Well, I haven't posted in a while.  That's because I was busy fishing for tree limbs in Lake George, NY.  But, thanks to the fickle Adirondack weather, I still had plenty of time to follow the Mets.  Here's a quick summary of where they stand now:

Starting Pitching: Check

Lineup: Check

Bench: Check

Energy Provided By Young Players: Check (Thanks, Messrs Murphy, Evans, A. Reyes)

Manager and Coaching Staff: Check

Bullpen: In dire need of a miracle

The bullpen was bad enough, but now they are hopeless without Billy Wagner.  And Wagner's elbow pain raises all kinds of red flags.  Pain + Joint + 37 years old = possible season ending injury.  But we'll let the doctor decide.

 It would be swell if Luis Ayala can jump in and return to his 2006 form, but he hasn't had his 2006 form since...2006.  It was worth the risk, not that Anderson Hernandez is much of a risk, but the Mets need some stability in the bullpen, or else Johan Santana better get used to pitching complete games.

Fortunately for the Mets, the rest of the NL East has issues as well.  The Mets have a good a chance as anyone to win the division, and they just might do it.  And that's not going out on a limb.

In what has been a season of thorough frustration wrought with inconsistency, streakiness, and turmoil, the most infuriating trait of the 2008 Mets has been the number of starts by Johan Santana that have gone wasted.

Don't listen to the blowhards in the sports media - Santana has had a Santana-like season.   He has a 2.86 ERA, and has led the Mets in innings pitched and strikeouts all season.  He has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 19 of his 23 starts.  That should be enough to win - the Mets are averaging 4.86 runs per game this season.  The bullpen has blown 5 games in which Santana has left with the lead, and lost three of them.  Taking into account both of these factors, Santana could easily have 15 wins.

What else can he do?  Those who cry that he should pitch a complete game every five days because of how much he's being paid are insane.  Is there some sort of ratio of dollars to innings pitched I'm not aware of?  Is this a new sabermetric statistic?

One wonders if Santana looks at the standings and sees the team he was traded from is in first place by a half game in the AL Central, and the team he was traded to is three games back.  Does he ever regret coming to Queens?  I would.

Imagine where the Twins would be with Santana right now.  It's not like the Twins got any immediate value out of their trade with the Mets.  Carlos Gomez is the only player dealt to Minnesota who has contributed at the major league level this year, but hasn't been much of a factor.  His .287 OBP would have gotten him booed off the field every day at Shea Stadium.  Santana, however, would have Minnesota up by five games by now - and he'd be celebrated in the sports media, free of the microscope of New York.

There's no real magic, secret solution to the Mets' struggles this year.  It's simple.  When Johan Santana leaves the game with a lead, or gives up three or fewer earned runs, WIN THE GAME.  If New York can do that, they can run away with the division.  If they can't, it's going to be an uphill climb.

The best move Omar Minaya made at the non-waiver trade deadline was no move.  He refused to part with the Mets' top prospects in return for players that may or may not have had an impact on the team's short term future or long term future. 

The Mets needed depth in the outfield, and, more desperately, needed help in the bullpen, which is the team's weakest link.  But, the Mets are only one game back of the Phillies with the pieces they have.  If they get Ryan Church back, there's your outfield solution.  And, it is possible to make a trade until August 31st, as long as the players clear waivers, which is a strong possibility.  So why sell what's left of the farm system for a player that may or may not be the difference in 2008? 

What the Mets have now, is a good balance.  They are contenders in 2008, and, thanks to prospects like John Niese, Fernando Martinez, and Eddie Kunz, and current young stars like David Wright, Jose Reyes, John Maine, and Mike Pelfrey, they should remain contenders for years to come. 

Like the Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, and Yankees of the late nineties proved, the key to success is to grow and harvest your own talent.  Trades and free agent signings should only enhance what you have already. 

Now, the Mets should try to win with what they have, and build up their farm system for the future.

Gary, Keith, and Ron

I'd like to throw in a plug for GaryKeithandRon.com. They are selling merchandise to benefit their favorite charities.  I picked up a couple of t-shirts (who can resist the number 17 with a mustache on it?) and you should too.  Check it out.