After tonight’s game, the Mets will have 54 games left over the final two months of the season. Here’s a look at the rest of the Mets schedule broken down.

9 against Florida
The Marlins have been unexpectedly hovering around the top of the division all year long. Most Mets fans were telling me about how the Marlins leading the division was just a fluke, yet they are just two games out of the division lead right now with two months in the season to go. A good mix of talent with a few experienced veterans such as Luis Gonzalez, who won the World Series with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001. The only thing that could stop them from reaching the playoffs is their lackluster defense and inexperienced rotation.

9 against Washington
The Mets are lucky they get Washington for 9 games in these last couple months. Manny Acta’s Nationals are currently the worst team in baseball with a .358 winning percentage and are 30 games under .500. There is nothing going right for this ball club and perhaps the only thing you would have to worry about is that they will have the ‘nothing to lose’ mentality.

9 against Atlanta
The Braves have struggled to stay in contention and are currently 8.5 out of the division lead. Realizing that they have a small chance of contending, they traded impending free agent Mark Teixeira to the Angels in return for first-baseman Casey Kotchman and a minor-league pitcher. As long as Bobby Cox is managing, this team is always going to play hard right down to the very last game.

7 against Houston
The Astros aren’t even close to competing in the NL Central, sitting in fourth place, seven games under .500. Despite knowing that, they decided to trade for veteran starter Randy Wolf. Even with veteran first-baseman Lance Berkman putting together an MVP like season with the bat, the whole team is in shambles, including ace Roy Oswalt. The Mets shouldn’t have much of a probably with this team.

5 against Philadelphia
The Phillies remain the Mets primary competition heading into the stretch run. The key to the Phillies this year is their pitching. They have one of the better bullpens in the league and closer Brad Lidge hasn’t blown a save in 25 tries. They also went out and acquired Joe Blanton from the Athletics to help bolster the rotation. I think it’s pretty clear that they will be there in the end of September and the run for the National League East division title is going to come down to the wire.

5 against Pittsburgh
The Mets will make up a game from April that they missed with the Pirates on August 11th, in addition to their four-game series later on the following weekend. The Pirates, like the Astros, are seven games under .500 and won’t compete in the tough NL Central. They sent left-handed closer Damaso Marte and outfielder/first baseman Xavier Nady to the Yankees, receiving mostly prospects in return. With all the rumors swirling the past few days regarding Jason Bay, it is unclear if the Pirates will elect to trade him or not, but it sounds more and more likely. Bay and Nady are/were the Pirates two best hitters. It’d be hard to believe that the Pirates would give the Mets a hard time here in a few weeks.

4 against Chicago Cubs
This is going to be the crucial series for the Mets, despite not being division rivals. The Mets are expected to see the Cubs in four games in the second-to-last series of the regular season. The Cubs are clearly one of the top teams in the National League and with a rotation led by Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden and Ryan Dempster. In addition to having a powerful and explosive lineup, the Mets should expect trouble in the series.

3 against San Diego
The Padres are right in front of the Washington Nationals and are the second-worst team in the majors, with a .389 winning percentage, 24 games under .500. The Mets shouldn’t have much trouble with this series unless the run into Jake Peavy.

3 against Milwaukee
The Brewers are in contention for the NL Central division title along with the Chicago. Like the Cubs, the Brewers also acquired a new stud pitcher in CC Sabathia, who has been nothing short of great since moving from Cleveland. The Brewers may not have what it takes to keep up with the Cubs, but they are still a good team that the Mets will have to watch out for when they head up to Wisconsin at the beginning of September.

Overall, I believe the Mets have a very easy schedule from here on out and they will need to capitalize on it if they want to win the division title. Outside of the five games with the Phillies, the only other two major series that the Mets really need to worry about are the 7 games with the Brewers and Cubs in September.

