Opinion: .500 Is As .500 Does
I’ve been very torn lately on how I feel about this team, but the dust is starting to settle and I think the true nature of the 2008 Mets is finally revealing itself.
I cannot pretend to know whether their problems stem from an incompetent Willie Randolph, a struggling offense, or a lack of team unity. However, what I do know is that this team has shown me little to be proud of. I have been telling myself that they’re better than their record, but lately the constant ups and downs have spelled out that their .500 record reveals just what they are: a .500 team.
Now, I’m not saying that they can’t turn this thing around – in fact, I still believe that they will. But if they keep playing such lackluster ball, things will only get worse for this team. Whether it be managerial changes, clubhouse division, or the most likely result, another failure to reach the playoffs – the path that they are currently on is certainly an ominous one.
Something is just not right. Perhaps it’s the pressure that each player has been placing on himself; perhaps all of the negative media attention around the Mets’ skipper is wearing on the club; whatever it is, these guys need to let it all go and get back to doing what I still believe they know how to do, and that’s playing solid, playoff-caliber baseball.
The paradox here is that they will have more fun when they win, but they need to have fun first before they can do so.
Sort this thing out fellas and start having fun again, because I certainly am not.
