Much as I hate to detract from Sunday evening’s 6-3 win over the Phillies, surely every breathing Mets fan —- even those who’d just as soon see Billy Wagner playing in traffic on the L.I.E. — has to shake his or her skull at the notion of a World Series aspirant heading down the stretch with Luis Ayala and Al Reyes as the last lines of defense. From Newsday’s David Lennon :
The Mets learned today that Billy Wagner has a torn MCL in his left elbow and will need season-ending surgery that could impact 2009 as well, a person familiar with the situation said. In what figured to be his last obstacle, Wagner cut short a simulated game on Sunday and left Shea without speaking to reporters. He had an MRI this morning that reveled the extent of his injury.
Wagner has been on the disabled list since Aug. 3, and after some trial-and-error, the Mets have turned over the closer™s duties to Luis Ayala, who is 5-for-6 in save opportunities. Ayala was acquired from the Nationals on Aug. 17 for Anderson Hernandez. But with Wagner now in doubt for 2009, the Mets could be involved in the bidding for the Angels™ Francisco Rodriguez, who will be a free-agent at the end of this season.
So there we are, my friends. Leading the NL East by two games with 19 to play, and we’re already making plans for next season. Sure, Ayala’s not hurt the Mets too badly thus far, but if the Amazins manage to keep the Phillies at bay and go deep into the postseason, they’ll be doing so with the most suspect relief corps of any alleged contender in memory.
Registration is now open for ’08 Playoff tickets at Shea. The entire process seems rather difficult compared to say, mugging Aaron Heilman and stealing his clothes. I realize Heilman’s current seats aren’t so hot, but they compare favorably to the upper deck.
With Chuck and Jason obviously pre-occupied buying Phillie post-season tickets, I will say that I’m somewhat relieved in facing said Mets this month. I’m just worried that if I wear my Cubs hate, Andrew will say something rude.
Heh! Uh, I meant if I wear my Cubs “hat” to Shea. I’ll let Andrew wear the Cubs hate.
Ben
Ben, if you were 10 years old and molested at gunpoint by four guys in Cubs hats in a Wrigley bathroom you’d have some pent up hate too. I’m pretty sure one of them was Mitch Williams.
I’m actually hoping to see a Cubs-Phillies game (or two) at Wrigley, tough as it might be to get a ticket. Already going to Madison October 9.
As much as I prefer Country Time over Heilman or Ayalalalala, I’m not sure that my stomach would feel THAT much safer with him closing games in September and October. It’s not like he has been lights out the past 2 years in big games and other than Ayalalalala’s uncanny ability to get two outs and then almost shit on himself every appearance, it’s all about the same at this point.
And now Mariana doesn’t have to worry about hearing Hell’s Bells or whatever while he’s sitting on the couch for the first time in a decade this October.
Ben- Thanks for the reminder as I just entered into the postseason on-line lottery. The thought of post-season tickets hadnt crossed my mind, perhaps I was more occupied with hoping the Phillies would take the series in NY and not drop into a serious hole. I guess with the team playing .500 ball since the interleague tanking and the offense still barely capable of putting one foot in front of the other, its been hard to get stoked ( I am watching Billy Beanes latest salary dump load the bags full of Marlins in the 2nd as I write). But, the division is in play with a backup possibility of a WC not too far fetched, so have a cheesesteak and root the Phils on this weekend and we will all be Northsiders when the Cubs face the Mets.
Forget mugging Heilman. I could end up watching postseason games at Wrigley without running into Jay Mariotti, and that’s the real tragedy here.
Maybe Omar Minaya could acquire Mel Rojas for the rights to Frederic Weis.