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.

Posted under Angry Rant

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.
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Posted under Unsubstantiated Rumors