This weekend, a bunch of my friends and I got together for a group brunch.  There are a few Mets fans in the group, and we usually get into some pretty spirited discussions regarding the Mets, their chances, or how frustrated we are with the team (unfortunately, this last topic has been coming up far too much).  Anyway, one of my friends sat down across from me on Sunday and, with a look of complete desolation, said, "Nikki...the Mets are done."  And this was the New York kind of done, where the word is almost spit out at the end of the sentence.  As I struggled to think of one good reason why we weren't done, at least not yet, someone else chimed in:  "I'm just glad I get to hate the Braves again."

This is where Mets fans find themselves this week.  We have no hope that anything will be done by the trade deadline, because there are not even rumors that anything is in the works.  We're focusing on the fact that the once hated Braves can be legitimately hated again.  Personally, I never stopped hating the Braves, so this is not exactly consolation for a season that seems to be going nowhere.  As fans continue to question the competence of management at all levels - GM, manager, coaching staff - the Mets continue to release statements claiming that all of those jobs are safe.

The scary thing for me is that I'm not even sure what the Mets need anymore.  I want to see them something, because it's clear that changes need to be made.  For whatever reason, the Mets are not playing the same kind of baseball in the second half.  They seem to have lost some of their grit and fight, and I have no idea how to fix that.  Recently, the speculation has drifted away from the stability of the starting rotation and has made its way to the anemic offense and a bullpen that can either be spectacular or implode at the slightest provocation.  At the end of the day, the Mets are reactive - not proactive - and that's the reason it seems like the team is falling apart.  These holes have always been there, it's just that rather than attempting to construct the best possible roster, the Mets adopt Napoleon's battle plan:  Show up and see what happens.  Napoleon died in exile, and that seems to be where Omar, Jerry & Co. are headed.  I don't think many Mets fans would complain if that were the case at the end of the season.

Justin “Tito” Dellow is the Founder/Editor of the fantasy baseball website, Fantasy 40/40. Be sure to visit his site for great fantasy insight and the ever-important music, women, and pop culture thrown in to keep you in good spirits, even if your fantasy team is garbage.

In a fantasy world, you’d wake up every morning next to Megan Fox and Emmanuelle Chirqui in a California king on Maui in a beach mansion.

In a fantasy world, public water fountains would pour Yoo-Hoo, Sunkist and Bud Light instead of rust-flavored, chlorinated city water.

In a fantasy world, Omar Minaya would learn how to play the role of General Manager and complete trades that only Brian Cashman could swing.

Mets’ fans only wish for the type of blockbuster, game changing trades the Yankee G.M. pulls off annually near the trade deadline. He manages to scout the league and acquire talented pieces for their playoff push and championship run. Big names. Kenny Williams of the White Sox also comes to mind.

Moving on, I’m sure many of you out there in the baseball blogasphere play fantasy baseball. General managers in your own right, you are currently either doing one of two things: chasing a league championship, eternal glory and bragging rights over friends and work colleagues OR you’re trading early round super star assets for unknown, sexy names and keeper potential. Sound familiar? In the fantasy world and in real life. Lee, Haren…

The Mets have always been the little brother to the cross town Yankees. Like the Clippers to the Lakers. Or the Jets to the Giants. They talk a big game, pursue possible trade targets, but in the end, they end up with names like Westbrook or Millwood instead names like Lee or Haren. With Mets ownership potentially struggling financially and reluctant to add payroll, although told otherwise, the Mets will not make any major moves before the deadline. But this lifeless team needs an injection of life, fight and desire. Big trades help. However, the Wilpon's aren’t the Steinbrenner’s. But what if they were?

Lets role-play for a minute. Fantasy baseball and baseball speaking, of course.

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Fantasy Example #1:

You’re looking for a power bat with a decent average that can provide HR and RBI for your lineup. After some research, phone calls and emails to the bottom teams, you narrow your options down and finalize offers.

You trade prospects Matt LaPorta, Desmond Jennings and Christian Friedrich for Ryan Howard. You gave up a keeper in LaPorta and two possibles for next year - guys that haven’t been called up yet. Eventually their time will come, but they are still unproven talent on the Major League level. Fantasy Advice: when chasing a league championship, make the trade, you’ll replace your keepers later, there’s no price to winning.

