Read: ESPN Chats
At ESPN.com, both Buster Olney and Rob Neyer held chats today and the Mets were one of the many discussed topics.
Olney had the following to say when asked if the final game at Shea will be relevant or will the Mets have already ripped out the fans’ heart:
“You don’t want to hear my answer. I really think the schedule is going to hurt the Mets this week. The Brewers get to play the Pirates, who have lost 11 of their last 16, and then the Cubs over the weekend, and while Lou Piniella has every intention of competing to the finish line, the reality is that by Friday or Saturday, a lot of his decisions will be shaped (and rightly so, by the way) by preparation for the post-season. He’s not going to pitch Kerry Wood on Saturday and Sunday against the Brewers, for example. He won’t pitch Carlos Marmol in extended outings. He won’t overtax his starters. If one of his position players is playing 85 percent, he’ll get him out of there. That works against the Mets, who have to play the team nobody wants to play, the Marlins. But hey, who the heck knows…”
During Neyer’s chat, he was asked who’s neck is on the line if the Mets don’t make the playoffs, in which he replied:
“(Omar) Minaya, perhaps, but he might be given credit for the team’s big comeback in the second half. I guess if I were Minaya’s boss, I’d want to know if he’s learned anything from this season.”
…as far as the schedule is concerned, i don’t care who we play or where we play…perform like there is no tomorrow and we shall see what happens when the dust settles…talk is cheap, just play ball…
