Well, I just got back from the gym, which mysteriously is now loaded with Yankee hats and t-shirts. Funny, I haven’t seen that all summer. A few thoughts to add from this morning’s post.

1. You want parity? How’s this? According to this morning’s standings the Wild Card team is exactly 1 game behind the Arizona D-backs for the best record in the NL! How about that? Should the Mets win 3 out of 4 or all 4 remaining games, they could end up with the best record in the NL once again.

2. What the Yankee’s do, does not matter. I know I commented on the Yankee fans, but that’s only because I find them to be complete hypocrites. Then again, there are plenty of so called Mets fans who jump ship the minute the waters get choppy as well. However, my point is that I don’t care that the Yankees are in the playoffs. I’ll care when they play the Mets again in the World Series. Otherwise, golf clap and move on.

3. It’s amazing how easy it is to curl 70 lb dumbbells when I picture any Mets reliever in my head right now.

     I’m not sure what to write this morning.   I’m beyond angry.  It’s more like a fog of disbelief after what I saw last night.  For the majority of the year, when the Mets had a 5-0 lead or a 6-2 lead, the result would be a win.   No doubt about that for 95% of this season.  However, the past 2 weeks, the Nationals have continued to kill the Mets. 

     The good news (you know I had some) is that we no longer have to see the Nationals EVER again this season.   The next team the Nationals get to drive nuts is the Phillies.  Maybe Manny Acta can kill the Phanatic.   The fact is that the Mets put themselves in this mess.   If the Mets had won two games out of the 7 games they played again the Phillies, this race would be over.   However, that didn’t happen.   We have to deal with what is here and now. 

      The Mets have 4 games left.   One against the Cardinals (go figure) and three against the Florida Marlins.   The Mets MUST win 3 of the 4 games to clinch the NL East.  These are must win situations.  

       I revoke my support for Joe Smith in the bullpen.   I might be too jumpy here.  That’s why I’m not a manager, but I can’t handle another blown save.   No more heart ache please.   Moving Orlando Hernandez to the bullpen was a GREAT move, and I’d like to see him in the 6th and 7th innings more.   However, the problem is not just the bullpen.  If your starting pitchers keep on only giving 5 innings or less, your bullpen is going to get killed.   As a result, ALL starting pitchers must go at least 6 or 7 innings pitched.  

    That starts tonight with Pedro Martinez going to the mound to save this team and get them in the playoffs.   Pedro is followed by Oliver Perez, John Maine, and Tom Glavine.  You want playoff atmosphere?   Well here it is.   This is do or die. 

     So tonight, I’ll turn on the TV, and pray.   I’m sure I won’t be the only one.  Three wins.  After all the wins and losses this season, everything comes down to four games and three wins.  Of course, if the Phillies lose some time by Sunday, life would be much easier.

       Last night I went to bed with a mixture of emotions.   Relieved that the Phillies lost, but dirty rooting for Chipper Larry Jones and the Braves.   Excited that the Mets showed life and tried to fight back in the bottom of the 9th.   Angry that Tom Glavine for what ever reason, didn’t show up last night.

       Something is wrong here, and I don’t know how to put my finger on it.   When this team is clicking on all fronts, this team can dominate the NL and AL.  I firmly believe that.  The problem is that the last time we saw that was in April.  Can the Mets find that same type of play again?  I believe that they can, of course that’s what being a fan is all about.  Talking about fans, can the people going to Shea tonight show some life!  If you aren’t going to go nuts tonight and scream for the Mets as hard as you can, then please give away your tickets and let real fans go to Shea Stadiu.  Now, lets deal with some facts here.

Fact 1:  The Mets basically need to win 3 out of 5 games for the rest of the year.   That’s all.   I don’t believe the Phillies can do that.  They actually have to play the Nationals too for the end of the season.  

