DownSwinging.com

If you listened to the podcast last night, you got a chance to hear us talk about the Mets problems on and off the field lately. On Friday, the Mets were leading by a run in the ninth with two outs, but second basemen Luis Castillo missed a routine pop-up, and the Yankees won the game. This isn’t the only thing that has gone wrong for the Mets. They’ve had a slew of injury difficulties and David Wright isn’t playing like…David Wright. Carlos Delgado’s wonderous 2008 season is long gone, and now the Mets, arguably the most talented team in the NL East, are four games back of the Phillies and have the Braves breathing down there neck.

Today, it got worse. Mets closer Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez started brawling with Yankees reliever Brian Bruney during batting practice, allegedly over comments Bruney made about the Mets loss on Friday. “It couldn’t happen to a better guy on the mound, either. He’s got a tired act,” Bruney said. The two relief pitchers had to be separated.

This is not what the Mets need. A team that already has put a lot of pressure on itself to win is making it even harder. And with J.J. Putz hurt, a K-Rod with volatile emotion is probably not what is the best thing for the Mets bullpen, something that fans are surely wary of after previous season’s collapses.

It would probably be good for the Mets to get some new blood in their clubhouse to shake things up, because right now, they do not look capable of making the playoffs. With Philadelphia and Atlanta both looking good, the Mets are going to have to step it up, and fast. Look for the Mets to make a play at Red Sox pitcher Brad Penny, though its unclear what they would trade in return.

And if things weren’t bad enough, the Mets lost today’s game 15-0 to the Yankees today. Oh, and did I mention that Johan Santana was pitching, and gave up nine runs? Things are looking dicey in Queens.