Johan Santana and teammate David Wright celebrate the final out of the seventh inning of their game against the Houston Astros. picture appears courtesy of getty images/Jim McIsaac ........
Well the baseball season is now going down its final stretch as teams rally to get themselves into postseason play. In the NL East the teams have played with a great deal of zeal. And for one team in particular their resolve will be tested. The New York Mets have placed themselves in a position to redeem themselves after last year's debacle.
The standings as they now sit atop of the NL East , they lead the Philadelphia Phillies (71-59) by 1/2 a game . And their record over the last 10 games (7-3) is identical to that of their nearest rival. Bu t the campaign as it is now reaching its climax places the Mets in somewhat of precarious position. Their closer Billy Wagner looks as if he'll be shut down. Being the fact that he's sustained a season ending injury. And what has further placed added pressure on the team is the fact that starting pitcher John Maine will be placed on the DL.
The problem the team now faces much like their crosstown neighbors is their lack frontline pitching . With Maine now on the DL and their All Star closer Billy Wagner possibly looking being unable to their remainder of the regular season. It leaves the Mets in an unenviable and susceptible position. Were they to fail the make the playoffs this season there'd be a great deal of questions to be asked though not necessarily answered. Much has been of the firing of Willie Randolph and its handling by the GM Omar Minaya left a great deal to be desired. Now even more would be expected from pitchers Johan Santana and Pedro Martinez , if the team is to fare well for the remainder of the regular season . Say nothing of which they'd be expected to replicate that form in the playoffs if they're likely to be viewed as a contender for the World Series.
This has been a torturous time for the Mets over the last few years. They've seen the New York Yankees been part and parcel of sport's pages and the glamor assigned to the Boys in Pinstripes.
The Mets for their part has seen fit to make a big splash in the free agent market or trade for big stars. By way of a return on the investment thus far . It hasn been somewhat of a sparse return. It has yet to bare a win of the World Series in the last decade. And if anything the New York Mets' payroll seems somewhat akin to the GDP of a third world nation. If The Mets are to justify their position as a credible contender then they're going to have to expect more out Martinez and Santana. Albeit that in terms of their offense they've been productive as and when needed. But you'd have to make a persuasive argument to Johan Santana . As so often they've done little by way giving him the run support needed whenever he's pitched an outstanding game for the team.
Whatever the Mets achieve this season will be more than dependent upon their pitching . They've been a productive team offensively as that has never proven to be a deficiency for them. It has been their pitching that may well to their Achilles' heel and undoing. And should they not be able to rectify the situation. The view from the top may not be all that it's cracked up to be.
tophatal ...........
