You have to hand it to the Mets. Never before has a team crushed the souls of a fanbase like this. In three short days, this went from a season of hope for next year to one of apathetic despair.
But I present to you:
Monday: Matt Harvey gets an MRI and has a tear in his UCL. With Tommy John surgery probable, the hope turns to saddness.
Tuesday: General manager Sandy Alderson trades Marlon Byrd and John Buck for a prospect and a player to me named. Sadness becomes apathy.
Wednesday: If there are any Met fans left who care, Dice-K’s brutal performance pretty much killed that with his 4 1/3 inning masterpiece, which left the sparse crowd looking for lighter fluid and matches. Anyone who watched wanted to immolate themselves.
The Mets are proving the Beatles wrong. It can get much worse. Only two players on the Opening Day roster were in the lineup tonight – Ike Davis and Justin Turner – the rest are retreads or graduates of the Backman Baseball School of Nevada.
I am all for seeing what the young guys can give you, but a month of this? There’s no power, the bullpen is shaky at best and sure there are three good starters in the rotation, but Dice-K is unwatchable and the Mets signed Matsuzaka to prevent Carlos Torres from starting.
Maybe the Mets can bring back Stave Trachsel. That could work.
Or how about this: James Blake is retiring from tennis. He’s a New York Mets fan. He’s in shape and used to the pitching motion.
And did I mention he has some time on his hands.
How about the Mets sign Blake to be the No. 5 starter. At least the team would be interesting and you will get some play about an ex-tennis player on the mound.
Heck, you may open up a new market.
It couldn’t get much worse. Right now, Dice-K’s starts are where baseball joy goes to die.
In all seriousness, the Mets need to keep interest over the next month. They can’t have another September spring training, looking at who will make the team in 2014. Terry Collins job depends on it.
Remember, Collins is signed just through season. By almost all indications, he will be back, but if the Mets really are brutal over the next 30 days and he loses the clubhouse, they may look in another direction.
Furthermore, you have to wonder how much damage the Mets will do to some of these young players if they are exposed to the losing environment.
Young prospects should bring hope and energy, but if there’s no one to lead, it may hurt them even more.
Sure the Mets need innings and yes they need to save their young arms. At the same time, the organization needs to promote a winning atmosphere.
Starting Matsuzaka every five days is not going to do that.
It’s actually sad to see Doc Gooden’s 16 donned by two former pitchers this year.
Where have you gone Dr. K? Flushing turns its lonely eyes upon you.
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