What is that saying, “a blank blank can’t change it stripes?” I guess a Billy/Sloppy/DC/Buck/Guv can’t change either….even w/a name change.

u r absolutely right. wags is the only closer we have.

My biggest concerns?

The production of the corner OFs- Church has to come back healthy, and we need to make a trade, because relying on Tatis, and Chavez to keep up what they’re doing is foolish..

Wagner- He blew 6 saves in the 1st half, and we all know his history in August and September; will that repeat, or will he actually flourish in the 2nd half like he did in ‘06?

Rotation besides Santana, Pelfrey: Maine has to start going more than 6 innings more often, Perez has to be more reliable, and Pedro has to stay healthy

Many concerns, but considering the lack of a dominating team in the division, it’s very much up for grabs…

And… no… you don’t give Delgado any credit, we’re already dangerously close to Minaya taking the supreme idiot move and picking up his option for next year.

Look, yes, when he’s really rested, when he’s up against a mediocre rightie, he still looks like he can hit dingers. That’s… great, that’s wonderful, if they ever bring back the old “Home Run Derby” show he can definitely go there.

He can’t field his position and he’s inconsistent as hell for average. Someone has to be out there hoping to hold out for a psychic butterfly effect and maybe maybe maybe the Mets front-office realizes how done this guy is.

Gotta at least try it. Someone’s gotta speak up to ignore the moonshots in the laughers and point out that he’s just too beat up and old to keep a second longer than you’re stuck with him.

If he produces a little while you’re stuck with him, mazeltov, but you have to throw him away. He’s old, he’s beat-up, let him fade away as a DH for the Mariners or something.

This isn’t the same as Castillo who is a so-so player. Despite Wagner’s recent struggles, he has been one of the best closers around.

heilman-I suppose it is possible. He is a 2nd half pitcher.

Other closers-external
Is there any closer that could be traded for? I doubt it.

Do Mets have pieces to make a trade for closer w/o opening up another hole in lineup or pitching? No

Besides, unless Mets traded Wagner (is anybody willing to take on his 15MM or so he is owed for this and next yr?), Mets are gonna have to hope Wagner has gotten his bad outings over and done with.

Is Duaner ready at this point in his Career/Comeback ?

Do we trust Heilman not to hang a changeup in a big spot?

I only list those two guys because I dont see a trade as a viable option as the mets have a lot bigger fish to fry if they chose to make a move. Would love to see everyone’s thoughts.

Reyes has to stay out of a long slump
Church has to come back healthy
Maine has to start pitching like the top of the rotation starter we thought he could be
The continued development of Mike Pelfrey. Right now he is pitching like the #2 guy on the staff.

Anybody up for a Smoltz-ian move to the closer’s role?

(Yeah, I don’t want to be the guy to say it to his face, either…)

OP will be continue to be good w/occasional hiccups? And Maine will be uneven as hell?

Both have been uneven as hell.

And when does Delgado get any credit from you? He is not the player he once was but he is on pace for 25-30/85-90.

Philly bats not awake? Howard is on pace for 45/140, Utley 40/120, Burrell 40/100. The only guy not having an excellent season is Rollins.

Delgado’ll have sporadic really great looking games that obscure long spells of absolutely nothing, as always. “Oooooh, pretty home run! I’ve completely forgotten that he went 2-30 in the last six games!”

Santana will get some more support but not enough for all these idiots saying that he’s “underachieving” to notice that he’s got the 4th best ERA in the National League. Distracted by Delgado’s very occasional moonshots I’m sure.

Ollie will continue to be good with occasional hiccups. Maine will continue to be uneven as hell.

There will be more focus than there was but not enough to make up on still depending on so very much age.

The Mets are certainly no longer embarassing but the fact remains that if Philly’s bats ever wake up, the team we root for is screwed.

Is Mike Pelfrey really coming into his own and has he finally “figured it out” or is this just a good stretch?

Delgado, as others have said, will be a .250 hitter with about 25 homers and 80-85 rbi’s.

Santana will continue to turn in quality performances and will have more run support (I hope) the rest of the way.

Maine, I think, will straighten out his issues of late and be a 15+ winner this year.

The key behind OP will be how they handle him after his next not so great mound performance. That, and, how much pressure his agent puts on him to perform towards the end of the year.

Ryan Church is someone I think can help the Mets big if he can come back.

I am sure that Wagner is going to make a lot of games unecessarily interesting the rest of the way. The Mets hopefully have learned by now NEVER to bring him in in the middle of an inning, or, any where near Philadelphia.

If the Mets can get a few breaks, and, with the strength of the NL East as a whole, I think they still cannot be counted out.

All good questions.

I have two more.

Will Heilman continue pitching well

Can Easley/Reyes continue to make us forget Castillo?