Did it ever occur to you that maybe, just maybe, the Mets aren’t very good? Sure, they have talent but as a team, something is just not right. I know its only 6 games into the season but let’s face it, we are all panicking. The Mets have only themselves to blame. All winter long we heard from players and management how the team had learned a valuable lesson. We were told that nothing would be taken for granted. Well how are Mets fans supposed to react when the Mets lose three games against their division rival Braves and Phillies? As David Wright commented, this was their first test, and they have failed mightily.

The Mets won 2 of 3 from the Marlins, a very bad team. Then they lost 2 to the Braves in a rain shortened series before blowing yesterday’s home opener to the Phillies. And in those 3 losses, the team resembled last year’s chokers to a frightening degree. Yesterday in particular gave me chills as I watched the formula for last year’s disaster unfold before my eyes. The Mets get good starting pitching, the offense generates a couple of runs then the bullpen blows it late. David Wright can profess till he’s blue in the face that last year is forgotten and that the 9 game losing streak to the Phillies is meaningless. The team’s actions and demeanor dictate otherwise. Even after 6 games, the team looks snake bitten.

You wonder, maybe Willie Randolph should have been fired after last season. One thing’s for certain, if things don’t change he will not be around come July. Willie does make you scratch your head from time to time. I always felt his talent was in his ability to motivate his players because some of his in field decisions are perplexing. But if he can no longer motivate his team, than what is his worth as a manger? Jose Reyes still appears to be in a funk. Even in the early stages of this new season, Willie’s handling of the bullpen appears no different. Why did he pull Perez so soon? Why not let him work through the inning, he had done it all afternoon. In his post game comments, Randolph stated that he needs more innings from his starter. Well then, let him pitch. I agree if Perez had allowed the Phillies to score Willie would be taking the heat for not pulling him. But if you really believe, as I do, that the starters need to go deeper into games, than that’s the sword you must die by.

Okay, perhaps I am over reacting. True it is only 6 games and other teams expected to do well are struggling too. Detroit is 0-7, the Braves are 3-5, and the Red Sox, Yankees, and Phillies are only 4-4. So it’s not just the Mets who have had difficulties getting off to a good start. But something clearly seems to be wrong with this team and I don’t discount the idea that it simply might be a bad team. There are many talented players but that does not always translate into a winning formula. Vince Coleman had talent. Bobby Bonilla had talent. Brent Saberhagen and Frank Viola had talent. I rest my case.

The Mets are old too. Right now there are 6 players on the disable list. El-Duque who is now in New York having his sore foot re-evaluated appears nowhere near ready. Pedro is rehabbing his strained hamstring. Matt Wise went on the DL yesterday with a sore forearm. Duaner Sanchez is closing in on two years since his shoulder injury and has yet to step on a Major League field. Ramon Castro is still nursing a hamstring and Moises Alou, a card carrying disabled list supporter, is recovering from hernia surgery. Yesterday Luis Castillo left the game with a sore knee, the result of walking all over Manhattan looking for an apartment. Good grief!

Omar is not without blame. He has traded away Brian Bannister, Henry Owens, Royce Ring, Matt Lindstrom, and Heath Bell, basically all for nothing. Bannister has established himself as a very effective starter, something the Mets could use in that 5th slot. The others most likely would be an improvement over Schoeneweis, Sosa, and perhaps even Heilman the way he has been pitching so far. His move to let Gotay go is now in question too. I would have rather seen him pinch hitting yesterday instead of Brady Clark. Gotay was a sold hitter but I guess his detriment is that he is only 24, something Minaya seems to abhor. Don’t let him know that Reyes and Wright are young, he might release them.

What the Mets need right now, tonight, is a well pitched game from their starter. Mike Pelfrey has shown shades of brilliance and at other times he looks like he should be in double A. Well Mike, you better be prepared to go deep into the game tonight with little run support. The Mets hitters need to wake up or this season will get away from them quicker than anyone thinks. The only good news is that if the Mets dwell near the bottom of the division, there will be no chance of a collapse. Maybe that’s what’s in the back of their minds.