Mets Depression

This has to be the worst year as a Mets fan I can imagine. They've lost not one, not two...THREE superstars to injury: Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, and Carlos Delgado. It's not really even common to have injury issues in baseball. Football? Sure. The Broncos kept nobody healthy last season except their lame-duck QB.

Baseball? Nah.

Sure enough, 40% of our starting staff is hurt and our setup man, JJ Putz. Despite the injuries, the Mets are STILL just 3 games back of 1st place. What makes it sadder, though, is I can very easily count 3 games the Mets' DOWNRIGHT EMBARRASSING DEFENSE has cost us:

* Two months ago, against the Marlins, Johan Satana's gem was a loss due to an easy fly ball dropping in when LF Daniel Murphy fell for no reason. The Mets lost 2-1.

* One month ago, in a tie game in LA, the Mets scored what appeared to be the go-ahead run in the 10th. To our utter dismay, despite scoring several seconds of any throw to home plate, Ryan Chruch was ruled OUT because HE FAILED TO TOUCH THIRD BASE. The Mets lost in the bottom of the inning.

* Two weeks ago, in the first game against the rival Yankees, with 2 outs in the 9th and a 1-run lead, Luis Castillo dropped a can-of-corn popup that -- instead of ending the game -- allowed the Yankees to win.

* Last night, an inning-ending fly ball with the bases loaded was magically turned into a virtual GRAND SLAM when Fernando Martinez, earlier in the inning, inexplicably fell while chasing down a would-be out and Johan walked the opposing pitcher on 4 pitches. Johan Santana made a throwing error which allowed the 4th run to score on the double. They lost 6-3.

It's been some snake-bit year for the Mets and Broncos. All one can hope is that for all the HORROR that has gone on, the Mets can somehow survive a tad longer to get some players back. It doesn't look likely, though.