A decade ago, when the Mets were on their way to their most recent World Series appearance, they were 4 ½ games out of a wild-card spot in the National League and just two games over .500 with the trade deadline a day away.

Almost a month had passed since general manager Sandy Alderson had referred to reporters asking about the team’s ugly slump as residents of “Panic City.”

The team looked a long way from destined for October success.

But in late July, the club called up Michael Conforto from Double-A Binghamton to boost the offense and then acquired Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe in a trade from Atlanta.