The Mets may change the name of Citi Field to the 4077 and the team song will go from “Meet The Mets” to “Suicide is Painless.”
Next thing you know Matt Harvey will come to the stadium in a dress, a la Jamie Farr.
It’s like a M*A*S*H unit out there as both Michael Conforto and Neil Walker were out of the lineup with injuries. For those counting at home only three regular Mets – Asdrubal Cabrera, Yoenis Cespedes, and Curtis Granderson – are left out there in this sad game of Survivor they seem to be playing in 2016.
“If you think, I’m going to criticize my lineup, you are talking to the wrong guy,” said manager Terry Collins, who is also recovering from “lightheadedness” and a hospital stay over the weekend. “As we’re doing that, I didn’t have time to review the at bats. We have a lot of guys hurt, but as I told the guys before the game, you have to pick it up. We have to win a ballgame.”
But it’s hard to win when you have reserves in five of the eight everyday positions. It’s hard to get a rhythm and hard to score runs and tonight the Mets were shutout on just three hits, as rookie Jameson Tailon looked like Bob Gibson out there.
Now you can’t cry about injuries, as all teams get them. Over in the Bronx, first base looks like a black hole and everyone who trots out to position No. 3 on your scorecard is destined to end up on the trainer table.
At least the Mets quickly shored up that position with James Loney or maybe you would rather see Ike Davis return.
So it could be worse.
But still, without Walker and Conforto, the Mets are fielding a 23 man roster and against a team like the Pirates, that’s never enough.
Unfortunately, though, it’s not going to get better anytime soon through the trade market. There are too many teams still in the mix for the Wild Card, so none of them will go into selling mode right now. Those that are sending pieces away are doing it for top dollar, such as the Braves and Padres who are selling right now to leverage themselves.
So toughing it out is the only way to go.
But here’s the good news. Even with this downturn and the stink bomb of record of 2-5 at Citi Field in the past seven home games, they are still a 1 ½ ahead for the last Wild Card spot.
And even with the lineup going down like flies, the prized pitching still looks good and healthy.
I may be an optimist like Hawkeye Pierce, but it can’t get much worse, can it?
Look, Conforto will be back tomorrow as the cortisone shot in his wrist seems to be working. Walker may be a few more days, but his back injury doesn’t seem too bad.
Travis d’Arnaud is rehabbing and will be back next week. And even the fill-ins for David Wright and Lucas Duda seem to be keeps, with Loney and Wilmer Flores as credible big leaguers.
Reinforcements are on their way and maybe the Mets will turn the corner.
It can’t get much worse, can it?
We may have to have Father Mulcahy say a prayer.
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