BY BRYAN ROTHENSTEIN
STACHE WRITER

Oh where oh where has Jason Bay been?

Oh where oh where could he be!?

Its been way to long since he’s taken the field,

He shoulda just stayed on his knee!

He ran into a fence,

His head feeling dense,

Yet Manuel let him still play.

They got on the plane,

Coming home from LA,

His head started ringing,

A concussion for Bay!

This team is a mess,

They’re out of the race,

All while the Braves are setting the pace.

Jason Bay is in hiding,

He’s been a disgrace,

In 95 games he barely showcased.

Six homeruns,

Hardly any RBI’s,

He swung and missed often,

Shoulda just covered his eyes.

They won’t make the playoffs.

Probably not even come close.

The closers a psycho,

Who beats up old folks.

They stink on the road,

They’re lost at the plate,

The defense looks good,

The pitching looks great.

They win one, they lose one,

We want all their heads,

But no heads our rolling,

Just angry fans tossing in beds.

We want some results,

But don’t want to wait,

This team has potential,

The young kids look great.

From Ike Davis to Thole,

Here come the new bunch,

Add them to Reyes and Wright,

But wait,

Bay’s home hosting brunch.

This team needs him back,

His head’s still concussed,

Thank god there’s Dickey and Niese,

And hey,

At least Bay’s not Luis!

2010′s highlights are nothing but follies,

But that’s to be expected,

Cause we’re still paying Ollie!

The Wilpons were rich until Bernie Madoff,

And now it’s time for the whole regime to be LAID OFF!

BY MATTHEW FALKENBURY
EDITOR

It was a long time coming but this is a step in the right direction for your NY Mets. The fact is that some players who dont belong are still here, but no need to jump ahead of ourselves and get mad, a step in the right direction was still taken.

Bringing up Fernando Martinez and Ruben Tejada is a sign that this team is about ready to rebuild and take the talented young players that people last year said didnt exist and give them a chance to shine.

Cora was a nice guy but his contract was insane and Im Happy Omar and Jeff wouldnt allow him to reach that plateau. Feliciano is a thirty one yr old journey man and lets face it is not the future of this team and this team has just a glut of Outfielders.

I know Castillo is still here and so is Frenchy, but I think that if Jerry wants to make one last stand, go out with a blaze of glory. I have always hated Jerry Manuel but if can man up, sit them on the bench, let the young kids play and keep playing, I will respect the way he went out.

The fact is that with a young team like this, although Im not a fan, but If Jerry goes and Beltran is traded in the off-season which alot of people feel could happen. Your gonna have a batting order in which David Wright is the 2nd oldest starter at 28 years old. I like that alot when you think about it.

Im happy the Mets are starting to make a youth movement here and finally understand that this is the way to go. To me save money on your hitters by playing the young guys and spend it on PITCHING. Go Nuts with the money and invest in pitching and save money with a young lineup sounds very good to me.

The 2010 season is on life support and the plug is half way out and so a youth movement to show the fans what 2011 could be like is something that needs to be done.

A lineup of Reyes-SS, Pagan-CF, Wright-3B, Davis-1B, Bay-LF, F-Mart-RF, Thole-C and Tejada-2B would be just fine to me in 2011 and beyond.

Sink the money into pitching in the next two years, both in the bullpen and starters and lets finally do things the right way when since we wont trade our prospects, then lets play em.

The Mets took a step, it wasnt the big step let, but it was a step and it was in the right direction.

BY MATTHEW FALKENBURY
EDITOR

You really thought there was a chance they would do something. As you read this, I want you to think about how that no matter how negative you are about this, you thought there was a chance.

Mike Pelfrey was gonna turn it around, French was gonna keep going and have a Revolution and send the Braves to the gallows as the Mets escaped Atlanta with 2 out of 3. You are thinking about that moment when you thought they actually would do that.

Now your pissed off because it didnt happen at all, and lets face it, it never was gonna happen. The Mets are like the girl we all knew in high school, you heard the stories, you saw the looks and yet….nothing but a giant tease and left you alone and hurt.

The New York Mets have played two-thirds of the season and are 54-54, a .500 team. There is no need to try to explain well if they beat such and such team they would be this.

No need to waste time thinking about it. The New York Mets are a .500 ballclub which has little possibilty of really improving but could easily fall apart.

