Welcome to our most recent episode of David Stearns vs. discipline.

On one side of this divide you have the Mets, who have currently gone the eighth-longest in the majors since last winning a championship (1986), last won their division 10 years ago, have only won two championships and seven divisions in their history and have only made the playoffs in consecutive seasons twice (and never three years in a row). And they are good enough this year to win the NL East and a title, especially with a strong trade or two before Thursday’s deadline.

On the other side, you have why Stearns was hired by owner Steve Cohen. His job was not to help the Mets make one playoff or win a division or even a singular title. The idea was to be Dodgers East and make the playoffs, say, eight out of every 10 years — or even more — and have a shot in all of those seasons to get a parade.

Cohen waited for a specific type – really one person after a while in Stearns – to enact a vision in which the Mets were serial contenders; an annual force.