Where do the problems stop?

Let's face it. The Mets are probably the single most underachieving team in the N.L. this side of the Padres. They have a lineup which was designed to send opposing pitchers running with their skirts drawn above their knees, and a pitching rotation manufactured to keep opponents shut down for an entire 182 game season. They have the third highest payroll in baseball, yet this year have been behind teams whose payrolls rank 10th (Braves), 13th (Phillies), and 30th (Marlins). Omar's strategy of trying to play Steinbrenner obviously fails in baseball, where homegrown talent has come to reign supreme.

As a Mets fan, I've come to despise everything which embodies the Yankees. The spending of big money to land phenomenon veterans, just for that one big win. The lack of heart which went into their game, players just going through the motions, playing for themselves, without anything more than a thought for teammates. The manager who seemed to never care about decisions made against his team, and only spoke when it was good for P.R. This babying and coddling of players who can't seem to play the way they're paid.

And, yet, I see all of these flaws in the 2008 New York Mets. Pedro, El Duque, Delgado, Alou. All crumbling veterans, mirages of their former selves. Assuredly not performing to the lofty standards they are signed to play up to. I see no desire to win in too many of these players. No fire, no passion. Jose Reyes, one of my former favorites seems to have lost his love of the game. The team loses, and no one gets mad, no one punches a wall, no one makes a peep. Everyone just sits there, with that look on their idiot faces that says, "But we were supposed to win!" Crybaby bullshit. Willie Randolph has truly fallen from the graces of many a Mets fan. He doesn't seem to instill any sort of desire in his players. He just watches his pitchers get pounded like a chick in a donkey show game after game, and does nothing to try and turn it around. Rick Peterson is reportedly so depressed, he went out and bought himself a new jacket. When someone does step out and criticize someone, he's seen as some sort of evil villain. Despite Billy Wagner's penchant for blowing every big save he's dropped into, he's right. If your heart's not in the game, then why are you playing?

The Mets complain about how fickle the fans at Shea are. How can you expect to be cheered, when your main power hitter has 5 home runs, your leadoff man has a .318 OBP, and your setup man has a 4.64 ERA? This team is pathetic. They want to know how to get the fans behind them. Well the solution is simple. Win. For those of you who have forgotten the meaning of the word, Webster defines it as such; to gain the victory in a contest or struggle. Yeah, struggle, that sounds about right.