The on-field behavior of the Mets, particularly Jose Reyes, again has been called into question by a an opposing player, this time Cole Hamels, the MVP of the Phillies’ World Series championship.

Kettle, you have a call from the pot holding on the black phone…

In an interview on WFAN Thursday morning, Coles, in an indirect manner, said Reyes show-boats, but also said the Phillies considered the Mets “chokers.” Hamels gave the interview while promoting the Phillies’ World Series DVD.

I don’t get to listen to WFAN much, just Mets games on the radio usually, but it seems to me they go out of their way to have people Mets fans hate on their airwaves. Just sayin…

Hamels explained, saying “I’m hoping I don’t hurt too many people right here with this … When Jose Reyes hits home runs, he points his finger up like he won the game. And he might have hit in only in the first inning or the third inning. Well, when Shane did it, he did the same, exact thing. So we were ‘Hey Shane, this doesn’t win the game. We still have a lot of game to play.’ Ya know, why are you trying to be like Jose Reyes? And so that was kind of where it came from was … ya know … even though you hit the big home run, you don’t need to pimp it. You just need to run around the bases and just kinda get the game started.”

Said the man with an 0-2 6.54 in 2008 against the “Chokers” of the NL East.

Look, I don’t want to get into to defending Jose Reyes or his homerun trot, but has Cole Hamels ever watched anything Ryan Howard or Jimmy Rollins do at any point during a baseball game? Rollins is the biggest showboat in the game, bar none. How many times can you remember off the top of your head have you seen Rollins point up with two hands while coming into a base or the plate?

Hamels did not back away from the comments later, reiterating: “For the past two years they’ve been choke artists.”

Hamels continued, “I mean as long as they aren’t facing me, then, they’re freaking awsome and not because I’m an absolutely mediocre pitcher who is completely overrated. Er, um…Look over there!”

When reached for a response, Lonestar Mets rolled his eyes, made a wanking motion and reiterated “Cole Hamels has been an overrated douchebag in need of a severe beating his entire stupid life.”

I’m so sick of the Phillies and their preseason posturing. I just hope the Mets don’t say or do anything until May 6 (the first Mets-Phils game of the season) and whoever takes the hill drills the leadoff batter in the head with a fastball.

I don’t condone violence unless it involves Shane Victorino getting punched in the mouth. Repeatedly.

UPDATE: The Strawdawg has the right idea. Drill em.

This is the way the fucking world ends. Look at this fucking shit we’re in man. Not with a bang, but with a whimper. And with a whimper, I’m fucking splitting, Jack. – Dennis Hopper, Apocalypse Now

This is not the Mets year. The starting pitching was there, the offense was there, but the pen is most definitely inadequate. I think in some we’ve all known that in the back of our mind for a while. Even if by some miracle the Mets hold on to first, there’s no way the pen can hold up against playoff caliber bats in the seventh, eighth and ninth.

Right now, I’m watching from a detached frame of mind. Watching this God-awful pen flush the season down the toilet, it occurred to me there is a silver lining. With every late inning, bases loaded jam, with every Manuel jog to the mound, every multi-reliever inning serves to glaringly shout at Omar Minaya and the Mets brass that:

YES YOU DO NEED TO SIGN K-ROD THIS OFFSEASON.

I don’t care about cost, hell if he costs what Johan costs, he’ll be worth it. If you go cheap in 09 every other game will be a heart breaking repeat of Sunday at Shea against the Braves. What freaking good is Johan if you give his lead right back.

Yeah, I’ve heard it, blah, blah, homegrown talent, fine. But until the youngins are ready, the Mets need a Major League quality closer and set up men. God bless Ayala and Stokes, they’ve done better than anyone could have expected, but again, these last two weeks serve as a glaring message to Omar Minaya and the Mets brass:

LUIS AYALA IS NOT A MAJOR LEAGUE QUALITY CLOSER. BRIAN STOKES IS NOT A MAJOR LEAGUE QUALITY SETUP MAN.

So try and take solace as the Mets relinquish their lead on the NL East and to play Shea Stadium’s last game ever as a meaningless contest between two non-playoff contenders. It’s a somewhat fitting end to Shea Stadium and if the stars align, Shea’s last game could be the Mets and Marlins: The battle for second place.

I really hope I’m wrong.

PHI METS
6 FLA 6 WSH
4 MIL 4 CHI
6 ATL 6 ATL
3 WSH 3 FLA

The series are obviously not in chronological order but arranged to highlight how similar the rest of the season is for both teams. Fifteen games with the lower class of the east and four games with what might be deemed the best the NL has to offer. That makes this weekend all that important.

Should the Mets get swept this weekend, the East would still be tied. Losing 2 of 3 would keep us with a two game lead and winning 2 of 3 would give us a four game lead.

Even in this crazy season and in light of September’s past I’m confident. I remember the way it felt to watch the Mets back in June 06 when they buried the Phillies and essentially owned the East all year. I believe the Mets will do it again.

Pelf, Pedro and Santana against Meyers, Moyer and Hamels. Bring ‘em on

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 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.