Don't Believe the Hype

It's a tough morning for Mets fans. After another blown save by Billy Wagner (his seventh of the season), the Mets find themselves two games behind the first place Phillies in third place. The New York media isn't cutting the Mets any slack either. The local papers' headlines read: ASTRO-NOMICAL HIT - Bullpen Has Another and Amazin' Meltdown and Mets Bullpen Crashes in Houston. Mets fans know last night's loss was inexcusable, they don't need the media shoving it down their throat (the same media that will praise then once they win two games in a row). Well don't believe the hype, Mets fans. Sure, things aren't exactly going the Mets' way at the moment, but the pennant race is far from over. The Mets have dealt with obstacles the entire season. From the numerous injuries, mainly to both of their starting corner outfielders (Ryan Church & Moises Alou), and two of their starting pitchers (Orlando Hernandez & Pedro Martinez), the Mets have found ways to win using the likes of Nelson Figueroa, Fernando Tatis, and Damon Easley. It hasn't been the ideal situation, but it's working. The Mets have found a way to stay competitive with the play Easley and Tatis, but the biggest lift has been the resurgence of Carlos Delgado. At 36, Delgado has looked like the Delgado of old, smacking 23 home runs while driving in 70. With Delgado playing like the Delgado of old and the Mets' core (David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, and Johan Santana) staying healthy, the injury obstacle has been worked through. I think Omar Minaya sees this as well, hence why no trades were made by last Thursday's deadline. This of course doesn't mean the Mets can keep it up entirely, but it's encouraging. You also have to look at who the Mets' competition is in the NL East. The Phillies have shown they can be a tremendous ball club, but haven't been able to play consistent enough to hand them the division. They had the opportunity to put the Mets away in June when they held a seven game lead, and squandered it. The Marlins, who find themselves in second place have been playing great baseball this year, but you also have to wonder if their young pitching staff will wear down in August and September. This isn't to say the Mets have an easy road ahead of them. While the Mets have played well through their season-long injuries, expecting Tatis and Easley to keep it up, might be too much to ask. Church is expected to return at some point, but post-concussion symptoms could very well haunt him in to next season. Luis Castillo is also on the mend, but his play prior to his trip to the disabled list didn't exactly blow anyone away. Should both of them return and just be able to contribute, it will give the Mets an added lift. What's more concerning to me is the play of the bullpen. Since the All-Star break the Mets bullpen has been a mess posting a 7.10 ERA, and didn't allow any runs in only five of the 15 games. Aaron Heilman, Pedro Feliciano, Duaner Sanchez, and Wagner have all struggled, but they all have the ability of putting their struggles behind them and returning to dominant form. While the situation hasn't been ideal in Flushing this seaosn, the Mets deserve some credit. No fan expected this season to have a managerial dismissal, two-thirds of the outfield to miss extended time, to be at a point where they were 7.5 games out of first place, but yet they turned it around and still find themselves in a pennant race. Don't let the media get you down, Mets fans. Hold your heads high, and be proud of your Amazin's. The season is far from over.