So It Goes

I will take you back to a Friday night this past spring. It was the first big weekend of the baseball season. The Yankees were in Boston and the Braves were in Shea. At that point in the season the NL East was still very close. The Phillies had gotten off to a terrible start, the Braves looked much better than in 2006 and the Mets still looked good. That night though I realized that this Mets team did not have that same feeling as in 2006. The Mets were pitching Mike Pelfrey that night and the Braves had Tim Hudson on the mound. Hudson baffled the Mets all night and Pelfrey got lit up. I remember just looking over to Relaxo and not being able to articulate what I was seeing. It was a feeling I had. Looking back, that feeling really was that the Mets did not have that same aura they did in 2006 of intimidation and confidence. They were not going to be able to run away with this division and they were going to be facing teams that felt they were better than the Mets. It wag going to be harder.

The entire Mets organization got way ahead of themselves after one playoff season. Their slogan was "Your season has come". The fact is though that our season really had past. The 2006 year was our year. We went into this season with more questions in the starting rotation, a far worse bullpen and an older line-up. I have mentioned numerous times throughout the year my frustration and complacency with the team. I felt it in spring training, I felt it on opening day, and I felt it all the way until we were eliminated with a pathetic performance today. It seems like everyone in the Mets organization, the fans and media were ready to give the Mets the city once again. Everyone seemed ready to bury the Yanks and put the Mets on top lead by Reyes and Wright. Well, the Yankees are on top (and hated) for a reason. They have been in the playoffs 12 straight years. They have earned all of the credit and attention they get. The Mets are just another team that had one good run and is now sitting home in October.

With all that being said, the Mets still really should have won this division. They have the deepest line-up in the league, as well as the deepest rotation. They may not have that stud at the front of their rotation, but all five starters consistently gave them a chance to win, which is more than most teams can say. I think the personality on this team was lost. Only the men in that front office and locker room know for sure, but I would point to two things. Number one is bringin Ricky Henderson on to that coaching staff. He has never had a reputation as a hard worker or a motivator of others. The man he replaced in Rick Down was the exact opposite of that. In addition, Jose Reyes lost something. I do not know what it is, but this has been apparent since around the all star break. He did not have the same energy or enthusiasm. His play suffered and by the end of the season I consistently heard something at Shea I thought I never would...boos and jeers directed at Reyes at almost every chance the fans got. Maybe one day we will find out what was really eating at Reyes and this team. Julio Franco being released had to change the culture in that clubhouse. The fact that the same 5-6 players talk to the media could be an issue. I don't think many of the Latin players like LoDuca. I don't think anyone likes Milledge. I think Willie has seemed aloof at times. He just keeps repeating like these phrases to the media "We'll get them tomorrow." "Keep fighting." "That's baseball" It's like, can this guy just be human and tell it like it is? I am ready for him to come back next year and I do not view him as the problem, but he needs to address his relationship with his players and coaches in that locker room.

Now what? First off all get rid of Mota, Rickey Henderson, Jorge Sosa, and find out what is eating at Jose Reyes. Next you put together a package for Johan Santana (Aaron Heilman, John Maine, Pelfrey/Humber, Milledge/Gomez). Bring Alou back. Look into dealing Delgado. Figure out what you want to do at catcher. ADDRESS THE BULLPEN. Also, decide if you are committed to Willie Randolph or not. If you aren't then fire him. If you are, then get rid of the people sniping behind his back to the media. You do not want that in your house.

Lastly, let me consider Tom Glavine. Before the game I felt as comfortable with him on the mound as with any pitcher on our roster. He would not be rattled by the moment and he would give us a chance to win. What happened is honestly incomprehensible. He buried this team. His performance was embarrassing and pitiful. I do not want to hear any excuses about it. He signed here five years ago to win. In the most important game he pitched in a Mets uniform he saved his worst for last. All of last offseason he played the Mets off the Braves and flipflopped on whether he wanted to come back or not. Well, he came back after potentially hanging the Mets out to dry as he considered the Braves and retiring. Well at this point I do not care if he comes back. He never lived up to the money and I would grade his Mets career as a C-.

So this is it. I will not watch the NL playoffs. The Phillies are fuckin soft. Brett Myers is a punk who will blow a game in the division series and will then berate a newspaper scribe. The Cubs have a chance because of Pinella. I will be rooting for the Rockies to get in and to play well. I just really like their nucleus. As far as the AL is concerned, as long as the Sox and Yanks lose I will be happy. So basically I will be miserable. Excuse me while I go stick my head in the toilet.

STKAFI