Season on the Brink

If you've been living under a rock the last week or so, there are major issues at a critical time for the Mets. These issues could very well determine the outcome of the Mets season.

The most critical injury is to Billy Wagner. Regardless of what all the Billy haters out there think, he's the most important player on the Mets and his absence for the next 2 weeks could sink the Mets. I shudder to think of "Grandslam" Heilman or "The Nibbler" Sanchez as the closer until Billy's return. It takes a certain mentality to be a closer, and they don't have it. What's equally troubling is the fact that Jerry Manuel has mentioned a "closer by committee" plan of action. I feel the closer duties should go to the only guy on the staff who's a proven closer. Eddie Kunz is that man. All 6'6" 265 pounds of him says closer. On the pre-game show Lee Mazzilli said Kunz can't close because there are other guys in the pen who've been there longer. That's Bull. That's why Lee isn't being employed as a manager now. The best guy for the job should be doing the job, not the guy that's been there the longest!!!! Kunz has been a closer for years and he's built for the job. He could be the Mets version of Joba Chamberlain. There's a saying you may have heard of, "young, dumb, and full of ___." What that means is that someone is too young to be scared or to know any better. Give Kunz the ball and watch the batters fall.

The other injuries to Maine, Castro, Anderson, and Church are also troubling but to different degrees. Maine's absence puts even more strain on a shaky pen. Castro's sore ankle in itself isn't a big deal, but knowing Castro's injury history and his habit of healing slowly, it could be a factor too. Anderson was struggling all season and it made you wonder if his hamstring tendon ever healed correctly. Church is the wild card. With his concussion, and the general lack of rehabilitation protocol in baseball, you just don't know when he'll return. That's a shame too. His bat is sorely needed and he played the outfield with great skill. If he can return soon, he just may be the offensive spark the team needs for the stretch run through September.

With all the injuries this is the time we as fans need the young kids to step it up and prove that they belong. Omar wouldn't trade them for other players before the trade deadline so it's imperative that they contribute to the team. Murphy is proving to be a budding hitter and can even make a play or two in the field. He, Evans, Kunz, Pelfrey, Reyes and Wright are the future and the present and will be tested in the weeks to come. Lets all say a prayer before bed and maybe the sun will come up and shine on the Mets.