Real Life Answer If Wilpon's Were Steinbrenner’s: Trade for Adrian Gonzalez and David Eckstein.

NEW LINEUP

1. SS Reyes S

2. RF Pagan S

3. 3B Wright R

4. 1B Gonzalez L

5. CF Beltran S

6. LF Bay R

7. C Barajas/Thole R/L

8. 2B Eckstein R

Gonzalez and David Eckstein for Ike Davis, Luis Castillo, Fernando Martinez, Ruben Tejada and Jeurys Familia.

The Mets offense has been stagnant and non-existent on their recent road trip (2-9). They’re striking out way too much and can’t seem to buy a hit with runners in scoring position. Gonzalez, who is signed to a nice contract for another year, solidifies your lineup while batting cleanup. He has a great eye, provides protection to David Wright and Carlos Beltran and will get pitched to for the first time in his young career batting between them. He also adds Gold-Glove defense to the Mets infield.

Eckstein replaces Castillo at second base and adds the necessary hustle, grit and fire the current Mets lack (Minaya attempted to sign Eckstein back in 2007 to play second before he decided to sign with Toronto and play shortstop, subsequently signing Castillo $24/4 yrs). You give up Davis, but I hear his replacement is not too shabby. Regarding Castillo, you take on as much of that contract as you have too. Martinez, Tejada and Familia, although highly touted in the Mets system, are still unproven talent. Remember Alex Escobar, Jay Payton, Lastings Milledge, Philip Humber, and Kevin Mulvey? If that’s not enough, add some filler, Dillon Gee or Jefry Marte.

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Fantasy Example #2:

You still need some pitching and look to acquire help in ERA, WHIP and K - wins will follow. You trade JA Happ, Brian Matusz and Jesus Montero for Adam Wainwright. All three guys you gave up, again, are nice pieces, but Wainwright adds a true ace to your staff to help balance your weaknesses. He will hopefully pitch his way to your fantasy flag.

Real Life Answer if Wilpon's Were Steinbrenner’s: Trade for Roy Oswalt.

NEW ROTATION

1. Santana LHP

2. Oswalt RHP

3. Pelfrey RHP

4. Niese LHP

5. Dickey RHP

Oswalt for Jenrry Mejia, Brad Holt and Reese Havens.

With Drayton McClane looking to shed salary and bring back “A-type” prospects, you give up two potential front-end starters with Mejia and Holt while offering middle infield depth with Havens. The Mets would take on Oswalt’s contract and the $30 some million dollars coming his way. They missed the boat on Lee and Haren, but land an excellent pitcher who can still dominate an opposing lineup on any given night. He is currently 6-12 on a poor Astros team, but has 120 K in 129 INN while posting a respectable 3.41 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. Now, he moves to spacious Citifield. And given Mike Pelfrey’s current rollercoaster season, Oswalt would ease Santana’s and Pelfrey’s burden and give the Mets a legitimate number two starter to follow Santana and compete against the likes of Halladay and Hamels, Wainwright and Carpenter, Lincecum and Cain.

It would also allow Hisanori Takahashi to fall back into the bullpen and give manager Jerry Manuel a second lefty to join over-used Pedro Feliciano. It lengthens the bullpen and would help with match-ups later in the season against guys like Utley, Howard, Ibanez, Dunn and McCann. Once again, if the players are not enough, add some filler.

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Summing up, these trades are not likely to happen, this year or ever. The Padres are currently riding a magical carpet ride and have no intention on moving Gonzalez, at least they say publicly. Oswalt, although available, will not be donning the blue and orange anytime soon. Houston wants a ton in return as well as payroll relief. The Mets will not part with Davis or Mejia. The Wilpon's will also not take on more salary, unlike the team in the other borough. The Steinbrenner’s would to win. But what if the Wilpon’s did? For the rest of this season and next year too: Reyes, Pagan, Wright, Gonzalez, Beltran, Bay. Santana, Oswalt, Pelfrey, Niese. Mets fans, could you imagine? Yes, I can. In a fantasy world.