Note:  I have come to really respect Acta and his ability to manage.   It says a lot when your team is in 4th place and playing like they are in 1st place for the last week of the season.  I have to say, National fans have a lot to look forward to.

Fact 2:  The rest of the National League doesn’t seem to want to win either.   Take a look around the NL.   The Cubs and Brewers can’t seem to buy a win between the two of them.  The West seems to be coming down to the surprising D-backs.   Meanwhile, the wild card might not be decided until the last day of the regular season, perhaps even taking an extra day for a playoff.   Going into the playoffs, it seems that the teams that will have the best chance to set up their pitching will be the D-backs and the Mets.  Otherwise, all the other teams look to be in a fight until the last day. 

Fact 3:  The playoffs can not be predicted.   You can waste your time with all the “expert” opinions that change with each game if not each inning.   However, I have come to learn that I have a better chance predicting the MegaMillion numbers than picking who will win in the playoffs.   The Mets have a team that if they can hot, can completely dominate the NL and beat an AL team.   The question is, will they get hot?   I can bet that no one will remember what happened the last week of September if they win the World Series in October. 

Additional Thoughts:

 My playoff rotation and why:   Glavine/Pedro, Maine, and Perez

Bullpen includes: Hernandez, Mota, Shoeneweis, Heilman, Feliciano, Sosa, Smith, Wagner

       Okay, let me explain my reasoning.   Obviously Glavine and Pedro will take games 1 and 2.   Which one takes what game will likely depend on rest and when the last time a pitcher pitched.   After that I have to go with Maine and Perez who have been starting all year and have been pitching down the stretch.   I believe these four pitchers can give the team 5 to 7 innings pitched each game along with a chance for the team to win each game.  Maine and Perez also have shown a knack for really stepping up in big games, which we saw last year and this year. 

      The bigger debate is the bullpen.   Let me first say I do NOT want Mota on the playoff roster let alone the bullpen.   However, we have to deal with reality.  For what ever reason Mota has constantly been used by Willie Randolph.   I don’t know what power Mota has over management, but I’ve given up trying to figure it out.  So with that, let’s look at the rest of my selections.  

       I want Orlando Hernandez in the bullpen for two reasons.   One, he hasn’t started in a game since September 11th with a foot injury.  He just doesn’t have enough time to actually start a game.  How is he going to get the endurance for 5 or 6 innings after not throwing a pitch in over 2 weeks?   If this was the regular season, then I would say go for it.  He’ll rebound and be back to normal in two or three starts.  However, the Mets don’t have two or three starts to get to the point.  However, he can get prepared to throw 1 to 3 innings.   Imagine if you will, that Perez goes 6 innings with the lead throwing a 93 mph fastball, in comes Hernandez in the 7th with a 55 mph curve ball.  1-2-3, people.   The bullpen has become much more solid.

     The rest of the bullpen is self explainatory I think.   Shoeneweis seems to have rebounded from what ever problems he had.   Is he perfect?  No, but he is certainly better than at the All Star break.   Smith, I think, has returned to form he had in April.  I think Smith gives the Mets another great look out of the bullpen and can become a real asset in the playoffs.  Finally, Sosa is a given for the playoffs.   I have no doubt about that.  However, I have concerns with him in the playoffs, but I think he can succeed if put in the right situations. 

       Okay everyone.   Now, take one step back.   Take a deep breath.   Hold it.   Exhale.   Keep your hair intact.   The Mets losing streak is over, and it came via a game that for the most part was played crisp and clean.  

       The Mets have been in a pretty rough stretch as we all know, but even with that, the Phillies could not catch this team, and I believe they won’t.   Look, the Phillies have been red hot, but we all know the pitching, starting and relieving, can not hold up to the Mets over the final 11 games.   I believe this.  I know this.  This is Philadelphia we are talking about here.   They make an art out of blowing play off chances, and this year will be no different. 

