The Mets at 6-12 for the month of June are currently playing through their worst month since September of 2004. They are sitting just a game over .500 for the season. If it wasn’t for the fact the rest of the division, including the 2008 World Champion Phillies, was playing so poorly, the Mets could be buried right now.
At what point do you throw your hands up? Certainly the Mets are not out of it but let’s be realistic. Against good teams, the Mets simply cannot compete. They have now lost the last four series in a row. They beat the Nationals two games to one but prior to that were swept in Pittsburgh.
All that ails the Mets is finally catching up to them. Injuries to Delgado, Reyes, Putz, Perez, Maine, and to back up players Ramone Martinez, and Angel Pagan are taking their toll. Don’t forget that Alex Cora is filling in admirably for Jose Reyes but has a completely torn tendon in his right thumb that will require surgery once the season ends. Now Carlos Beltran will undergo an MRI today to determine what is wrong with his right knee. It is possible Beltran will be disabled.
The Mets are only two games back but that’s because the Phillies have lost six in a row. The Mets could very easily be eight or nine games back right now. How long can the Mets continue with a starting staff that cannot go deep into games? Even the rebuilt bullpen is beginning to show wear and tear from being over used. With the exception of a hot Brian Schneider, there is no batter past Gary Sheffield who strikes fear into opposing pitchers.
There are two things the Mets hierarchy can do. One is to get another bat, someone with power, and another arm. The other is to punt. I know there are few Mets fans who will accept the latter. After all, Sports Illustrated predicted the Mets would win the World Series. But let’s face facts. The Mets are going to have to give up some huge chips (do they have any other than FMart?) to get talent in return. Every GM in baseball knows the Mets are desperate. Even with a trade or two, the Mets will still need help from a healthy Reyes and Delgado. And who really knows if those two will be able to contribute at all this year?
We may just have to chalk this season up to fate. It just was not meant to be. No one would have ever predicted such devastation to one team in one season. I know all teams go through injuries but this is ridiculous. So what’s a Mets fan to do?
Lower your expectations. Enjoy what you can out of the season. Hope the other teams in the division continue to play as poorly as the Mets. Look forward to a deal being made or Fernando Martinez or someone else from the farm to come up and make a difference. Maybe Perez and Maine can come back and help make a difference. Go out to Citi Field and enjoy the beautiful new ballpark. In fact I went to yesterday’s debacle obtaining great promenade seats the last minute from StubHub. I got four $30 seats for 4.99 each. At the last minute, sellers are dumping their tickets. Really, other than calling in to sports talk radio to rant and rave, what can you really do?
On the bright side, there still is a lot of baseball left to be played. The Mets are certainly not out of it although they are dangerously close to the precipice. If the starting staff, especially Mike Pelfrey, can get their act together and start going seven innings the way they did in May, then I think the Mets can get it going, even with their lacking offense. But at the moment, it’s difficult not to be pessimistic.
