This is not baseball. This is not what Abner Doubleday had in mind when he wasn’t inventing baseball. I can’t believe I’m still watching this mess. How ridiculous is it to have a two run lead and feel like your team is losing? There is a part of me that wants to ignore everything for the next week and check the standings on September 29 to see what happened. It would make things easier, but there’s no way that is going to happen.

So instead of sparing myself what I’m sure will be another devastating end to a season, I’ll be watching the next week of games. I have determined a formula to help put this new brand of baseball into perspective.

The way I figure (without actually researching each game; too painful), the bullpen gives up two runs for every out recorded. Therefore:

Defensive outs needed when the starting pitcher is removed + 1 = Run lead needed to ensure victory

Meaning, if it’s the top of the seventh inning and no outs, the Mets will need a ten run lead to secure a win. If the starter leaves earlier, like in at the end of the fourth, the Mets will need a sixteen run lead. I will be forwarding this to the Commissioners’ office and petitioning the league to adopt this formula to calculate the new stat MBSV (Mets Bullpen Save)

Kidding aside, this method makes watching this crap less gut wrenching when we cough up a lead. The rationalization that “we weren’t really winning” is about all the comfort I can muster these days.

New Yorkis an incredible place to do business. Although some places like the financial sector are failing, the sports business couldn’t be stronger.

Almost all the top venues are sold out. The Mets and Yankees have been playing to capacity crowds almost all season. And don’t forget about the Garden, where the Knicks and Rangers still get capacity crowds, despite the fact the teams don’t play up to par.

And let’s not forget football where Giants tickets are on a 25-year waiting list.

But there’s a reason why sports is so popular. Winning teams laced with stars bring the fans out in droves. On the Mets, homegrown players like David Wright and Jose Reyes electrify Queens, while the Yankees sign players like Alex Rodriguez, making games at the Stadium more like Young Frankenstein tickets.

With the Yankees new stadium opening up, they will sign many free agents this offseason, while the Mets have the young players like Dan Murphy and Jon Niese to move into Citi Field, while dipping into the market in order to compliment them.

By keeping with that business model, the baseball teams will be solid over for the foreseeable future.

Ok, that was a shitty headline. Sorry about that.

Today the Mets announced that number 13 won’t be back on the mound anytime soon. I’m not a doctor but and sentence that starts with “increased inflammation in a tendon in Wagner’s left elbow despite rest” is usually accompanied by the phrase “requiring surgery and long term rehab.”

Also, from the same piece:

The Mets would not discount the possibility that Wagner may have suffered structural damage in his elbow, admitting only that they won’t know for sure until the swelling subsides.

Wagner’s season is over. The hope that the pen could hold it together long enough for him to get some rest is gone. What’s worse is there is absolutely no one who is capable of filling the closer’s role. Kunz maybe that man someday, but not today.

Even if the Mets can slug their way to the NL East title, there is no way to succeed in October minus a closer. Let’s have a look at what’s left of the Mets relief corps or as I’ve come to call the them, “Midnight Meat Train; THE MOST TERRIFYING RIDE YOU’LL EVER TAKE”:

Is it just me or does that sound like a title to a gay porn flick?

Aaron Heilman: Bust

Duaner Sanchez: Would have been a great candidate prior to July 31, 2006. Anyone have a time machine?

Pedro Felicano: Specialist

Scott Schoeneweis: Specialist

Joe Smith: Most likely a specialist or mid relief guy.

Brian Stokes: Mop up reliever/long man

Luis Ayala: A fresh arm to eat innings, not even candidate to be an early inning stopper

The Mets have publicly toyed with the idea of moving a starter to the bullpen, but unless we’re moving Johan out there, I don’t see it happening. With Maine’s sore arm, consecutive appearances aren’t sensible or likely. Pelfrey has finally figured out how to be a starter. Ollie is the biggest headcase to pitch for the Mets since Armando Benitez. Pedro might have success, but with his record of injury, a shift to the pen won’t be prudent. Most of that speculation was likely a smokescreen to give Minaya some leverage on what was left of the trade market.

What’s worse, this or Braden Looper circa 05? Hmmmmmm…

The freaking pen can’t hold a four run lead over 4 innings against the Pirates? Are we even considered a Major League team anymore? That is pathetic. The Mets should donate their equipment to a poor community and play with homemade equipment for the rest of the season. Forget the playoffs. Let’s see if the Mets can hold off the Braves Nats.

Goddamn-it this is frustrating. The Mets are in a position to win the freaking game against an opponent whose season is over and they can’t even get nine flipping outs without giving up six runs.