The team is on the brink and when you really think about it, its scary how troubled this team really is. After the jump, you can see how scary it is in written form.

The manager is doing just enough for people to actually think that he is the scapegoat thanks to a GM with no power and a Owner with no money. Newsflash, he sucks and couldnt win with the 27 Yankees cause he would give Babe Ruth off against lefties.

A team with an Ace, A Rookie, A Knuckleballer and a Basketcase in its rotation. A bullpen with a guy making 12 million dollars that if the Mets wanted to sell out a game in September should stand outside near the apple so people can line up to get to punch him in the face one time.

A Center Fielder who is clearly not fit to play there, An Angel in the Outfield trying to do anything he can and a Right Fielder who couldnt hit unless he used a boat orr for a bat.

Oh and the man who at 66 million was supposted to be the middle of the order force missing from last year? He is getting better, he told Mets doctors he remembered what he had for breakfast yesterday.

The left side of the infield must have talked to Chuck Knoblauch before the game on Wednesday, Castillo doing his best to make one of the wheelchair teams that play games in the Citi Field and of course Ike Davis.

We like Ike, he is the guy you point at when your quoting that scene from Half Baked when the Cuban dude quits his job and say “Your Cool.”

In the end we have all been a part of a giant tease that the Mets have been putting on since September of 2007 and we are all nothing but a bunch of suckers for actually listening.

We will be back, dont worry they will tease us again, and when we think about it, in the magical land of Retrospect, we will be pissed off once again. Alone and Lonely, thinking about what might have been.

BY ANDREW MERLIS
STACHE WRITER

Well another trade deadline has passed and again there’s not much to be excited about. I say not much because there are so many of us thrilled to have Robert Carson on the farm rather than Octavio Dotel in the bullpen.

What’s the message sent by the team brass? That the team as currently constructed is what they want? If so, they want was is essentially a .500 team.

That’s what that team is. It could be worse, for sure. But as far as I’m concerned, .500 is what the Royals and the Pirates should aspire to be.

The Mets – you know, that National League team in the country’s largest market – ought to aspire to so much more. But maybe that’s just my opinion.

Word is that Omar liked the prospects he has too much to part with them in any of the potential deals discussed. Now, it would be hypocritical of me to jump all over him for liking prospects, because I like prospects too.

I like prospects because a) they can be cheap, under control replacements for aging, departing, or injured players, and b) they can be used in trade. I guess there is no “b” this season. So let’s “a” Castillo and Francoeur and Perez.

But here’s what I’m really wondering. If the prospects are so valuable, why not go get more? If the Yankees had stood pat, I would have understood – they have a great team and will make the post season.

If the Braves had stood pat, I’d have understood – they lead the division, they aren’t a big market, and they seem to have the talent already on the club needed to compete and succeed.

But for the Mets to stand pat? It makes no sense. Okay, there was nobody out there worth the price that would be the difference maker. I’ll accept that for the remainder of this post.

But if there was nobody to make this team better, what’s the point in remaining a .500 club and retaining the same players that make up that .500 club? Why not (wait for it, wait for it…) be sellers? (GASP!).

That’s right, I said it. Why not sell? Oh, I don’t mean trade Reyes or Wright – that would be stupid. And I know nobody would likely take Beltran and certainly not Frenchy or Castillo or Perez.

Those guys are Mets until their contracts expire or the Wilpons grow a pair (or two) and dump them. But what about Feliciano? I can’t believe he couldn’t have gotten us something. Or Blanco.

Does nobody need that kind of veteran leadership behind the plate? And speaking of veteran leadership, what about Cora. (The Mets would almost surely have to have paid some of that contract).

I know none of those guys would bring back blue chip prospects, but trading any or all of them would have loosened the payroll a little, shaken things up some, and added some more pieces to the farm.

We’re not going to the playoffs with them, why not not go to the playoffs without them?

This team never plays the role of sellers, even when they really should. And while we’re speaking of sellers, wouldn’t it be nice if the Wilpons became sellers too? Of the whole team.

BY RANDY SHEMANSKI
STACHE WRITER

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com tweeted tonight that the Mets and Royals are talking about a potential trade, and two of the three Mets involved in the talks are guys the fans would be happy to bid farewell to.

