Jeremy Bentham has followed the New York Mets since they played their first game in St. Louis on Apr. 11, 1962. Jeremy is not confused. He is upset.
Mets management claims it is being forced to trade Carlos Beltran, a move that they justify by stating they would rather get one or more top prospects now rather than lose Beltran at the end of the season and receive nothing substantive.
But what upsets Jeremey even more is that Mets management has conceded that the team has no chance of making the playoffs, and even, if by some "miracle," the Mets get into the playoffs, they will not get far.
What have the Mets been called for almost their entire existence? Yes, folks, they are "The Miracle Mets."
Carlos Beltran is having a fine season. He is batting .290/.387/.524. There is no doubt that he will demand and receive a substantial contract after the season, but not with the financially-strapped Mets.
But that is then and this is now.
David Wright is returning, Jose Reyes has returned and the pitching has been better than expected.
Despite his image as a top closer, the bullpen may be better off without Francisco Rodriguez, who recently gave a reporter the "I love you sign" after blowing a save in Arizona.
Management must give the team every chance possible to get into the playoffs. Reyes, Beltran and Wright can match almost any other National League team's best three hitters. Without Beltran, the Mets will fulfill management's prophecy.
The Mets problem is not the Philadelphia Phillies, who lead the Mets by 12 and one-half games. The Mets problem is the Atlanta Braves. But games are not played on paper, they are played on the field.
One of baseball's great attractions is that one never knows, does one?
At the end of play on September 12, 2007, the Mets led the second Phillies by seven games. At the end of play on September 28, 2007, the Phillies led the second place Mets by a full game. The next day, the teams were tied, and on the final day of the regular season, the Phillies won the title.
In 17 days, the Mets lost a seven game lead but managed a tie for first before losing the title on the final day of the regular season.
No one thought that the Phillies could catch the Mets.
The Mets have had major problems beating the Phillies this year, but if they win the wild card, they may not have to play them.
The Phillies, with the National League's best record, will play the Central Division winner. What if the Phillies lose a best of five series? As Joe Torre has stated numerous times, the first round is a crap shoot.
The Mets would play the defending World Champion San Francisco Giants, who have outstanding starting pitching. But the Giants are an offensively-challenged team with an overrated closer.
Brian Wilson has 29 saves, which is second best to the Braves Craig Kimbrel. But Wilson's ERA (2.96), WHIP (1.445) and blown saves (four) are up from the Championship season.
If the Mets stay close, and almost all Giants games are close, anything can happen.
Imagine if Mets management in 1969 or 1973 took the same approach then as 2011 management is taking today. Or if Gary Carter believed that with two outs, two strikes, and down by two runs, the 1986 World Series was over.
One final example.
The Brooklyn Dodgers had a pitcher named Billy Loes. On the eve of the 1952 World Series against the Yankees, a writer asked Loes his prediction about the Series. Loes picked the Yankees in six games.
The next day, when Loes saw the article, he denied picking the Yankees in six. He said he really picked them in seven.
Mets management is doing almost the same thing. They are picking the Braves to win the the wild card.
Jeremy Bentham thinks its a disgrace.
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