If we watched the Mets only when they were in a playoff race, there would have been prolonged blackout periods through the years for ol’ Gary, Keith and Ron.

If we only watched the Yankees when they had a winning team, well, that would be every season since 1992 — but you get the fair-or-foul-weather point.

These baseball teams are our birthrights, our civic pride, our smartphone notifications, our favorite TV shows, the soundtrack of sleepy summer nights.

The Mets let us down, they break our hearts — and still we tune in.