Rosenthal did stress that the two teams are simply talking and it’s unclear how far along the discussions are. (Follow Rosenthal on Twitter @Ken_Rosenthal)

Rosenthal said the Mets players in discussion are Jeff Francoeur, Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez. Castillo and Perez have been public enemies No. 1 and 1a over the past two seasons – regardless of Castillo’s strong 2009 – and getting them off the roster would please the fan base and help the team.

And, Francoeur has said he would welcome a trade after he lost his starting job when Carlos Beltran returned.

In Francoeur’s case, he’s a solid clubhouse presence, plays hard and is a standup guy, but he’s also the type of player who needs to play regularly to get going offensively, and it’s clear that’s not going to happen in a Mets uniform.

On the Royals’ end, the players mentioned are Kyle Farnsworth, Gil Meche and Jose Guillen. Farnsworth has pitched well this season – 3-0, 2.41 ERA – and would boost the Mets pen. Meche has made just nine starts this year, going 0-4 with a 6.66 ERA.

Seems appropriate the Mets might trade Perez, who’s been equated to the devil by some, in a deal for a guy with a 6.66 ERA.

Guillen is hitting .276 with 16 homers and 59 RBIs, which would fit nicely in the Mets’ batting order, except for one problem – he’s an outfielder, which means he has no place to play in a Mets uniform.

Even if his numbers easily trump those of Jason Bay, he’s not supplanting Bay in left for many reasons, Bay’s salary not being the least of those reasons, and Angel Pagan and Carlos Beltran are going nowhere in right and center, respectively.

Andy Martino of the New York Daily News tweeted that the deal may hinge on the Royals shipping Guillen elsewhere before acquiring Francoeur. (Follow Martino on Twitter @SurfingTheMets)

Randy Shemanski is the author of http://60feet-6inches.com, a blog dedicated to covering pitching in Major League Baseball

Angel Pagan has gone from reserve to starting right fielder. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY BRYAN ROTHENSTEIN
STACHE WRITER

The Mets end the first half of the season with a much needed victory against the division leading Braves lead by a resurrected Johan Santana performance, going 7 strong innings and shutting out the Braves for his 7th win against 5 losses in the first half. On the day, Santana allowed 5 hits, 3 walks and striking out 5 all while lowering his season ERA to 2.98. Pretty impressive overall ERA for a guy considered by many to be washed up and no longer an ace! The game was capped off by K-Rod who picked up his 21st save of the season.

The Mets end the first half on a bit of a downfall but were able to pull out this big win to head into the break. Over the last 10 games they are 4-6 and finish with a 30-16 home record and a 18-24 road record, which is quite impressive after their awful start.

At the break the NL East standings are as follows:

1. Braves 52-36 0 GB
2. Mets 48-40 4GB
3. Phillies 47-40 4.5 GB
4. Marlins 42-46 10 GB
5. Nationals 39-50 13.5 GB

At this point of last season the Mets were 42-45 and just trying to find guys to play the field on a daily basis. I am quite impressed and surprised thus far this season and have seen enough to be hopeful and excited for the future.

The Mets are also 1 game back in the wild card hunt.

The Mets first half of 2010 was filled with many ups and downs, surprises and failures.

Some of the biggest surprises have been the amount of talent coming out of our farm system such as Tejada, Davis, Mejia and Thole. Also impressive were off season signings Dickey, Barajas, Takahashi and Blanco.

The top 5 performers of the first half would be:

* Pagan
* Dickey
* Wright
* Davis
* Santana

Pagan is clearly the most valuable Met through the first half with his .315 average, 94 hits, 46 runs, 17 doubles, 6 triples, 6 homeruns, 40 RBI and 19 steals.

Dickey ran a close second mainly being a complete surprise after getting the call from the minors when Maine and Perez went down due to crappiness, I mean injury. Dickey finished the first half with a 6-2 record, 2.77 ERA, and 19 walks to 48 strikeouts in his 10 starts. Without him who knows where we would be in the standings.