If there were one thing I could take back from the magical 2006 season, it would be Darren Oliver. He pitched extremely well during that season, posting a 4-1 record with a 3.44 ERA in 81.0 innings. Bringing Oliver back on a two-year deal after 2006 was one move that Omar couldn’t make, but should have in hindsight.

Over the past one and a half seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, Oliver has posted a 7-2 record with a 3.60 ERA in 110.0 innings pitched.

During his tenure here with the Mets, he showed unbelievable pitching in the clutch, with one instance that I remember real well during Game 4 of the NLCS in 2006. After starter Steve Trachsel was pulled in the second inning after giving up five earned runs, Oliver went on to pitch six scoreless innings against the Cardinals. Despite the damage already being done and the Mets inability to produce any offense, it was still a great clutch performance.

I truly believe the Mets really miss the job he did for them and have been desperately trying to seek the same type of player since he left in the 2006-2007 offseason. The Mets have tried a number of players in the long relief role that included Jorge Sosa, Carlos Muniz, Aaron Sele, among others.

If the Mets want to compete and make a run in the playoffs, they need someone who could take a game for 4-5 innings if need be. Granted this is far from the Mets top priority, it still should not be overlooked. The Mets have attempted to use plenty of players this year in the same role, but they have failed to strike gold on each try.

Talk to KC: As most Mets fans have heard over the past week, management is shaky on Duaner Sanchez’s recent struggles and would likely want to grab another bullpen arm. It seems as if Kansas City relief pitcher Ron Mahay could be an option on the trade market. I was begging for the Mets to take a shot on Mahay this past winter, but nothing came of it.

Right now, Mahay is 5-0 with a 1.81 ERA in 54.2 innings pitched for the Royals this season. The 37-year old reliever is due $8 million through 2009.

Getting Mahay could open up the opportunity for the Mets to send Scott Schoeneweis elsewhere. The Tigers were reportedly interested. If the Mets could acquire a right-handed hitting corner outfielder such as Marcus Thames for Schoeneweis, then it would all make sense. Thames gives you the power that the Mets could certainly use in the middle of the lineup. He is currently hitting .262 with 20 home runs and 44 RBIs. The Mets would also control him through the 2010 season. If you think beyond this season, he could be a nice stop gap if Fernando Martinez needs more time. Even if the Mets have to give up a small A-level type prospect in addition to Schoeneweis, it would be worth it. Getting Schoeneweis’ $7.2 million off of your shoulders over this season and next would be a job well done.

Admit your mistake: Utilityman Marlon Anderson has been hitting .207 with one home run and 10 RBIs this season. The Mets signed him to a two-year, $2.2 million deal prior to this season. He is becoming a liability off the bench with the bat and even at times defensively…and the Mets need to admit to their mistake and part ways with him. The only thing that is keeping him here is his track record for pinch hitting and even that has not been that great this season.

In his latest column for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark takes a look at the Mets managerial position and that the latest name on the rumor mill regarding a potential vacancy for the team is Yankees first base coach Tony Pena. Stark adds that Jerry Manuel still has the inside track to get the job full-time in 2009 if he is capable of turning it around. He also notes that Omar Minaya is completly safe for the foreseeable future as well as that the Mets are not planning to make any significant personnel changes until they give Manuel a few weeks.

Pena was 198-285 in 483 games with the Kansas City Royals as a manager between 2002 and 2005. He was named American League manager of the year in 2003 after he led the Royals to an 83 win season after losing 67 in the previous season. He resigned as manager in 2005, 33 games after starting the season 8-25.

Finally, Stark states that an official with one team has spoke with the Mets regarding starting pitcher Oliver Perez and that the Mets are frustrated with his inconsistency on the mound since coming to the Mets in mid-2006. The Mets are about ready to listen to offers for him and intend to replace him in the rotation with Tony Armas Jr. if they can find a taker.

I don’t mind Manuel so far as manager and I think he has done a good job with the cards that have been handed to him. There is not much you can do when you have to resort to guys like Fernando Tatis, Trot Nixon and Damion Easley in your every day lineup every other day due to injuries to the veteran starters. How do you fix that? Get rid of the guy that assembled this team.

