Chapter 67.3: Choke!

They're done. So here's what I think we're looking at for over the off-season:

I don't know the contract status of all the guys, but I believe that many current players will be gone. For example, Paul LoDuca is in the final year of his contract, and unless he's willing to take a shorter-term contract than I suspet he wants, I'd say it's time to wish him well. And keep Ramon Castro.

Carlos Delgado looks done to me. His bat's slower and he just doesn't look right. Perhaps we'll learn he was hurt all year or something, but I fear he's simply on the downside of his career.

Luis Castillo: keep him -- or if necessary, re-sign him. He's been a solid pickup, and I'd like to see what he can do in a full season.

Jose Reyes: There's something going on. I don't know what it is, but his mind is not on baseball. He's still an electrifying player. But something went wrong and the Mets need him to be on his game again.

David Wright: More and more, he's become THE star of the team. He obviously remains and I believe he'll improve.

OF: Moises, the Mets have an option for $7.5 million, take it and sign him. Beltran, another quiet but successful season. Milledge: trade him. Get some pitching. His attitude and histrionics are a problem. But he has value. Get some pitching.

Pitching is the problem. Pedro is still worth keeping, Glavine is a big question mark. It's up to him whether he plays, but I think he's only going to be a Met. If he chooses to, then he's worth some amount as a back-end starter. But I think it's time for him to retire. John Maine is still a valuable player, I'm not sure about Oliver Perez, but he's probably ok. El Duque is done. He's unable to sustain himself for a full season. Mike Pelfrey, I just don't know. If he gets packaged in a deal for a front-line pitcher, I'd not complain. Philip Humber, he's got potential and I'd like to see what he can do.

The bullpen, however, is where wholesale changes must occur. Billy Wagner is still the closer. Aaron Heilman I think I'd trade. He wants to be a starter, trade him for a starter or a couple decent middle relievers (or maybe a first baseman). Pedro Feliciano? What happened?! I'd keep him, but my leash isn't long for him. Joe Smith. Who cares? Frankly, at this point. Now that those last outs have occurred, I'm not sure which of them I care about. The 2007 Mets have earned their spot in history -- as the biggest chokers of all time!

Chapter 67.25: Thanks, John!

I'm amazed at how much calmer I feel right now. John Maine pitched the best game of any Mets pitcher all year -- allowing only one hit in 7 and two-thirds innings. He struck out 14 batters and the one hit was a dinker. Had Maine gotten him out, he'd have faced bedlam in the ninth, since no pitcher has ever thrown a no-hitter for the Mets.

As I type, the Nationals and Phillies are playing. The Phils already removed their starting pitcher, who'd allowed half of the batters he faced to get on base. The Nationals should have scored more than they did.

Whether the Phillies lose today remains to be seen, but regardless, the Mets must win tomorrow in order to have any chance to make the playoffs. Lets Go Mets!

Chapter 67.2: That Kind of Weekend

So many beers, so little time. Nice piece on Maine beers in the New York Times.

Chapter 67.15: Why We'll Advance to the Playoffs

Ok, I have to remain positive. The Mets haven't been eliminated -- we're not the Braves, after all. I've got a few reasons to list why the Mets will take the National League East division.

* They're 10-5 against this weekend's competition, the Florida Marlins, who looked awful last weekend against a truly miserable Mets team (Whoops, I said I'd be positive.)

* The Phillies are playing the Nationals, who have been quite scrappy in the second half and have started to gel under manager Manny Acta (who was a Mets coach last year -- a little karma thing going, you see?)

* The Mets have Oliver Perez (pictured on right), John Maine, and Tom Glavine going in these final three games. Perez has become a big-game pitcher, one of those guys who seems to do better when there's a lot of pressure on him. This may explain why he was awful in Pittsburgh. Maine's been sketchy at best during the second half, but these are the Marlins. (I know, not a strong argument at all.) And Tom Glavine has been strong most of the year and in what could be his final game ever, he's not going to stink up Shea and earn the wrath of fans who have finally started to warm to him.

* I've already spent nearly $300 on playoff tickets for a game that might not take place, regardless of whether the Mets are in the post-season. (Perhaps this last point is a bit personal, and it may even point to why they won't make the playoffs.)

I'm a frustrated Mets fan, and I know enough of the team's history to realize that this will be an interesting and excruciating weekend. I've not been this nervous since Kenny Rogers was on the mound during the 1999 NLCS.