Anyone standing downwind in certain parts of Queens will notice an additional bit o’ stink to the usual pungent odors coming from the city dumps – and it’s emanating from Citi Park.  The Mets are about to lose ninety games, in a season where many picked them to go to the World Series.

Where’s Willie Randolph when you need a good scapegoat?

Over in the Bronx we have the other NY team, the best team that money can buy, approaching a 100 win season.  The Yankees have the best record in baseball at 94-54, and new found strange bedfellow – the Mets.  The Mets are actually rooting for the Yankees now, because the more the Yankees win the more headlines they will get.  More Yankee focus means less articles pointing to the colossal failure of the 2009 Mets, who need no further reminders of just how far they have fallen from grace since dumping Willie Randolph.

Yes, the Mets collapsed in September of ’07 under Willie’s leadership, and again in ’08, but the ’09 version had more talent and spent more money than either of those teams – and they didn’t even make it to the half way mark of the season before collapsing. 

Sure, you can blame it on injuries – GM Omar Minaya certainly does, but every team suffers injuries.  It’s why you have a bench.  After a blow up at a beat reporter back in July, Omar gave us the following quote, by way of excusing himself, “That’s not the way Omar Minaya is, I made a mistake.”

Which mistake is that, Omar, blaming a reporter for getting a close friend of yours fired, despite his being unqualified for the job, or referring to yourself in the holier-than-thou third person?

The Mets are not just second fiddle to the Yankees – a role they are accustomed to - but are the laughing stock of the city once again.  And as long as they keep clowns like Minaya in key positions they will remain so. 

Sicilians never forget, and it does this old Oriole heart good to see the Mets suffering so; 1969 is still not far enough back in the rear view mirror, and at this point in my life, all these years later, I realize it never will be.

After last night’s loss to the Nationals (the worst team in baseball yet a team that has beat the Mets three in a row now) NY is mired in the longest losing streak of the season.  This team has no heart – look for them to play like quitters over the final two weeks of the season and cash in by betting against them – especially at home in their final three games of the season, versus the Astros, when the NY fans get their final chance to say “thank you” once again for another quality season.

Pray for inclement weather, Mets - it’s your only chance to avoid three days of boo's raining down on you.