David Wright was almost thrown overboard by Met fans and media after the first month and a half and then something clicked and all was Wright in Metsville. Wright finished the first half putting up stellar numbers with a .314 average, 102 hits, 52 runs, 25 doubles, 2 triples, 14 homeruns, 65 RBI’s and 15 steals. He is on pace for nearly 200 strikeouts but that was mainly due to an awful start and if he keeps up this torrid pace he has displayed heading into the break then he will be in the MVP talk come October, especially if the Mets are involved in meaningful October games. Also, with Beltran coming back after the break providing more protection for Wright, his numbers can only continue to soar.

As much as went right for the Mets, their was more then enough that went wrong.

The bottom 5 performers of the first half would be:

1. Jason Bay
2. Oliver Perez
3. John Maine
4. Ryota Igarashi
5. Luis Castillo

Jason Bay was supposed to be the player who came here and, along with health through the rest of the team, would give us the thump in the middle of the order we needed to help us get over the hump and become contenders again. We have become contenders but it is no thanks to Jason Bay.

In his first 85 games as a Met he has 82 hits with a .265 average. He has scored 46 runs, hit 19 doubles, 6 triples, 6 homeruns and driven in 44. Surprisingly he has stolen 10 bases but overall he has been a huge disappointment, yet nothing a big second half and playoff appearance couldn’t fix. Mets fans have a short memory and we are a forgiving bunch. Make us forget Jason!

The second half of this season will be a fun one to watch with a lot of hope and promise for the future.

Top 5 things to watch for in the second half will be:

1. Ike Davis will continue to grow and learn while providing lefty power in the middle of our lineup. Hopefully his name will stay in the Rookie Of The Year Mix. It will be interesting to see how he adapts and makes adjustments as pitchers have began to adjust to him leading to his recent struggles.
2. The return of Carlos Beltran to centerfield and the middle of our lineup. Not only does this provide a boost for our team offensively but it also has to boost the morale of the current group of guys who have played their asses off.
3. The progress of our bullpen. Our bullpen has been the weak link to this years team. However, Parnell has impressed after his recent call-up and Dessens and Feliciano have been more then solid. If we can find a starter to move Takahashi back to the pen in the second half then our bullpen would be improved and we wouldn’t have to worry as much, until K-Rod enters the game that is.
4. Acquiring a starting pitcher. This is a must for this team to make happen by the trading deadline. We need another arm that can throw quality innings because Maine and Perez can not be counted on for anything other then eating payroll at this point. These guys are dead weight and could not be given away for a bag of balls. We can not mortgage our future in a deal thus ruling out Oswalt and Haren, however guys like Lilly and Westbrook are more then acceptable and would provide us with solid depth for minimal return.
5. Health. The team needs to stay healthy. From Reyes to Santana to Niese and everyone in between. The Mets organization need to focus on better communication amongst each other and their players and ensure that guys are playing at 100% as to not hurt themselves or the team’s chances further.

Like I keep saying, this team is fun to watch and will hopefully will provide us with something special come October. These guys love playing the game of baseball and you can see that everyday. They need to keep their feet on the pedal and go knocking down the Braves while keeping the Phillies in their rearview. Their is still a lot of baseball left to play so anything can happen but at this point, with the way this team has fought and battled I can not wait for this mini vacation to end and the second half to get going.

This Guy Wants Nothing More Then To Be A Free Agent

BY REGGIE BORGES
STACHE WRITER

As news filters in of the New York Mets inquiring about Cliff Lee, it’s become clear, for better or worse, that this management team at Citi Field will have some challenging choices to make come trading deadline time.

It’s a bittersweet occurrence if you are a Mets fan: Great that this team is finally putting it together on the road (albeit against less than stellar competition); Scary that this Minaya/Manuel ticket is now asked to make decisions that will impact this team both in the short and long term.

To be fair, while recent history (Perez,Escobar, GMJ) has not been kind to Omar Minaya, he has proven to be a fabulous recruiter: It was he who sold Pedro (with dollars) and Beltran (with promise of the stage) to come to New York.

His in-season trading history is a bit more checkered, filled with giveaways (Wagner) or ho hum trades. His last major deal that surrounded a possible playoff push netted the Mets Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez.

So what could we expect from Omar? Well, he was the man who pulled the trigger for Bartolo Colon trade to Montreal, which is eerie, considering you could argue this is a make or break year for Omar, not unlike the situation in Montreal. That trade gave away Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore, among others. Ouch.

