PADRES 2, METS 1: More frustration

Of all the throws Johan Santana delivered Friday night against the Padres , the one he may have regretted the most was the short-hop bullet fired at David Wright in the sixth inning.

[LetsPlay2]

There no opportunities golden enough that the Mets can't bumble and stumble away. This time to "long-time nemesis" Randy Wolf. Doesn't matter that the team has numerous new faces in the lineup; he remains a nemesis for life. This is what mid-level teams do - they fall prey to the same shortcomings time and again. The Mets are now 10th in the NL in hitting and 13th in total bases, a damning stat that validates their popgun attack. You can't get blood from a stone. No, this is not a dangerous team, and to hold out hopes that they can suddenly turn into a bunch of bangers is an unrealistic fantasy. Combine this sad truth with a starting rotation that gradually has become the envy of no one, and you've pretty much got a lock on some forgettable baseball. For the injury part of the equation, the team has Minaya to blame as many of us has agreed since Day One. The lineup, which changes constantly, has no set spots with the exception of Reyes. After him, no one can be sure of his role in the order, a real mental snag. Guys like to feel set where they're hitting; it sharpens their approach. Now they must win the next two in SD or face the same old criticisms, most of them richly deserved. But in the final analysis, does it really matter?

[Cameron Frye]

1 run, 1run, 1 run. A recurring theme for the hitters this season.

[BKly-Relo]

This is a mediocre team at best... 30 & 30,= 81 & 81 by season end. Willie, Omar and Peterson need to go, along with Delgado, Alou, Aron H and Wise. Ollie is a lost cause, he is more erractic then my mother in law. Peterson couldn't fix a leaky sink... Need to build around Reyes, Wright, Beltan and Church, Santana, Maine and Pelfrey. May as well bring up the youngsters.. and let them taste the big leagues... seems to work for the Marlins. Think I wasted a subscriotion to MLB.COM ..

[Lou]

I think it is a consensus among the true Mets fan that this is a 500 club. I said this after the first week of the season. Two runs scored in 23 innings-for a so called major league baseball teams-this is truly UNBELIEVABLE! There isn't anything more to say-the season is over for the Mets-play it through and go home-you smell so bad the stink can permeates all the way back to Shea.

[Cameron Frye]

Score 1 and give up 2. Score 6 and give up 8. They are just losers all the way around. '92 all over again. The worst team money could buy. Part 2.