      In the meantime, the Mets have played the worst baseball of the season in my opinion.   For those past 5 games the Mets looked lost and confused.  However, that was then and this is today.   With a 2.5 game lead, the Mets need to win 6 more games to end this race.  Just six.   Tonight, they go up against, in my opinion, an overrated, living off past success, pitcher in Dontrelle Willis.   I’m sorry, I was never big on this guy and still am not.  He seems to do well against the Mets, but baseball is about today not yesterday.   I think the Mets will start to get hot again.   The type of hot that can scare teams in the playoffs.  

        This team has the ability and tallent to run the table and get to the World Series.  All they have to do is put it together.   They have Pedro back with Glavine as #2.   The bullpen should be sured up with the subtraction of Mota and the addition of Pelfrey and Hernandez (next article topic).  The offense?   I have one phrase for you this October.  The Reyes & Wright connection, coming to a national audience this October.  Bet on it! 

       I think the Mets are going to be more than fine.  Afterall, they’ve been in first place for over 320 days.   I don’t forsee that streak ending by October 1st.

      The Mets are in trouble.   We all know that, but I’m not writing about the Mets players or management here, I’m talking about the fans. 

       I had to write this evening after being out and about all day.  Individuals who called themselves Mets fans a few days ago all of a sudden are wearing Yankme hats and pinstripes.  The band wagon has jumped ship and has run as far away from this team as possible. 

       So I say it is gut check time for YOU.   Are you a Mets fan or not?   Do you live and die with this team or simply switch over to the “other” team the minute things get tough.  It’s easy to be a “fair” weather fan.   You can quit the team you were pulling for the minute times get tough.  However, I and many of you are NOT fair weather fans.  

       As such, I would like you to repeat this after me.   Call it our credo.

      I believe in the Mets.   I believe in the orange and blue.   I believe that errors, bad pitching, and inability to get a big hit will be paid back in October.   I believe the only team in the NL East to make the playoffs will be in Queens, New York.   I believe in Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, John Maine, Oliver Perez, and some sort of form of Orlando Hernandez.   I believe the Hielman, Sosa, and Feliciano will find their form.   I believe that Reyes will stop hitting pop ups to short center field.   I believe all this.  

Why?

     Because I have to.   I’m a Mets fan and I BELIEVE!

     Of all the mascots I hate in baseball, number one would have to be the Philly Phanatic.  That rip off in Atlanta comes second, of course.   However, the Phanatic is evil.  Pure evil.   Let me tell you a story of a young 9 year old boy and that evil Philly Phanatic.

       Here was this excited 9 year old boy, going to the Mets versus Philly game.  His family all was going to the game, the only problem was the game was in Philadelphia, the City of “Brotherly Love”.  So here was this 9 year old boy wearing a New York Mets t-shirt enjoying watching his team beat the ever loving piss out of the Phillies.   Here comes this evil green thing, which looks like a horrible scientific experiment gone bad.  The kid happen to be drinking a soda at the time.  Then the monster grabbed pop corn and starting dumping it on said kid.  Shooting out it’s tungue, and dancing around like MC Hammer on crack, or perhaps Mr. Humpty (hello 80’s).   Said kid drops the soda on himself out of shock of being attacked by what he considered at the time as a horribly disfigured Phillies fan.  Soaked with soda, covered in pop corn, and completely humiliated, the kid left Philadelphia embarrased and angry.  That kid was me, and since then I can’t go to any Philly games out of fear that I might snap and beat the crap out of that green mutant.  Sure, it can attack a 9 year old kid, but lets see it mess with a guy who now boxes and has a black belt in various martial arts.  

     So I plead with the Mets.   Kill the Phanatic.  Mr. Met, take your t-shirt gun and knock that fool out.  This weekend, the Mets have the chance to destroy the Phillies and humiliate the Phanatic.   The 9 year old kid in me is licking his chops.

       First, I have to say the new Hot Foot looks great!   Great job Anthony!  