My gut says that if Minaya has a shot at Lee (as in, no one else really offers much to the Mariners), he will overpay. In many ways, the Mets have some pieces that are appealing. Josh Thole isn’t Carlos Santana, but he is a young backstop (a must in any Lee scenario).

That paired with Jonathon Niese or Jenrry Mejia and a prospect, could be appealing to a Mariner team that you think would at least consider a deal like that. Of course, if Carlos Beltran seems to be good to go post All-Star break, maybe you sell high on an Angel Pagan/ Thole package for Lee.

Clearly, losing Pagan, Niese or Mejia would be tough to swallow, especially considering they are part of the reason why this team is where it is. But a look back at recent history gives me some pause when it comes to being against trading some young pieces.

In 1999, the Mets gave up a then more than capable Roger Cedeno (Angel Pagan?), young fireballer Octavio Dotel (Mejia?) and a prospect for Mike Hampton. The results were generally good: The Mets made a World Series and really didn’t give up much in the process (though they failed to resign Hampton).

It pained me at the time to see Cedeno go…and Dotel looked like a very intruiging piece. In retrospect, the biggest fail was losing Hampton when he hit the market.

That’s what is risky about the trade for Lee: It’s clear the Yankees (with reported Lee pal CC Sabathia) will be going hard for Lee. Losing Lee to the Yankees, would be a crushing blow. But would he really walk away from the Mets, knowing he would have Santana and Pelfrey as part of his rotation?

My gut says that Minaya loves these kinds of opportunities (provided management lets him pull the trigger). But is it the smart move?

What Mets Team is the Real Mets Team?

BY ANDREW MERLIS
STACHE WRITER

Boy, the Mets look great! A sweep of the Orioles in Baltimore, winners of 8 out of the last 10 games, ahead of the Phillies, spitting distance of first place. What a great departure from last year. What a great departure from earlier this season.

But what about those Mets from earlier this season? Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago we were all in despair over the state of this team? Wasn’t the Jerry clock ticking loudly, wasn’t the Omar watch gearing up? David Wright was striking out constantly, Jason Bay had one homerun, etc.

So which team is the real Mets? Is this team playing better because Tejada is at second instead of Castillo? Better because Feliciano has replaced Gary Matthews, Jr? Better because RA Dickey is pitching instead of Ollie Perez? The answer to some of these questions is probably yes (Dickey) and to others it’s who knows? (Hard to really say that Feliciano, though almost certainly a better player than GMJ, has made this team win more).

The old saying is that you’re never as good as you look when you’re hot, and never as bad as you look when you’re slumping, and I think we need to all keep that in mind. I hope Omar keeps that in mind as he begins to think about midseason trades.

Frankly, I’m glad my name is Merlis and not Minaya right now. There are some critical decisions to be made, and screwing them up would be… well, it would be bad. The Mets brain trust needs to decide whether this team is a tweak or two away from truly competing, or if it is flawed enough that it still needs some real work. And they need to be right.

I would be very careful about emptying out the farm for someone like Cliff Lee unless I was pretty certain that the team we see on the field these days is the “real” Mets. Because if the “real” Mets are the ones who cannot win on the road and muster five hits against journeyman pitchers, then Cliff Lee is not going to be worth the price he’ll cost.

Let’s go back to everyone’s favorite trade of the 21st century: Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano. There are so so so many reason why that was a stupid deal, but one in particular is that it was supposed to be a win-now trade, and that 2004 Mets team was too deeply flawed to be thinking about winning now. I’m not against trading prospects as long as the trades make sense. Kazmir for Seaver in his prime would not have made winners of those 2004 Mets.

They were 6 games out of first when they made that trade, but the only reason they were even that close is the rest of the division – and especially the Braves – was underperforming. Once the Braves started playing like the Braves, the Mets had no chance at all no matter what pitcher they’d brought in.

So that’s kind of where we stand today. Are the Mets ahead of the Phillies because New York is better, or are the Phillies underperforming at the same time that the Mets are hot? Right now I’m inclined to believe that the Mets are a pretty good team, and a guy like Lee could be a difference maker.

But at the same time, I worry about the bullpen, and I haven’t completely bought into the thought that RA Dickey has figured out how to pitch this well after all these years, or that Takahashi is for real, or that Francoeur won’t revert back to his one-hit-every-four-games self, in which case a trade could just be tossing away prospects. Like I said, I’m glad I’m not the general manager right now.

