, leaving themselves 100 games to make repairs, Marlon Anderson told them a championship still was possible. He presented the arithmetic necessary to play beyond September: win 62 of the final 100. Play .620 baseball for 100 games when the first 62 had produced a .484 percentage. He was asking a lot.

Beginning with the game that night, June 10, the Mets' winning percentage is .628.

Now they must win 13 of their final 22 games, a mere .591 percentage to reach the 92 victories prescribed by Dr. Anderson. And if they carry that .628 percentage through their 162nd game, they will win 93 games.

And perhaps the division championship they covet. Maybe Anderson sold them short.