You hear that rumbling, Jose? That’s the bottom, and it seems all but ready to fall out if something doesn’t change fast.

I know you guys are in first place and have been for pretty much the entire season, but is there not some sense of urgency being only 3 games up in the NL East with about 6 weeks left in the season? Despite the win on Sunday, saving face against the Marlins at home isn’t exactly something you should be playing for right now. In fact, I think the team should be embarrassed with some of the play yesterday.

Dropping pop flies, wild pitches, and overthrown balls are things that are usually reserved for spring training - but here we are, the middle of August, and you guys just played arguably the sloppiest game of the season. You’re playing at home, for Christ’s sake, Shea Stadium. Are you telling me that you don’t know how much space you have on a foul ball pop-up down the left field line?

There are some bad things happening with this team right now, Jose, and I’m not sure what can be fixed and what can’t. I think Pedro coming back will help- if not on the mound then at least in the locker room, where his contagious spirit has built the “new Mets” in the last 2+ years. He needs to be there to breathe some fire into you and your teammates, who have played with a “when do the playoffs start” attitude since the end of May. This is a dangerous attitude and you know it…if Pedro isn’t there, then it has to be you. YOU are the guy that everyone feeds off of right now. I know you’ve been a little out of it since Willie benched you last month for not running out a grounder, but get over it! You’re still a hell of a ballplayer and the best shortstop in the NL East, although Hanley sure showed you up over the weekend - in your own stadium nonetheless.

I guess the point is that now is not the time for mediocrity, especially against bottom dwellers in your own division. You and the rest of the boys need to start beating up on these guys - I hope you realize that September is right around the corner and you’ll basically ONLY be playing teams from the East. That 3 game lead that you’ve somehow hung onto all season could go *poof* very, very quickly. We all know that you guys have it in you to rip off 5 or 6 straight, so get it done! Despite all of my bellyaching and distemper, I’m still going to be there until the very end - even if I’m suffering. Go Mets!

Filed under: NY Mets, Sports