This Team is Quite Likeable

BY MATT ESPOSITO
STACHE WRITER

For some teams, a relationship with the fans can be strictly based on winning games. Other teams are more defined by the character of the team. Very good teams maintain a balance between these two aspects, creating an organized team that may come across as very likeable.

If the Mets can build off of their potential feast on weakling road teams with the Orioles and Indians, the team could be well on their way to achieving a strong balance between ability to win and ability to maintain excellent character. Pleasing the Mets crowd is tough, but a balance between gameday performance and personality will always win
the fans over.

There are plenty of specific examples of what may make this current Mets team attractive to Mets fans.

For starters, the players that do not belong in the spotlight have no part of it, for the moment at least. With Oliver Perez and John Maine on the disabled list, the Mets rotation has blossomed with consistency from knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, solid pitching from young lefty Jon Niese, and even a couple of quality starts from Hisanori Takahashi.

There are also those Mets fans that are more satisfied without second basemen Luis Castillo in the lineup. It may be for the best in some respects because 20 year-old rookie Ruben Tejada is getting more regular action on the big league roster.

Speaking of Tejada, the likability of a team can stem from the integration of highly-touted rookies. Guys like Tejada and first basemen Ike Davis, and reliever Jenrry Mejia represent just that.

Ike Davis is a perfect example. Whenever he stands in at the plate, he maintains an air of maturity. He isn’t just a rookie at bat, he’s a major leaguer. For that, the fans love him, and his power potential.

At the moment, Mets fans are seeing some of the players they want to see take the field. That is an easy way to win over a fan base and quell the booing crowds.

The Mets also have names. There are the high profile names of homegrown talents in David Wright and Jose Reyes, in addition to added talents like Jason Bay and Johan Santana. The homegrown players are the guys that Mets fans have a special bond with, and Reyes and Wright in particular have turned up the dial on their performance.

Wright has already eclipsed his 2009 home run total, and Reyes definitely seems to have his swing back, driving the ball and slapping line drives into right field.

There are also the names that just stick out. It is nearly impossible for the name of R.A. Dickey to not be memorable already in the minds of Mets fans. Dickey has exceeded expectations that probably did not even exist before he went out for his first of five starts to this point as a Met.

Chris “Animal” Carter adds a more youthful and less recognizable punch off the bench and many Mets fans have gotten into the habit of referring to starter Mike Pelfrey as ?Big Pelf.?

Many entertaining teams have that sort of gimmicky aspect to them, and right now on every fifth day, the Mets have a rare one. R.A. Dickey’s knuckleball has been effective through five starts as he has posted a 4-0 record and 2.78 ERA.

The Mets certainly have plenty of the ?good guys? in baseball too. Jeff Francouer is an example. He loves the city he is playing in, and it is noticeable in how he conducts himself in interviews, and in how he always has a smile on his face. It helps his case that he has lifted his batting average out of the doldrums as well.

To top it all off, the Mets are getting outstanding All-Star caliber performances. Mike Pelfrey, heading into today?s start against Kevin Millwood and the Orioles, is 8-1 in 12 starts with 2.23 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. He?s getting more attention, and it is becoming clear why the Mets drafted him in the first round in 2005.

Even free agent signee Rod Barajas is putting up All-Star numbers as the Mets catcher. Barajas has more home runs than any catcher in baseball with 11, and has kept his batting average above .250 in 50 games played, something he rarely does.

Plenty of positive individual performances have Mets fans crazy about their standout players, and team effort and cohesion can channel this energy into more wins.

Combine all these aspects of what the Mets have going on right now, and toss in some more home runs from Jason Bay, who is still hitting well otherwise, and the Mets have a that likeable, loveable roster that Mets fans can easily develop a bond with.

The bottom line right now is that the Mets are exceeding expectations with the players Mets fans have grown to love and an unlikely supporting cast otherwise. They are developing a winning mentality to make a run and take advantage of their struggling division rivals.

Is it time to say goodbye to old Mets? (PHOTO BY ICON/SMI)

They have taken advantage of injured players and their vacated roster spots. Most notably, John Maine, Oliver Perez and Carlos Beltran. They have done this, by inserting hungry players to take their place. Players like Angel Pagan, R. A. Dickey and Hisanori Takahashi.

