Another “score runs, get no pitching” game. The Mets have had two of these in a row now. Prior there were 3 “get good pitching, get no runs” games. This is the formula for a losing season. But fear not because math is on the Mets side. If you like baseball then most likely you like math. Baseball is all about numbers.

The Mets with a less than impressive record of 30-33 sit 7.5 games behind the division leading Philadelphia Phillies (39-27). If the Phillies play .500 ball in their remaining 96 games, they will finish with a record of 87-75. The Mets then would simply have to win 58 of their remaining 99 games, a winning percentage of .586. Now if the Phillies play better than .500 ball the rest of the way, then it’s a whole different ball game.

Suppose the Phillies go 51-45 through their remaining games for a record of 90-72. The Mets would have to win 61-38 the rest of the way to win by one game. That’s a .617 winning percentage. Can you honestly expect that after what we have seen so far? Honestly, I don’t but there’s always hope.

If you recall last year at this time, the Phillies and Mets were basically reversed in the standings. After games of June 10, 2007 the Mets led the division with a record of 36-25 while the Phillies, in third place, trailed the Mets by 5 games with a record of 32-31. If the Mets went 52-49 the rest of the way, the Phillies would have had to go 57-42. They both did. So never say never.

But a post by Matt Cerone in today’s Metsblog.com concerns me. In it, a source sights key players who are fed up with the pressure. The constant harassment by fans and the media is taking its toll. We, the fans, have not gotten over the collapse. How much are we and the media playing a part in this team’s continued failures? In 1964 when the Phillies collapsed, their fans never got over it either. Those players never won again. Gene Mauch was eventually fired as manager. Is that a portent of things to come? We’ll see. Right now, it’s getting very gloomy around Shea Stadium