Some Sunday Observations

1. The all-star break couldn't be coming at a better time. Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes can get ready to return and the bullpen gets a few days breather.

2. Don't be surprised that you don't see the return of one of the most effective relievers this season, Jenrry Mejia. That is, if he's not in a package deal for Cliff Lee.

3. I don't think the Mets will be the winner of the Lee fiasco. I think they could have been but they will smartly not offer enough for the rent-a-player. Now, if the guy would agree to sign a 4-5 year deal, I would have mortgaged the system, but it won't come down to that. No, the Mets will finish this season with the rotation they have, which is a hell of a lot better than we all thought they had.

4. It's amazing when you think what this season would be like without nine walkoff loses. Is this the sign of a tired pen, bad management decisions, or a combo of both. Frankly, I just think it's bad luck. I will tell you this... the Mets need to serious take a look at Francisco Rodriquez' contract and realize that they can opt out of 2012 at $3.5M and save themselves $14mil.

5. Right now, the Mets look almost set for 2011...  the infield is done with Ruben Tejada pushing Luis Castillo to the side (and Reese Havens knocking on the door). Josh Thole will backup Rod Barajas, and your outfield will be  Beltran, Jason Bay, and Angel Pagan. Add the signing of one starter and Carl Crawford, and we can look ahead to 2012 when Matt Harvey arrives.

6  Yes, over $20mil a year is being spent on Oliver Perez, Castillo, and John Maine, but I think the Mets brass will turn the corner on keeping these guys around. It really isn't the money anymore and no fan really cares  anymore what they are owed. Hell, if you're going to still pay Bobby Bonilla, why not these guys? The fact is you can't waste three precious slots on the 25-man with them. I always liked Castillo, but it's time... and the replacements for Perez and Maine are costing the Mets pennies. As that southern guy always says... get it done...

7. On a personal note, I keep trying to churn out all this every day and, those of you that are paid to do this, know exactly how much time and energy must be spent to keep this up. I got my daily hits up to around 2,000 a day just before the draft, but it has settled back down now to around 900 a day. I do have four advertisers but the bucks are very small. Hopefully, it will grow, but I'm not sure the site will. The wife has no health insurance and she needs an MRI, followed by whatever develops from that. I can't seem to get any kind of donations here and I'm sick of asking for them.
It's been interesting going from an ex-CEO to a broke guy on disability and I only wish my local sports writing gig didn't dry up. That loss of money in January killed me. I will be applying this week for some part time jobs in hopes of generating the income needed to pay for my wife's future doctor bills. Any job will take time away from this project and I hope you understand. Back to sports.