Take Dickey and Takahashi for example. They have combined for a 7-2 record in 9 combined starts. Their era’s are 3.20 and 3.80 respectively. Compared to Oliver Perez and John Maine, who are a combined 1-6. Both are also sporting an era over 6.00. Granted, Dickey and Takahashi have amassed this combined record in half of the combined starts, but still impressive nonetheless.

It is an estimated 8 starts for the Dickey/Takahashi duo and 16 for the Perez/Maine combination. Still, this has been a breathe of fresh air for not only the ball club, but their fan base as well. Another case in point would be Angel Pagan. In his time with the Mets, he has shown flashes of greatness, only to have that fire extinguished by injuries.

Now he seems as healthy as ever and also as productive as ever. In his time so far this season, he has made the most of his opportunity. Going into today’s double header, he has a .294 batting average with 4 home runs, 4 triples, 25 rbi’s and 11 stolen bases in 56 games. In other words, he is not just taking advantage of his chance, but also of the ball park he is playing in.

While Carlos Beltran has been ridiculed and critiqued for his poor decision to have surgery nearly a month and a half before spring training, Pagan has flourished. With all this good, warm sunshine on the roster, must come news of rain. Not the rain that forced a double header today. But rather an interesting tidbit of news on the rehab front for the club.

According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Maine and Beltran are making progress. Maine is preparing to make a few starts in the minors with the AA Binghamton club. He begins his stint with the AA team on June 13th. Also, Beltran has been starting split squad games down in Port St. Lucie under the careful watch of Mets brass and trainers.

This is all good news for them, but not necessarily for the team. If the Mets are to continue their rise in the standings and preserve team unity, they need to keep these hungry players around as long as they can. Keep in mind the players that are being discussed in rehab assignments are part of the old regime.

Beltran has been under the continual microscope over the past few seasons due to his repeated comments about division rivals and rivalries. His stats when healthy, have been wonderful, but he is not the best club house presence. Some may even call him stale air as opposed to the fresh air of the youth that has been pumped into that locker room as of late.

Maine has been scrutinized over heart and passion after comments in spring training and poor outings so far in the season. He is considering a move to the bullpen upon his return, which shows he is thinking of the team’s needs. Still, how effective will he be if he continues to show a lack of intensity, especially in that role.

Oliver Perez has been a constant distraction in the locker room and in the media. His open refusal to be demoted to the minors to work out his problems and unproductive outings, have left him ostracized by both the media and the fans. Perhaps even the players may have alienated him for his selfishness as well.

This was followed by a controversial decision by the Mets to place him on the disabled list. That move has been investigated by the MLB and has since been approved. The transaction, though, was done in odd timing. A supposed injury to a disgruntled, struggling and cancerous to the club house type of player, is a curious move indeed.

All of these players may be nice people, as written and reported countless times by the Mets and their media affiliates, but they are not helping the team with their controversy or their selfishness. The replacements, however, are helping the team in several ways. If these players are in fact riding a hot streak in their careers and the Mets are catching lightning in a bottle, than they must be given every opportunity to succeed.

By succeeding individually, the team will succeed collectively. That is the common goal. Team work, dedication and energy. These present players are exhibiting those qualities. The old regime has proven one thing. They can’t stay healthy long enough to be successful enough to make a run to the World Series.

The nucleus of this team is not getting younger and their time and prime are dwindling down. Game by wasted game, season by wasted season. The Mets roster has been turned over more times than a hamburger in a frying pan these past few seasons. While the same few players that the franchise has been built around are stuck in mediocrity, the team as a whole has either come up short or come up lame.

If they are to contend, they need passion, heart and confidence. I have previously written about this in an article entitled “Five things the Mets need to seriously contend”.

In it I wrote the following:

” The swagger I speak of is that of confidence, not so much arrogance, but a realization that you’re good and can match up with anyone. They had that once, and they need to reacquire it, or else they will be doomed to mediocrity.”

These players bring that energy and confidence to every start and every at bat. If the Mets and their fans want all of the players to bring that energy and that air of confidence, then the Mets need to hang on to players that invigorate others. These players not only do so, but they make the team stronger, deeper and more exciting. That is something that has been missing for a few years now.