One of the highest payrolls in the Major Leagues, the New York Mets managed to win 79 games and lose 83 games this season. What is really hard to digest as a Mets fan was the early promise this season showed, with the Mets clearly in the hunt until the dreadful play following the All Star Break. At the end of the season, the Mets had way more questions than answers.

What do you do with Carlos Beltran? He only has one more year left on his contract.
What do you do with the pitching staff? Johan Santana is getting surgery, and pretty much everyone else is just not that good, though I really like R.A. Dickey knuckleball style that embarrasses hitter after hitter.
K-Rod is obviously not stable, and messing up his pitching hand punching his girlfriend’s father is just plain stupid. Equally stupid is violating a court order to not communicate with her and then go and send her 50 something text messages.
Who is this Jason Bay guy? Did we really spend all that money on a power hitter who couldn’t even come close to hitting 10 home runs this season.
There are dozens, literally dozens of other questions about the product the Mets are putting on the field.

Can Bobby Valentine fix all this? That seems to be the popular pick amongst fans as the next General Manager. But don’t count on the popular pick being the one chosen by an organization who has failed time and again at bringing in the right coach, general manager or player.

Unless the Angel can do that day in and day out, and a host of other Mets step up there is no way we are making any kind of playoff run.

At 50 wins and 53 losses, there are 7 teams ahead of us in the wild card race and we are 6.5 games back of the wild card leaders.

Delgado is done for the year, Beltran’s knee issue may be career threatening, and Reyes’ hamstring gets better and then gets worse. Internally, our GM Omar Minaya has been on the hot seat with fans and media calling for his firing.

I would like to say this has been one of the most disappointing seasons ever, but the way the last couple ended with embarrasing final week of the season collapses this season appears to be just another one of the many disappointments.

This team needs a new bat.

Omar Minaya, what are you waiting for? This team is so depleated, we need a big bat in our lineup ASAP. Arguably, the Mets need it more then any other team in baseball.

Two straight losses to Tampa Bay. We need just a little more help offensively.

But that was then. And this is now.

David Wright had a big game. Pumping out those RBI’s.

Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes are both injured. Delgado is probably looking at the DL. Reyes should be back any minute. JJ Putz is having health issues as well.

But as long as a few hitters step up every night. And as long as the bullpen keeps us in games. We will be able to win games when we fall behind early. And as we know from past Septembers, every game matters.

Mets Closer Francisco Rodriguez Gets the Save Over the Giants (AP Photo Jeff Chiu)