Deal Breaker

Written by Nikki DeMaio | 09 August 2010

As the Mets limp home to Citi Field, I'm not entirely sure what to say.  After going 2-4 on a "make or break" road trip... it doesn't look good.  In addition to falling below .500, (again) the Mets are now nine games out of first place and seven out of the Wild Card where they are also trailing five teams.

With the Mets, it always seems like when it rains, it pours.  On a day where Roy Halladay was touched up for 5 runs, the Mets couldn't pull off a win as R.A. Dickey finally came back down to earth.  Dickey can't take all the blame for this one - out of the 6 runs he allowed in 3 innings, only 4 of them were earned, and David Wright and Carlos Beltran combined to go 0-8 at the plate with 6 strikeouts.  If the two of them are not going to hit, the Mets don't realistically have a chance.  I know Beltran needs to get his feet under him, just like Reyes did at the beginning of the year, but it's August.  Do the Mets really have time to wait for Beltran to find his swing?  Of course not, but that's what they are going to do.  It also seems pretty clear that Beltran has lost a step in the outfield BECAUSE HE HAS NO KNEES.

One thing I do like is the fact that Fernando Martinez and Ruben Tejada are going to see some more playing time.  If things are going to spiral out of control, we might as well give those guys a chance.  If nothing else, it gives me hope that the team is phasing Luis Castillo out despite his crazy contract.  Maybe he's a loss they're willing to cut next year - which would be a win as far as most Mets fans are concerned.  Right now, that's my silver lining... let me know if you find another one.