Despite being just 4.5 games out of first place in the division, I still believe that the Mets should be sellers at the deadline, not buyers. This team simply just doesn’t have the look of a winning team. You can go on and say that once you make the playoffs, anything can happen, but with what little the Mets have available to trade if they become buyers, it would make no sense for the future. This team is as old and brittle as they come. The best thing to do is sell what you can, bring back anything in return, and wait out the enormous contracts to these overpriced, slacking veterans on this team.

This team is currently under .500 (74-75) since June 1st of 2007. Yes, just about 150 games that totals out to, and the Mets and under .500 in that timespan. Obviously, some blame has to be towards the players, but you would be wrong not to point blame in the direction of the current coaching staff as well.

Willie Randolph is clearly no genius when it comes to managing a bullpen, and the in-game managerial mistakes are becoming a constant trend these days. He is simply losing his players, not physically, but mentally.

What is the solution?

I propose the Mets front office give the rest of the month to Willie to show signs of a turnaround. That’s three games against the Yankees on the road, three against the Braves on the road, three against the Rockies on the road, three against the Marlins at home, then four at home against the Dodgers. I would call that a fair chance to prove that you’re better than a .500 team.

If Willie fails to do so and this team remains to seesaw their way through May, there should be no choice but to find an alternative and hope for the best. At the very worst, you will get a head start on a possible manager option for 2009, but with four months of baseball left to play, and with the team still in contention, that is clearly not the motive. The passive, laid back style of play is simply not working right now and the way Billy Wagner has made his presence felt through the media regarding this awful play proves that Randolph is losing his players trust.

Perhaps the best option is right under their nose and could be Triple-A manager Ken Oberkfell. After bouncing around the independent leagues hoping to land a managerial position with a minor league affiliate, Oberkfell caught on with the Phillies organization when then-Phillies GM Lee Thomas gave him a shot with low Class A Piedmont in 1997. He remained there until 1999, leading the Boll Weevils to the playoffs in 1998.

After parting ways with the Phillies, the Mets picked him up and brought him in to coach their then Class-A affiliate, the Capital City Bombers. After one season with them, Oberkfell took over Class A St. Lucie, leading the team to the playoffs in 2002 and winning the Florida State League title in 2003.

In 2004, he moved up to coach Double-A Binghamton, and finished 10 games over .500, making the postseason.

He moved up again last year, this time to Double-A Binghamton, where the B-Mets finished 10 games over .500 and made the postseason. Counting this year’s appearance, Oberkfell has four consecutive playoff berths at three different levels.

He has managed the club’s AAA affiliate for the past three seasons and is currently in his fourth season managing the team. In his rookie season (2005) as a manager in the Triple-A level, he was named the Minor League Manager of the Year by Baseball America, winning the International League’s south division with a 79-65 record by 14 games.

This man has undoubtedly paid his dues with the organization to receive consideration for the job. If the Mets don’t improve over the next few weeks, could we be hearing this man’s name more and more as the team’s coaching staff becomes more in question?

Recently, I was able to get a quick interview with New Orleans Zephyrs’ (Mets Triple-A Team) general manager Mike Schline.

Gary Grund, Hot Foot: Being the general manager of a minor-league team, what exactly does your job entail?

Mike Schline: I oversee the business operation of the team as well as serving as the point person for the players and coaches and being the liaison between the Mets and Zephyrs.

Grund: What is the toughest part about your job?

Schline: Definitely keeping the crowds coming in with new and fun promotions. Also, competing for advertising sponsorship with other local major sports teams like the Saints and Hornets.

Grund: What have the Mets done to help the city of New Orleans rebuild after Hurricane Katrina in 2005?

Schline: Last year, they donated several thousands of dollars to provide equipment for youth baseball in our city. They have also been great in encouraging their players to do all community work we ask them to do.

