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Coleman: Is This Rock Bottom? Mets Reach Breaking Point, Send Ike & Co. Packing

By Ed Coleman
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Mets general manager Sandy Alderson finally had his Peter Finch moment.

Finch was the actor who copped the Oscar back in 1976 for his performance as newscaster Howard Beale in the movie "Network." Beale was the "mad prophet of the airwaves" who at one point in the movie urged his listeners to open their windows and shout, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!"

That's what watching 30 innings of bad baseball over the course of two days will do to you. Unfortunately for Mets fans, the majority of them probably reached that conclusion long before this weekend.

Ike Davis has finally met his fate, and it probably should have happened a while ago. Ike is a great teammate whom no one wanted to see go, but it's time. Because anytime one of your supposed major run producers has to be pinch-hit for in late-game situations in consecutive games like Davis was this weekend, it's time to look elsewhere. He's hitting .161 with 66 strikeouts in 186 at-bats.

Here's Alderson on pulling the trigger on Ike:

Sandy Alderson

And what does the GM believe will turn his first baseman around?

Sandy Alderson

Also sent packing were Mike Baxter, whose failed sacrifice in the ninth inning Sunday added to his 3-for-31 downward spiral, and lefty reliever Robert Carson, who yielded his eighth home run in just 18 innings of work, Miguel Olivo taking him deep to put things away on Sunday for the Marlins. Speaking of Miami, the lowly Fish -- who've won eight of 11 against the Mets thus far -- have almost half their total number of victories for the season vs. New York (eight of 18). Time for a change.

How much of a change is debatable. Two of the replacements -- Collin Cowgill and Josh Edgin -- have already been sent down earlier this year, and the third -- Josh Satin -- although hitting well at Triple-A Las Vegas (.306 with 9 HR and 32 RBI), is just 5-for-26 with two RBIs at the major league level over the past two seasons.

Change for change's sake?

Well, we can rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic at least, I guess.

Captain David Wright said it's the lack of execution of the fundamentals which is absolutely killing this team right now.

David Wright

And the Mets 3B believes that each player has to do only what they're capable of -- not try to do anything above and beyond -- or there will continue to be problems.

David Wright

For manager Terry Collins, this was a breaking point.

Terry Collins

Collins has been more than patient, often watching his charges make the same mistakes that keep costing his team games. The Mets bullpen now has as many blown saves (10) as saves (10). They are one of only three teams (the Indians and the Cubs the others) in the majors with a 1:1 or worse save to blown save ratio. The bullpen is 0-4 with three blown saves in June, and has compiled a 5.74 ERA this month.

You want more? The Mets have the lowest team batting average (.226) in all of baseball. Over the last 20 home games at Citi Field, the club is hitting a measly .199 and averaging 2.3 runs per game. They went 0-for-19 with RISP in the 20-inning loss on Saturday, and are now batting .161 with RISP over the last 23 home games. Is there something that Collins has seen that can rectify the problem with RISP and possibly help the Mets rejuvenate their offense?

Terry Collins

Collins deserves better. Certainly a better fate and much more support personnel-wise than ownership and management have given him to date. But Collins also knows the game and understands the situation, so listen up:

Terry Collins

So, does Alderson think this is rock bottom?

Sandy Alderson

And Tuesday brings baseball's best team -- the 41-22 St. Louis Cardinals -- to Citi Field for a three-game series.

They'd better find some answers in a hurry.

C U soon
Eddie C.

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