2: Will the Mets be able to withstand an extended absence by CF Carlos Beltran?

3: Will the Mets pitching improve upon the disappointment of 2009?

4: How thin is the ice under Manager Jerry Manuel and GM Omar Minaya?

5: Where will the Mets finish the season?

So I stumbled on these questions going through a baseball message board.  I saw a very different view of the Mets from outsiders as opposed to my feelings about this organization.  I was just curious to see reactions from more of a local point of view.

Some highlights from The Putz interview:

“It was a mess from the beginning”

“When the trade went down last year, I never really had a physical with the Mets.  I had the bone spur (in the right elbow). It was discovered the previous year in Seattle, and it never got checked out by any other doctors until I got to spring training, and the spring training physical is kind of a formality. It was bugging me all through April, and in May I got an injection. It just got to the point where I couldn’t pitch. I couldn’t throw strikes, my velocity was way down.”

“Being hurt is never fun, especially when you go to a team like New York, where the expectation level is so high, and you’re not able to do what you know you can do. (The Mets) gave up a lot to get me, so it was disappointing and frustrating.”

“I knew that I wasn’t right. I wasn’t healthy. The toughest part was having to face the media and tell them that you feel fine, even though you know there’s something wrong and they don’t want you telling them that you’re banged up.”

“That it’s my career, and when you know something doesn’t feel right, and they want to take these little sidesteps to do something, and just wait and wait and wait, you got to get it taken care of instead of trying to prolong the inevitable.”

Are you kidding me?  Just when you thought that this organization could not get any worse.  All I have to say is thank you Carlos Beltran for taking the initiative and doing what needed to be done so that you can be out on the field when the team needs you.  There is something new every single day with this INEPT franchise.

My name is Freddie and I am writing this letter to you as a very dissatisfied customer.  I recently turned 29 and have yet to see the team I watch day in and day out to win a World Series.  A team that plays in the biggest city of them all with all the resources to bring in the best quality players and give me, the paying fan, the best quality product.  Instead I have to sit here and read emails back and forth from friends on who I would rather win the World Series, the bully from Philly or the Older brother from the Bronx which I envy.  I’ve had it.

I go to approximately 15-20 games a season, I haven’t missed a home opener in12 years and I’m done until you prove me wrong.  It’s time to look yourself in the mirror and say what kind of legacy do I want to leave in this town?  Do I want to be known as the cheap, it doesn’t matter if we win or lose as long as there is a profit at the end of the day owner?  Or do you want to be the owner that goes out and spends almost half a billion dollars on three players to ensure his team is the one that finishes on top?  And you know what, that owner made a ton of money this season, A TON.  If you spend money, you make money.  Leave a legacy.  Become that owner.  You have all the resources, a brand new ballpark and a fan base that so desperately wants to win.  Give it to us.  Go out and get Roy Halladay, it doesn’t matter the cost.  Go out and get yourself a big bat in LF, preferably Matt Holliday.  Go and sign that pesky 2 hitter to play 2b in Chone Figgins. NONE OF IT MATTERS because at the end of the day your fan base is excited and willing to throw there  money at you.  They couldn’t give it to you fast enough.  There is no need to reduce ticket prices people would spend to watch that team.  With the the two best pitchers in baseball and the peskiest top of the lineup and the bop in the middle?  But what do I know? I’m just a hard working civilian and can’t understand what goes through the minds of corporate gurus when it comes to this stuff.

Yours Truly,

Freddie Samii

For the second time this week Met players have rallied late with monster grand slams.  I love the way how this team is playing with hearts of lions now.  Even though I do not think it will amount to anything going forward, standings wise, Im really enjoying watching this team.

Once I saw the cover of the New York Post this morning, my stomach dropped.  Than I realized that even though Beltran is in Vail to see Dr. Steadman, this is the NY Post reporting that his career could be over, so I paid no attention to it.  Scary though though.

David Wright who made the last out on Wednesday night was said to be batting .510 against lefties right before he lined out the Adam Jones.

Sean Green came in last night and Gary says, “Green has retired 32 of the last 36 batters he’s faced.”  Thanks for the stat Gary, not even 30 seconds go by and Green implodes and gives up a run, maybe more if not for Luis Castillo.

I know people are trying to do there jobs and what they say has nothing to do with the outcome but in my opinion just keep your mouth SHUT!

On another note, Carlos Beltran came back today and killed the ball.  In his post game news conference he showed some fire how it is unacceptable to get swept by the lowly Pirates.  That’s good to see Beltran showing some fire and leadership.

“The reality is, coming here to Pittsburgh and getting swept, for me, I feel embarrassed… We need to find a way to play better and to focus more on what we need to accomplish… I mean, we have to take this personally.  It can’t happen… I know the Pirates are a big-league team, but we’re better than them.  We’re better than them, and we know we’re better than them.  But, we have to do something about it.  McCLouth wasn’t here and they still came out and scored 11 runs.  11 runs?  We have to play better.”

J.J. Putz may now also need surgery soon as he continues to pitch in pain. He’s headed to New York for an evaluation tomorrow.

Omar, time to use those rollover minutes.

Minaya needs to do something rash or this team is going to win no more than 80 games.  The starting pitching is atrocious, so why dont we send Wright to Toronto in exchange for Roy Halladay???  Santana and Halladay in the rotation together will help save the bullpen for inning in August and September.  Murphy can come and play third base and throw Sheffield out there in left everyday.  This is the only solution that comes to mind to help save this team NOW. 

The Mets can’t keep throwing the same guys out there and come up with unfavorable results.  This is the biggest city in the world because of people who took risks.  “He who is not courageous enough to take risks, will accomplish nothing in life.”  Let’s be bold for once and not do what everyone expects which is roll over and die for the third consecutive season.
Photo:Sabo/NYDailyNews

All players were wearing number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson day.  Tonight was the first game I watched on TV at the new stadium.  It was really awkward watching a Met home game with the brick backdrop and the black and orange surroundings.  From what I saw there were a lot of empty seats as well.  This is not what the Wilpons envisioned for there second home game after an 800 million dollar investment. 

Delgado jacked a solo shot into the Pepsi Porch.  Hopefully it’s the first of many for him. 

Reyes scored from first base on a wild pitch on a very exciting play.  

SNY showed Ryan Church going through the nuances of the outfield with Sheffield before the game. 

The Mets go for the series win tomorrow night as Jon Maine takes the hill against a potential future teammate Jake Peavy.