DOGPILE ON THE METSIES

Buster Olney has an article that appeared on the front page of The New York Times this morning about the state of the Mets. As well all know, it isn't a pretty picture.

They are a bad defensive team. Among the league's best defensive teams a few years ago, the Mets are tied for second in the major leagues in errors. They strike out constantly, ranking fifth in that category, while compiling one of the major leagues' lowest on-base percentages.

...A general manager for another team said: "I can't believe a team that spends that much money is that bad. There's nobody who really scares you when you look at their lineup, on paper. The only starter who might scare you is Al Leiter. They don't look real good."

Mike Lupica, the King of the tabliod columnists in New York, weighs in on the ugliness that is the Mets, and characteristically doesn't pull any punches:

The Mets have to make some kind of move over the next month or so, or get ready to make some moves, and big ones, moves that even might involve Mike Piazza. If that is the way things work out, if they are falling out of another race and out of another season in June, the first move has to be with Steve Phillips, the general manager. Who can't be allowed to make any more moves himself at that point.