Yeah yeah yeah I know, I have to start off by saying the obvious- that these injuries have gutted this team more than all of us could have ever imagined. Very few teams, if any could get away with having three of their top 4 players injured for a significant amount of time (and now Wright who had escaped this until recently). To be "only" 8 games under at this point when you're relying on DANIEL MURPHY to be a cleanup hitter is a miracle. Of course the media, which has had a field day exploiting and mocking the Mets even though they neglect at times to realize the injuries...have made this season nearly unbearable. Name one other team in MLB that would get this treatment. Cubs? No, they're just the "lovable losers". Yankees, Red Sox? They'd just come up with excuses for them. Phillies? Nope, the media's all over their jock now. Etc, etc.

But I digress from that rant. Even with these injuries and everything...you cannot ignore the fact that we have still found ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Sure, for any Mets fan the memories of 07 and 08 are burned into our minds for eternity and we play the what-if game. Another thing that bothers me about this team is that even if they're down by only one, you think the game is over. Rarely do I find myself saying "this team can pull this one out". It doesn't even feel like we've had a walk-off victory this season, especially when they show the crosstown Yankees for example seemingly having one every day. The few "feel-good" victories that we have had get overshadowed by the following:

1) The Luis Castillo drop. You know I don't need to get into any detail about that...not to mention that would have been a great comeback victory. The maddening thing about that series in the Bronx was somehow winning the next day with Fernando Nieve pitching brilliantly (all things considered) and then of course Santana getting bombed the following day. Inconsistency by this team reigns supreme.

2) The Ryan Church baserunning blunder. In a game which the Mets ultimately committed FIVE errors yet still only lost by one in extra innings in Los Angeles; this loss stuck out like a sore thumb for a while until the aforementioned incident. Now one doesn't know if K-Rod would have came and blew that save and if we would have ultimately won...but Dear God, how does one forget to touch a base?? Fundamentals people.

3) The walk-off blast in SD. Oliver Perez whom I affectionately call the Mexican Titanic pitched a helluva game and was in line for the win. K-Rod comes in and completely bombs. Of course, it doesn't help when the umpire misses a crucial call at home plate to keep the rally going but a walk-off Grand Slam? Really? Every closer has their share of nightmares, but it's the Padres. Also, on a whole going 4-10 against the Padres and Diamondbacks is absolutely inexcusable. Yet this maddening team is 8-4 against the Rockies and Giants so far.

I could go on and make War & Peace look like a Dr. Seuss book but by now you get the picture. The injuries of course will lose you a few games. Every team is snake-bitten by bad luck in games and blessed with some good luck in others. However, it all feels like for us Mets fans to be an avalanche. It's frustrating to take because we were supposed to be a major contender (and picked by SI to win it all)...would it feel as bad if we were projected to finish say 3rd? No not at all. It frustrates me when this team can go out and take 3 out of 4 from teams like the Cardinals and Rockies or take 2 of 3 IN Boston...but then go right back and get swept by the Pirates or lose series to the Nationals, Padres, Orioles and Diamondbacks. Playing at the level of competition more so than anything has been the Achilles heel. I have to admit, sometimes even seeing this team win games this year doesn't give me any satisfaction...because I always go "what might have been if..." or "carry this momentum please for the love of God." Maybe they'll go on an epic run like the Rockies did in 2007....nahhhhh.

With that said however, you gotta ride out the bad to enjoy the fruits tasting sweeter when things become good again.