Granted, the past five days have not been filled with blissful cheers and champagne toasts, but it hasn’t been all blue devils either since the New York Mets arrived in Milwaukee.

Yes, the Mets have lost five straight games. Yes, they are playing their worst baseball since the Art Howe era. O’ ye of little faith, these are the Mets. To be a Mets fan is to have hope. It’s a requirement. You must have hope, especially now, in the darkest hour.

Remember, you are a fan of the Amazin’ Mets, the improbable Mets, the Miracle Mets.

Maybe these names will stir a hopeful spirit: Tug McGraw, Robin Ventura, Mookie Wilson and Bill Buckner, Todd Pratt, Benny Agbayani, Tommie Agee.

It starts with an at-bat, then an inning, then a win.

It was September 18, 1973 and the Mets were four games under .500 (73-77) and trailing the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1 in the ninth inning at Three Rivers Stadium. The Mets were three outs away from falling 4 ½ games behind in the National League East with 10 games left on the regular season schedule.

Bud Harrelson led off the inning, flying out weakly to left field. The next seven batters reached base: single, double, triple, walk, single, walk, single. Three Pittsburgh pitchers, and 30 minutes later, Harrelson struck out to end the inning. Final score: Mets 6, Pirates 5.

In his book Five Seasons, Roger Angell wrote, “… every Met, from that evening on, claimed that this was the inning that did it all.

This was the game, no, the inning that changed a season for the New York Mets. The Mets would win their next seven straight. On August 30, 1973 the Mets were in last place, 10 games under .500 (61-71) and 6 1/2 games out of first place. On October 20, 1973 they were one win away from a World Series title.

Hope is a choice.

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Now, the good news: Jose Reyes is in Port St. Lucie. The Mets report he will be running the bases “at full strength.” The New York Post reports the team is “… hopeful {Reyes] can return around the All-Star break.”

More good news: Carlos Beltran’s second opinion is official. Acccording to Dr. Richard Steadman, it’s a bone bruise. That means, no surgery. Beltran is expected to rest for a few days, followed by a closely monitored rehab.

Wait, one more hopeful sign: Oliver Perez will make his next rehab start Friday for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. If Perez has another “pain-free” performance, and shows he can consistently throw strikes, he could be back in a Mets uniform by the weekend.