The Mets Add Another Nail to Willie's Coffin

What started last September is continuing this spring. The Mets have a nasty habit of playing down to the competition. When they should beat teams like the Nationals and add them to a list of destroyed opponents, they reverse the roles and play as if they're the worse of the two teams. Sadly, the Mets may be the worse team in the league.

Granted, the records say otherwise, but The Mets are not as good as the rest of the teams in their division. Nobody expects the Marlins or Nationals to win many games, and the Phillies and Braves are always in the mix, but no one expected the Mets to play like they have this year. With all the "talent" on this team, and the historic collapse last year, everyone expected the Mets to come out this season and prove a point. They were supposed to prove that they were an elite team and that last year was a fluke. They were supposed to come out with a different attitude and demeanor. Well, the only thing that's changed from last year is the calender. It's a different year, but it's the same old uninspired, underachieving, overpaid, over hyped team as last year. They continue to play listless baseball and show no signs of caring about anything other than their paychecks.

Since May 9th, they have played 2 of the worst teams in League, and have a 2-2 record. In the 2 loses, the Mets have given up 17 runs and lost games to starting pitchers with a combined 1-7 record. Does that sound like a Championship caliber team to you? To me it sounds like the choke is still on. The Mets continue to play the "Willie Way". Win one game, lose one game. Why is it that the Marlins, a team with a $20 million pay role can win 7 games in a row, but the Mets can't win more than 2 or 3 in a row? Why do the Marlins have the best record in baseball, and the Mets hover around the .500 mark? The difference is in the attitude of the players and the management. The Phillies are the same way. They have less talent and a lower payroll, but seem to always play with fire and passion. The Mets, well they go through the motions and expect teams to roll over for them. They show no pride or passion in their play, and seem more worried about what's for dinner than what the score is.

Most of these problems I lay at the feet of Management. Omar and Willie are both to blame. Omar gets the blame for signing passive, mute, mice for players. He's also responsible for signing old worn out has beens to long term and/or big money contracts. If everyone stays healthy and motivated, that problem can be minimized. The problem is they can't stay healthy, and they all have fat bank accounts to retire on. The Yankees suffer the same fate this year. Too many people collecting a check instead of earning it. Willie's blame comes in the management of this team. Just because a guy earns millions shouldn't guarantee his spot in the line-up. If a player isn't delivering, he should be sitting. That's something that Willie has never been known for. How many times have we all heard these words of wisdom come from Willie's mouth? "He's one of my guys", "I have faith in him", "He'll work it out", "I'll keep giving him the ball". Why does it always seem that as soon as a guy gets his fat contract, he stops producing? Sosa, Mota, Reyes, Castro, Pedro, Alou', Heilman, Perez, Hernandez, Castillo, and Anderson are a few recent examples. When all of them were playing for a contract, they were great. They get their contracts, and it's been downhill ever since. In baseball, as you all know, the contracts are guaranteed. So no matter what happens, the player has their money regardless of their effort or results.

One of the ongoing discussions this week is what to do with the bull pen. Wise needs to be activated, and the Mets have a crowded pen. So who's the guy on the short end of the stick? Joe Smith. The same guy that has allowed 1 inherited runner to score all season, is going to be sent to New Orleans sometime this week. The same pitcher that struck out the side last night, will be watching the Yankee series this weekend from AAA, instead of playing in it. Meanwhile, the pitcher that gave up 4 runs in 1 inning last night and has an ERA of 7.06 while be staying with the Mets. You know why? Because he's making $2 million a year, and has no options to allow his return to AAA. The Mets would have to put him on waivers and hope he clears before sending him to AAA. That in it's self is why this team is failing. They continue to play people who don't produce. Winning the game should be the top priority, not stroking someones ego or adding to their bank account.

Until Mets Ownership and Management starts caring more about winning games, this season will never be the season we Mets fans had hoped for.