Different Ways to End the Season

I hope everyone enjoyed the Garbage Juice posts from last week.  I know our friends in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and across town in NYC definitely did.  Now, where do we stand?  The Mets are not mathematically out of the equation, good pitching, terrible hitting, turmoil in the bullpen and a fan base calling for the heads of the Owner, GM, and Manager.  There are a lot of ways the end of this season can go that will influence the offseason of both this team and the way the fans feel.  In the interest of staying positive and pouring you some of that koolaid now (although most of your koolaid is probably turning green and white or blue and red at this point), here are some things that could happen as the season closes that I know would make me feel better:

1. The Mets' starters continue to put up excellent starts on a consistent basis.
Since July 1st, the Mets starting rotation (with the exception of Mike Pelfrey and a bunch of 5th starter fill-ins) has had a 1.88, 2.79, and 1.96 ERA for Santana, Niese, and Dickey respectively.  What is the combined record of those starters during that time?  9 wins and 8 losses.  Amid all the talks of getting another starter down the stretch as the trade deadline approached, you certainly can't blame the starters we had for the team falling off after June.  And, while Pelf has struggled the second half of this season after a great first half, he's shown up his last couple starts and looks to have the confidence and command back that he had early on.  Going into next season with these guys and adding a legitimate 2 or 3 starter would make this rotation a formidable one.

2. Mets hitting bounces back after a terrible summer.
After David Wright was named NL Player of the Month in June, there hasn't been much to talk about at all offensively with this club.  Last year injuries were the excuse, but this year there really are no excuses.  As the trade deadline approached, it was hard to find on paper a lot of places that the Mets could improve their lineup.  So what is the problem?  Well, I guess if I could tell you that, I'd be doing more than writing this blog.  But, these are players that have been all-stars before.  They need to find their stride and perform not after working hard this offseason, but now, or the Mets need to makes some changes.  You'll hear things like a vocal leader is needed.  You'll hear the Mets need to stop pressing.  How about they start by just swinging at strikes?  Either way, this has been an ingredient that's made the kool-aid go sour.  However, there's still a month and a half left.  If even just a couple of these players can bounce back to end the season (preferably Reyes and Wright) it could be infectious.  I'm not sure how they'll do it, but if the Mets can start hitting like they did in June through the end of August and September, everyone will feel much better going into next year with a lineup that's probably not going to get much help from the front office.

3. The Mets will finish the season over .500
At 59-59 right now, it's not even close to impossible.  More or less, if the above two points happen, this one will too.  The hope would be that Mets fans remember their tempered expectations coming into this season and realize the Mets actually would meet most people's preseason expectations with 82-83 wins.  This was supposed to be the year we didn't get our hopes up and get crushed.  We got lulled into thinking this was the year again and here we sit disappointed.  If the Mets can muster up more wins than losses, hopefully we get back some positive feeling.

 4. The Mets will cut Ollie and Castillo and fire Omar Minaya and/or Jerry Manuel
As I read back the first 3 points, I just got more depressed.  Hell yeah, they may happen.  I want to believe.  I do believe.  This is kool-aid after all right?  But what if it doesn't happen.  People need to be held accountable for the mess this season has become.  Why did we have those tempered expectations going into this season?  We kind of saw this coming.  Ollie Perez, John Maine, Luis Castillo, not knowing when Beltran would be back - all of these things had big question marks.  You hear a lot in the media now, it's not that the Mets don't spend money, it's that they don't spend it wisely.  Well, I'd have to blame that solely on the GM here.  I'm not to the point that I think this is Jerry's fault (although I think Bobby V would manage the hell out of Jose Reyes).  I do think the Mets needs someone new at the reigns when it comes to player personnel.  I also think that Ollie and Castillo are becoming team cancers.  Castillo came out the other day saying he should be playing everyday.  Guess what Luis, you shouldn't.  When you limp into 2nd to break up a double play, have no chance of hitting a ball out of the infield, and can't get to grounders, your time is done.  Moves like this help to change the feeling in the clubhouse and maybe that's what the Mets need.


No matter what, there will be a next year.  It's something I've learned throughout my life as a Mets fan...usually around this time of year.  Next year brings rebirth, new opportunities, and the hope for change.  However, when you've been consistently beaten into the ground, you need a little push to get to that hope.  This season may be just about over, but there's still time to give everyone that hope.  This team is capable of doing it.  Finish this season with our heads held high, hope none of the teams we hate win, and let's get 'em next year.  Drink it up.