Two days ago I saw a guy in a suit talking on his i-phone. It was 8:15 in the morning on the northeast corner of 7th avenue and 50th street.

"Hi, the is Willie Randolph," he said smiling, "I'm looking for a new job."

It's just about come to that for the Mets who lost another game today that can be safely described as pure agony. It's been like Groundhog Day for Met fans only each day brings new and horrible twist. I mean only a nihilist, an absurdist, sadist or a true Met-hater could take pleasure in what's happened, really ever since Yadier Molina hit that dinger a few years ago. Otherwise, there isn't much funny about what's going on with this team.

These Mets aren't as bad as the worst team money can buy, they've got some great stars, but they've also been a constant letdown for a year now. If there has been anything funny about them it's been the steady stream of caustic, often furious commentary that I've heard from my fellow New Yorkers, the Met fans. They are self-knowing in their suffering and they roll with that quality during the worst of times. They aren't funny because they are suffering, they are funny because they are just funny as they are suffering. And I mean that as the highest of compliments.

I'm left thinking, "Whew, at least that's not us."

2004 and 2001 aren't that long ago. Reminds me of Eddie Murphy's old routine about getting hit by a car in Brooklyn. "Damn, that looked like it hurt too."

Our team has it's own problems but there isn't the same degree of angst in the Bronx, is there? It's maybe not happy but it isn't rock bottom. Girardi's job isn't on the line. Whether the Yankees officially recoginze this as a re-building season or not, it is considered just that by a sizable part of their fan-base. And the team will provide pleasure regardless of the final record--watching A Rod hit, Joba start, Jeter strut, Jorgie, squat, Mariano close. Giambi's Porn Stach of Doom. If they aren't going to be great the least they can be is fun.