Even if Beltran, Wright, Delgado, Reyes, Murphy and the other Reyes got/stayed hot for the rest of the season and somehow slugged their way to the East title, a playoff caliber team would eat this pen for lunch.

I miss Darren “D.O.” Oliver and Chad Bradford.

This season is a waste of a solid starting rotation.

Forget it, the season’s over.

When does College Football Start?

Guns Up Red Raiders!

On the verge of falling out of the NL East race, the Mets have called up prospects Nick Evans, Eddie Kunz and Dan Murphy up to the big club and are expected to see significant playing time with starting pitcher Jon Niese expected to follow later this week in place of John Maine. The young Mets are reunited with Carlos Muniz who sucks was formerly a minor league teammate. Freddy Martinez could make an appearance if he can figure out how to get through a batting practice without a leg injury.

The roster moves were likely born out of necessity instead of a shift in team philosophy. With Ryan Church’s return uncertain, Moises Alou out for the season, John Maine and Billy Wagner both struggling with injury and no help to be found at the deadline, what else are they going to do? Bring up the young kids, why not?

Although the Mets offense has been failing lately, they should be able to compensate for Church’s extended absence. The most pressing concern is the state of the bullpen which will require a intense off-season overhaul. None of the current arms are capable of closing in Wagner’s place, and the odds of a 23 year old rookie closing in a pennant race aren’t in the Mets’ favor.

But take heart, the Mets don’t figure to be in the pennant race much longer. Of course a quick and early end to the season might prove refreshing than another August/September swoon and slow death of a team that is less than the sum of its parts.

So what the hell, lets all sit back and watch these four prospects who, depending on who you believe are either highly talented or overvalued. The July surge was nice, but likely an anomaly in another high expectation, also-ran Mets season plagued once again by a stagnant offense and poor bullpen performance.

2009 isn’t that far away.

Just got in from Houston after a disappointing series. Exhausted right now but I’ll be posting some cool pictures from the series at Minute Maid.

I can’t remember the last time the Mets got a hit with the bases loaded. I think the last time was Robin Ventura. I wonder if he’s available…

If Mets management’s mantra is “we are comfortable with what we have” because they cant make a trade, that’s understandable. If they really believe that, they’re crazy. Forget Manny, he’d be great to have in the lineup, but I doubt the Mets can slug there way to a pennant.

Pitching is going to win the East. Our starting pitching is solid to adequate, depending on Pedro. The bullpen however, is fragile to critical. I would love Houston Street. I don’t know about the price tag Seattle is asking for and supposedly Fuentes is off the market.

If the Mets bullpen stays the same, look for another late August, mid-September melt down.

Just make a deal, Omar. You’ve got 25 minutes

Now Dan Graziano is reporting that the Mets are in contact with the Redsox and willing to part with prospects not available for players like Adam Dunn, Raul Ibanez and Randy Winn.

Contrary to the denials that made the rounds Monday, officials from both teams say the Mets have contacted the Red Sox about Manny Ramirez and are interested in pursuing a deal for him if Boston decides to make him available.

The Red Sox suspect that GM Omar Minaya wants Ramirez more than Mets ownership does. Regardless, the Mets are reluctant to part with top-prospect talent in exchange for outfielders like Adam Dunn, Raul Ibanez and Randy Winn, but they (rightly) consider Ramirez a far superior hitter to those in that group, and they would discuss players in a Ramirez deal that they would not discuss in others.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was “totally just jerking Graziano’s chain”, said a deal was probably too complicated to get completed before Thursday’s deadline.
(more…)

Oh, there’s a big surprise. That’s incredible. I think I’m gonna have a heart attack and die of not surprise! – Me, after hearing about Alou’s injury

Alou’s out with an injury until mid-May. Should Alou fall off the toilet and break his hip or strain his oblique playing canasta, he could be out until the All-Star Break or longer. Moises Alou is this year’s Pedro Martinez: He might be back at some point, but don’t count on it. It’s time to find someone else to shoulder the load.

I love Endy Chavez, but he isn’t an everyday corner outfielder. Marlon Anderson and Damien Easley platoon? Yuck. Fernando Martinez might see an August call up, but it will be a cup of coffee, at most a doughnut. The Mets, who have no one in the system to press into immediate service, must look outside the organization.

I would write a long rant about trading a young outfielder with potential for a sub par outfielder who strikes out too much and offensively challenged catcher who’s lucky if he hit his weight, but that would be counterproductive. Instead, let’s see who’s out there…
(more…)