Plummet towards bottom continues

I think the Mets officially threw out the white flag this week, scoring one run in the final two games of a series with the Nationals.  Like I wrote a couple of weeks ago, if the Mets hadn’t given up by that point, it’s only a matter of time.  Here’s my new bold prediction: this team will lose 90 games this season.  And here’s why…

First of all, the only guys that might come back this season are Carlos Delgado, Billy Wagner and maybe J.J. Putz.  That’s because all three could be free agents at year’s end so they’ll push themselves to make it back.  Forget about seeing Carlos Beltran or Jose Reyes in 2009.  That just isn’t happening.  I also like the reports that still say these guys will be back either by the end of the month or early August.  The end of the month is a week from today and there’s no sign of anyone.  The earliest I could see any of these guys returning is a month from now, not a week from now.

Secondly, once you throw the white flag in on a season, it’s tough to start trying again.  So even if everyone came back, I don’t think all of a sudden the rest of the players will pick it up again as well.  They’re so far out of the race that it wouldn’t matter if all nine guys on the DL returned today.

And finally, over the past few years the team couldn’t win games when it mattered most and they were giving it their all.  Just imagine how much worse they’re going to be when nothing is on the line and losing actually gets you a better draft pick.  Forget about it.

Going by my count, the Mets have 22 series left.  Expect them to win 4-5 of them.  If people think this is the low point, then you’re only going to be disappointed.  The tailspin is just beginning.  Time to find something else to entertain you for the final two months of summer.