Something needs to change

The Mets lost another game in shockingly similar form, it's as if this team is stuck in a re-make of Groundhog day and they just can't change their fortune. After an impressive series in Arizona against the team with the best record in the league, the Mets returned to a script that has the fans completely frustrated and based on how they're acting at Shea, losing their minds.

Here's how it goes:


Act 1 - The Mets take a small early lead

Act 2- They have multiple opportunities to build on the lead and fail to do so

Act 3- The starting pitcher is unable to hold the lead & can't go deep into a game

Act 4- There's a defensive bone headed play that opens the door

Act 5- The over used, over exposed and some that aren't that good, pen allows tack on runs

Act 6- The offense gets completely shut down

I can't stand the boo birds, I think we've totally lost home field advantage and are only making things worse. But I do understand where they're coming from, as this team has me completely frustrated and I'm at wits end with them. The craziest part of this is that Willie, based on his own comments is completely out of touch with his own team and the fan base. Willie believes that the fans are acting like they are because they aren't over what happened last year, which tells me that he doesn't realize his team is preforming just as they did in Sept. and that's what the fans are responding to, which is something he should be responding too.

Randolph said. “Obviously the fans are having a tough time moving past that. So we just hope that they eventually get behind this team, because we’re going to make them real proud before the year is over. source NY Times

In tonight's game the Mets staked Nelson Figueroa to a three run lead and when he gave one of those runs back, they got him another one. But Figueroa pitched into trouble in every inning and eventually gave up the lead. Figgy is good for three quality innings and should be used as a longman, he's a great feel good story but that shouldn't cloud the reality of what he can provide, he's this years Darrin Oliver. The Mets could have provided Figgy with an even bigger lead as they too had the Dodgers starter on the ropes but each time they allowed those opportunities to slip through their hands. With bases loaded and no outs they scored two runs, they were 2-14 with runners in scoring position and are hitting .175 with two outs RISP as a team so far this season.

But once the Mets chased the Dodgers pitcher from the game and only down by a run they produced just three hits ( two in the ninth) and allowed reliever Kuo to look like a Cy Young candidate. The Mets looked at called strike three, three times with two outs and runners in scoring position.

This team has had more pathetic then exciting moments since this season started and something needs to change. If Willie really doesn't see whats happening then he's completely out of touch and I can't see how we can win with him at manager. The pitchers aren't responding to Peterson and I think he needs to be the first to go with Willie pretty close behind him. Omar needs shake this roster up and make a few moves.

John Feinstein in his new book about Tom Glavine and Mike Mussina, has a section from Glavine about the collapse in which Glavine states the only player who called for a closed door players only meeting was Marlon Anderson. That tells me a lot about the leadership on this team when the newest member, who is a part time role player is calling for a rally meeting.

With tonight's loss were in third place, which is exactly how this team has been playing, a middle of the road, .500 team and if that doesn't serve as a wake-up call maybe nothing will. But at least Willie can't use that maddening line he used so many times last year, that it was a tough loss but were still in first, now he'll just say were over .500. This consistent approach just isn't working, it's lulled them into a false sense of entitlement and has made them a streaky mediocre team. This is the same core group of players that was the most exciting team in the league in 2006 and now they look like a stale team that shows up when they want too. It's the managers job to shake this up, try something, anything; Torre, Baker, Pinella are all trying things to get their teams going while Willie plays the same players in the same line-up.