With the Mets loss last night they fall into second place one game in the loss column behind the Phillies. The Marlins are two games back of the Phillies. Although the official standings show the Mets as a half game out, the important column really is the loss column. Losses back is actually more accurate since a half game simply represents one more game played by one team over another. In this case the Mets and Phillies have won the same number of games, 58. However the Mets have lost one more game than the Phillies. If the Phillies defeat Washington this evening, the Mets will fall to one full game back, both teams having played 108 games.   

The Mets finished their best month of the season by far going 18-8 in July. The other winning months the Mets have had this season were in March (1-0) and April (13-12). The Mets were 13-15 in both May and June. By losing the series to the Marlins, the Mets broke there consecutive streak of winning or splitting series. The Mets had not lost a series prior to this week since June 23-25 against the Mariners.

The trade front appears to be quiet for the Mets. After trading four of their top prospects earlier this year for Johan Santana, the Mets are understandably being cautious at the deadline. Contrary to the popular believe that the Mets have no real blue chippers, the Mets believe they do have future players in John Neise, Fernando Martinez, Dan Murphy and others. It’s likely the Mets will wait and attempt a waiver deal in the month of August.

If the Marlins do in fact acquire Manny Ramirez, what kind of effect will he have on the young Marlins players? Manny wants a new contract. How is changing teams going to make him happy all of a sudden? He still will not have a new contract and he’ll be stuck in Florida. It seems to me that any team willing to take on Ramirez might be inviting a Trojan Horse into the clubhouse. And if the Marlins need anything it’s defense, not a liability in left field. Florida already has enough thunder in their lineup. Honestly I really will be shocked if Ramirez is moved.

It is July 31, the Mets are off today and there are just two months left in the season. The Mets have played exactly two thirds of their season at 108 games. In the first 54 games the Mets record was 27-27. Obviously the club has played far better in the second third having gone 31-23. What about the final 54?

With the type of deal to put the Mets over the top highly unlikely before today’s deadline, there are a number of questions to be answered the rest of the way. Can players like Fernando Tatis and Endy Chavez continue to play as every day players? Will Ryan Church be able to return to action this year and if so will he be able to perform at the level of play he enjoyed during the first half of the season? Can Mike Pelfrey, who stumbled last evening, pitch effectively as he begins to accumulate more and more innings? Will Pedro Martinez be able to offer anything on a consistent basis? Will John Maine’s shoulder continue to bark? Will the bullpen be able to hold leads more often than not? Will Carlos Delgado continue to produce as he has in the month of July? Will Carlos Beltran ever wake up and have the kind of hot streak he is capable of?

In the 54 remaining games we will learn the answers to these questions. One final question—Will the last game ever played at Shea Stadium be on September 28th or will the wrecking ball have to wait until some time in October or later. Stay tuned.