Grund: How often do you interact with the Mets major league club officials such as general manager Omar Minaya when the Mets are making a transaction?

Schline: I interact with Mets officials several times a week, more so involving the current players and what we need to provide them with. I do not have anything to do with players call ups or movement within the organization. Those decisions are strictly the Mets.

Grund: There were numerous rumors this offseason of the Mets possibly moving their Triple-A team to Syracuse in 2008. Obviously, the Mets will return to New Orleans for at least one more season this year. What is the latest on the Mets and Zephyrs? How long does the current agreement run?

Schline: The agreement runs through the end of 2008. All we can do is provide a great atmosphere which we do. I know for a fact that the players and coaches like it here. They have given nothing but great reports to the Mets on what it is like to be here. We are a warm weather city, which is good when teams in other places are being snowed out in April. We also just put in a brand new state of the art playing surface. We want the Mets back and hope that they return. They are very loved in New Orleans. Ultimately, it is up to them but we provide a great city, great field, and climate and will make it tough for them to find a better place to play. If the guys that are here, the manager, coaches, if they love it here then that is all we can hope for.

Grund: Which of the players on the Zephyrs’ roster right now should be a name that Mets fans should keep a close eye on?

Schline: P Adam Bostick, OF Caleb Stewart, P Willie Collazo, and 2B Argenis Reyes. We have a lot of guys that can help the Mets. I like this team a lot.

Bob Nightengale of USAToday is reporting that “the Mets, according to a high-ranking official privy to the negotiations, are close to agreeing to a five- or six-year contract extension with Johan Santana that will average about $21.5 million a year. The two sides have until 5 p.m. ET Friday to reach an agreement.”

Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post indicates that an industry source has said that the Dodgers are making a big push for 3B Miguel Cabrera. There is also speculation that the Dodgers could have interest in setting up a blockbuster deal that would also include LHP Dontrelle Willis.

The Marlins are listening to trade offers for Willis, however, they aren’t likely to trade him as much as they are Cabrera.

Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald notes that some of the whispers heard in the lobby that the Padres are letting other teams know that Padres SP Jake Peavy is available. Silverman also notes that the Twins have yet to let it be known that Johan Santana is available.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com believes the Angels have emerged as a most intriguing possibility for Marlins 3B Miguel Cabrera to land through a trade. The Dodgers, Red Sox and Yankees all have interest as well, however the Red Sox are trying to re-sign Mike Lowell and the comments from Yankees’ representative Hank Steinbrenner saying that he would not trade one of the big three young pitchers.

Rosenthal also adds that the Washington Nationals would like to sign CF Andruw Jones but will likely have a tough time chalking up the money it will take to get him. He also notes that he sees the Giants and White Sox as two potential suiters with the Dodgers a possibility. The Padres would be more involved with him if his price dropped.

The Phillies believe that CF Aaron Rowand may command a four-year, $52 million contract. Both the Astros and Mets remain interested in free agent 2B Luis Castillo. The Indians, Padres and Dodgers could also enter the mix pending decisions within their franchise. The Twins are one of the teams attempting to trade for Red Sox CF Coco Crisp, but the Red Sox are demanding too much in return it appears. Teams with too many starting pitchers may look to the trade market to get rid of them. Indians starter LHP Cliff Lee, Brewers RHP Dave Bush and LHP Chris Capuano are amongst the possible choices.

Rosenthal ends on one final note. The Washington Nationals would like to trade for another young major league-ready starter. Mets 2nd-round draft pick in 2006 Kevin Mulvey is among one of the choices that Rosenthal adds, with the other being the Twins Kevin Slowey.

With the Mets in need of bullpen help. Could we be looking at a trade for one of the Nationals relievers? Chad Cordero or Jon Rauch could help this team in the bullpen and the Nationals are looking to get younger. The Nationals reportedly have interest in OF Carlos Gomez as well.