Mets Are At It Again

Here we go again with the New York Mets. After a three game sweep of the Brewers in early September, the Mets had a 4.5 game lead on Philaldelphia for first place in the NL Eastern Division.

Now, after losing two of three to the Phillies, losing two of three to Atlanta and losing the opener to Washington this week, the Mets find themselves just a half game in front of the surging Phillies.

The Mets were in prime position to erase the ghosts of 2007, but it appears that those ghosts are as alive now as they were last year. The Mets put forth a mediocre effort last night in Washington. Pedro Martinez was awful, giving up four runs in just five innings, and it is obvious that he doesn't have it anymore.

Maybe the Mets just don't have it anymore. It doesn't matter who the manager is, the players on this team are experts at choking away big leads. They deserve a PhD in the effort. The bullpen is awful, as many know. Second base has been a rollercoaster all year with Luis Castillo, Damion Easley and Argenis Reyes swapping for starts.

Yet, the difference between this team and last year's team is that up to this point, the 2008 Mets have given us effort. They have tried their best to erase the memories of last August and September. Whenever they are down, they seem to bounce back, i.e., Carlos Beltran's grand slam in Florida on August 28 to give the Mets a huge win after they suffered a huge loss the previous night.

Carlos Delgado has been clutch throughout the second half, hitting once clutch homer after another. Fernando Tatis has been a godsend, hitting 11 homers and 45 RBI as a reserve player in left for the injured Mosies Alou. Brian Schnieder and Ryan Church have proven to be stable acquisitions that have solidified right field and the catcher's position. Johan Satana has been brilliant and Mike Pelfrey has been Amazin'.

Yet, the Mets find themselves in the same position as last year.

If they blow it now, it will be a bigger heartbreak than 2007. In 2007, you could see it coming. Whether it was watching the Mets get blasted on the West Coast in June and July of 2007, or Billy Wagner blowing a 10-8 Met lead in Philadelphia only to see the Mets lose 11-10 in late August 2007. The handwriting was on the wall last year; it is not in 2008 - meaning anything but a division title and the postseason will be a HUGE, MEGA, ULTRA disappointment and a clear statement that a new regime will have to be in place in 2009.