        On to my post for this evening.   What do the Mets need to do down the stretch to get ready for the play offs?  

        In my opinion the Mets need to do three important things to ensure optimal performance in the playoffs.  First, the Mets must continue to get healthy.  The health of Carlos Delgado concerns me.  Injuries with the core, whether abs or hip pointer, are troublesome and fickle.  You are fine one minute and crying in pain the next.  Well, okay I was crying in pain.  The point is that the Mets must be careful to ensure Delgado gets healthy.   The Mets also should consider bubble wrapping El Duque and Alou.  I’m not kidding. 

      The second is obvious.  Get Pedro ready.  Pedro Martinez IS the key to the playoffs in so many ways.   His attitude and competitive fire drives this team.  Any question of that was answered in the last 11 days.  Pedro Martinez though must get to the point were he can go 6 or 7 innings per start.  The 5 inning games are understandable, but over the last few weeks of September, Pedro is going to have to push himself beyond that point.  With Pedro Martinez starting game 1 or 2 in the playoffs, the Mets become a very dangerous team.

      Last but not least, define roles.   The roles on the bench and bullpen must be defined.  All year due to injuries, the only defined role in the bullpen belonged to Billy Wagner.  The bench, forget about it.   With the return of all the players for the bench, Willie Randolph needs to concentrate on getting at bats for the bench guys he’s taking to the playoffs and innings pitched for the bullpen pitchers.   This includes the possibility of Pelfrey, Maine, El Duque, or Perez getting use to coming out of the bullpen.

        As we Mets fans end this regular season over the next few weeks, lets enjoy the end of the “team to beat” and the supposed curse of Atlanta.  We fans also have to get ready for the playoffs.  So get ready for the excitement and heart raising fits of October!   Get your voices ready to shake Shea and show the baseball world what New York Mets fans can do!

The key to preparing for the future is understanding the past. As such, we went back and learned the Mets won 97 games with 13 different starting pitchers who ranged from great to extremely poor. Further, when looking at baseball in general, the best starting rotation posted a 4.10 ERA and wasn’t exactly lights out. In short, there was no staff that was young and dominating. The Mets won so many games because the team crushed opposing picture with their speed and power while ending the game early by the 6^th inning.

Going into this season, the Mets strengthen their best assets with the addition of Moise Alou to bat behind David Wright, and also kept the bull pen very strong especially with the addition of Burgos. In short, it is my opinion that this team is built for a young starter to grow and develop and for older starters to save their pitches. Given that, I feel the Mets should have the following rotation:

1. Glavine
2. Maine
3. Perez
4. Pelfrey
5. Vargas
6. Hernandez (long relief)

Now, you are probably screaming at the computer screen that you can’t go with four young pitchers and expect the Mets to win. I say, why not? Last year’s team carried Bannister, Lima, Zambrano, and Gonzalez for half the year and still took control on the National League. Maine through Vargas has a much higher up side and frankly they don’t need to be dominant, just good enough or about average to support this team and win the National League East. The bonus with going young from 2 through 5 is that the rotation can stay intact for the entire season without much worry for injury which means Glavine can stay on track and not get moved around with his starts. This also means you can build this young rotation for this year and the future as Humber can replace Glavine next year and allows Pedro Martinez to be less of an issue. Further, I think Hernandez at this point would be an excellent long reliever and spot starter. He’d be returned to where he succeeded with the White Sox, and will keep him fresh all year.

The pitchers I present here are not low ceiling type pitchers. Perez and Pelfrey have been projected as future aces by many scouts, while Maine proved he has the ability to succeed at this level. Vargas meanwhile, only needs to be good enough to post a .500 record with a mid 4.00 ERA to be considered successful.

The Mets rotation needs to put a combined ERA of 4.50 to improve on last year, and that is certainly possible with this group. We have these young pitchers, it is time the Mets use them and build a staff that has an average age of 28. The future is now and for many years to come.