The lesson is reiterated annually now.

In a sport in which six teams make the playoffs in each league, an early knockdown is not a death sentence.

Last year, for example, the Mets were 24-35 on June 2, and FanGraphs gave them a 7.9 percent chance to make the playoffs. They reached Game 6 of the NLCS. The Tigers were 39-48 on July 4 with a 2.2 percent postseason shot and 52-57 on July 30, the day they traded No. 2 starter Jack Flaherty, with a 1.3 percent possibility. Detroit won the wild-card round before losing to Cleveland in the Division Series.

So, obviously, it is early and things are fluid. Utter panic might be proper if you have not done your taxes by April 15, but not as fitting for where your team is in the standings.