The Apple: 2010 Mets in Pictures

...genius...hilarious...sadly accurate

Mets Elimination Champs T-Shirt

...from readtheapple.com

Are You Watching Mets Baseball?

Last night I found myself watching more of the Mets game on my MLB phone app than on SNY. With the minor leaguers now in the majors and a Mets lineup that consists of Luca Duda, Luis Hernandez and regular intervals of Pat Misch, does anyone care to watch Mets baseball anymore?

Evidently no one wants to watch in person as attendance has plummeted faster than the economy. I talked to a few fellow Mets fans who all responded that they don't watch regularly, but rather flip to the game from time to time when nothing else is on.

That's what Mets baseball has become. Glorified channel surfing. For two straight Septembers, Mets baseball has become almost unwatchable. I want to take some joy in winning three straight games, but when it comes at the expense of the dismal Pirates I can't bring myself to wallow in team pride.

Last week the Mets had 3 batters in their starting lineup who were hitting below .200. That's Mets baseball.

Let the kids play out the year. See what we have potentially for future talent or trade bait. But don't expect me to watch religiously. Maybe a lack of eyeballs will affect the wallets of Mets brass enough to make a change.

Probably not though.

Stick a Fork in the Mets

Much like this steak, the Mets season has been well done for quite some time. Welcome to another meaningless September. The second straight one for Mets fans and the 4th straight season that ends in disappointment.

The lack of performance from this club in a series that everyone deemed pivotal to the rest of the Mets 2010 campaign has come up Vern Troyer-esque short. The question is will there be any hope come April 2011?

The 2010 Season in One Word: Tease

The Mets are the biggest tease in baseball. From April's good start, to June's epic streak, to July's West Coast implosion, to August's hint of hope, the Mets have done everything they can to string Mets fans along while not actually accomplishing anything.

Last night's loss to the Marlins was a microcosm of this concept. The Mets seemingly are on their way to another typical defeat on the heels of a great comeback win against one of the best pitchers in the NL. Instead of folding like an origami they chip away only to fall short with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The greatest tease of it all is that seemingly every other team that's ahead of them in the standings lost last night. There was a perfect chance to gain some ground and put together some semblance of interesting September baseball, but instead the Mets fall back to .500.

It's interesting that on a number of Mets blogs, there's still talk of making a run in the Wild Card. There are postings of Wild Card standings. There's talk about what needs to be done to make a run.

Do you think that's happening amongst Marlins' faithful? Doubt it. They let Cody Ross go. They're playing with an outfield that isn't of legal drinking age. And yet they're ahead of the Mets in the standings. Have been since July.

It's time to let go. Play the season out. Enjoy watching baseball if you can, but let's not fool ourselves into thinking something is going to happen this year. We've had about 5 months worth of proof to show us that it's just not happening.

Don't be a tease.

The Big Picture

Sure the Mets lost 2 of 3 to the Yankees. Sure they ended their magical 8 game win streak. Sure the Mets offense was absent for most of the weekend. But you have to look at the big picture.

The Mets just went 7-2 on a 9 game road trip. That's rare. In fact I can't remember the last time the Mets played that well on the road. We would all like the Mets to win every game they play, but that's just not a realistic outcome.

I'm pretty satisfied with the way this team is playing right now. And now they get to come home for a 6 game home stand and with an off day have a chance to rest.

Santana might not be what he used to be. Bay may be struggling. And KRod is Pray Rod. But if you've followed this team for the last few years (or the last 20) you have to like what the 2010 Mets are doing.

I never thought I'd have that kind of outlook after dropping 2 out of 3 to the Yanks, but I do.

Surprise! Mets are 11 games over .500

There's really nothing else to say. Yup, it's true. This team is legit. Just shutout the Yanks with Takahashi as the starter. Eight wins in a row. 11 games over .500.

Here comes Pelfrey and Santana. Baseball is back in Flushing and I could care less when Beltran is scheduled to return.

Let's Go Mets!

The Boostrap Mets

Sunday's game should have been a loss. In fact last year I would have guaranteed a loss when the Mets found themselves down 5-0 after Takahashi gave up his second homer of the game to Cody Ross. But what a difference a year makes.

This team has a "pull 'em up by the bootstrap" mentality. They fight. They claw. They don't give up. Sure Freddy Gonzalez's questionable moves, namely the short leash he gave Ricky Nolasco, helped open the doors for a Mets rally but the guys still had to put the ball in play.

Everyone in the lineup contributed to this comeback, save for Reyes. Franceour had the clutch home run of the year tying the game at 6, but Wright, Ike, Barajas, Cora, Bay and Pagan all had a hand in this W. The 8th inning was a microcosm of what a difference the 2010 season is from 2009. Pagan leads off with a single. Pagan runs on a 2-2 pitch to Bay which Bay slaps for a single allowing Pagan to move to third. Davis hits into a DP but Pagan scores.

Go ahead run. Game winning run.

Sure Pray Rod and his arsenal of theatrics made the 9th inning more than interesting, but in the end it's a W in the books and a revenge sweep of the Fish.

The best part is Pelfrey pitches the next game and for the first time in a long time I have confidence that a streak will continue.