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Time to be concerned…

With the NFL season rapidly coming to an end, I’ve come to terms with the fact that once football season ends, baseball season will be around the corner. Under normal circumstances, there would be no reason for me not to be excited. But this year, the feeling I have is what can only be considered the opposite of excitement. Anxiety is probably the operative feeling.

Jerry Manuel & Omar Minaya

Being a Giants fan, I’ve had the past few weeks of the playoffs for this thought to really sink in. There are no indications that the Mets are going to be good in 2010. None. As it stands right now… our starting catcher would be a backup on most teams… our starting first baseman is a defensive liability… our second baseman is an albatross that we can’t get rid of… our shortstop is coming off a serious injury that should have only sidelined him for a few weeks but ended up being out all last season… our third baseman had his worst statistical season of his career last year… our newest acquisition in left field has a balky knee (which scares me with our medical staff)… our starting center fielder is going to begin the season on the DL… our number 1 starter is coming off surgery… and we have no one solid in the rotation behind him.

I haven’t even mentioned that we traded away a decent pitcher in the bullpen for a washed up fourth outfielder. The bright side to that deal is that we’re not paying most of his contract. But doesn’t it look weird that the Angels are willing to pay the Mets almost $20 million to take Gary Matthews Jr off their hands? Fans can’t put too much blame on the Mets front office for not being aggressive in free agency. Everyone knew it was going to be a weak free agent class and the Mets were adamant about not over-paying for marginal talent. But there was talent to be had. Its inexplicable why the Mets didn’t even make an offer to Jason Marquis, a New York native who wanted to play for his hometown team. And then to let Marquis sign with a division rival? Not cool. There was Randy Wolf, Joel Piniero, Bengie Molina, and a few others. All of which were players that would have made the Mets a better team, but they dropped the ball.

The Mets 2010 season will be based purely on hopes, ifs and wishes.  IF Maine, Pelfrey, and Perez pitch as well as they can, the Mets can expect a few more wins. IF everyone stays healthy, the Mets have a shot to be competitive in their own division. At this point, the only if I can guarantee is this – IF the Mets underachieve for yet another season, Jerry Manuel and Omar Minaya will be looking for employment elsewhere.

The Queens native handles all things football on KeepingItRealSports.com. Stan attended Holy Cross High School in Flushing, Queens and SUNY Old Westbury. He's spent his post graduate career in different parts of the media, as an editorial assistant, a production assistant and a board operator. He can be followed on twitter @FunnyManStan and routinely performs standup comedy all over New York City.

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