Jenrry Mejia returns this September

As much as we all hoped the Mets would contend this season, we all had to know in the back of our minds that it was a long shot. They took us on a fun ride through the first half, but showed what they really were around the all-star break. Now it’s time to turn our attention to the September call-ups and the playoff chases down the stretch.

In September the pennant races begin to heat up, and all across baseball you get to see a glimspe into the future. It’s a time to get a look at some of the potential young players who might be competing for a roster spot come Spring.

The second wild card will has added a whole new element to the races this fall, it’s just too bad we aren’t even close enough to be mentioned in the discussion. As a baseball fan I am intrigued to see if the Baltimore Orioles can overtake the Yankees, and if the Oakland A’s and Pittsburgh Pirates can make it to the playoffs. I’m not even going to bore you with the potential scenarios that we might get back in this thing. It’s over, done, and gone. We are now looking to next season and are in full evaluation mode.

Sandy has a ton of work to do as the off-season approaches, but for now let’s enjoy the month we have left of Mets baseball. Let’s enjoy watching Mejia make a few starts, and Harvey’s final 1-2 outings. Let’s enjoy Dickey’s chase for 20 wins. Let’s look at Valdespin, Duda, and Shoppach to see if they can leave a mark for potential spots in 2013.  Let’s just enjoy the game over the next month, because the Mets season is almost over.

The Amazins, haven’t been so amazing this year as the record stands at a sub-par 35-37, while the team has played under .500 ball all season long at home compiling just a 16-19 record at Citi Field.

The Oakland A’s come to Queens tomorrow night to begin a 3-game set, although the A’s have won their last 5-straight games, they still remain dead last in the American League West and post a dismal 14-24 road record.

This is a golden opportunity for the Mets to take advantage as the A’s will make the ever daunted west coast to east coast swing, and with the Mets finally getting an off day today, which has been the first in quite awhile, we can only hope the Mets coming out fresh and ready for the opener in this series.

With trips to Detroit and Texas to follow, and then with a return home against the cross town rival Yankees, this 3-game series coming up against the A’s is crucial for the Mets to take advantage before facing two first clubs, and a perennial post season team in the New York Yankees.

A sweep of the beleaguered A’s, the Mets would push a game over .500, a mark that had eluded the Amazins most the season, and a mark that has been an Achilles heel for the team to top all season long.

Not only is it crucial for the teams over psyche to top this mark, but also more importantly if in fact the Mets are legitimate contender a sub .500 home record just won’t cut, so with a chance to top not only .500 for the season with this upcoming 3-game series, but with a chance to break even at home would do wonders for a Mets team that has left more than a fair share of questions yet to be answered.

The Mets stopper, Dillon Gee will get the ball for the opener of the 3-game set tomorrow night at Citi Field, as he looks to improve upon his perfect 7-0 record, but more impressively, the Mets look to remain undefeated in Gee’s start as the team is 10-0 in every start Gee has made thus far.

So I was thrilled in 1997 when interleague play was officially introduced, with 15 or so games on the schedule.  It hasn’t varied much since then, though some natural rivalries like Mets/Yankees or Cubs/White Sox or Giants/A’s play a home and home series and otherwise the teams rotate each year.  And I’m not sure why, but I look forward to interleague play each year like a kid looking forward to Christmas.  No joke.  I love seeing teams that don’t normally play each other, play each other.

But here’s the thing.  I think at this point, they should add more interleague games to the schedule.  Do we really have to play the teams in our division 18 times each?  That’s almost half the schedule, and there’s something about watching the Mets play in Miami three times a year to 5,000 people that makes me want to poke my eyes out.

I say, cut those in-division games to 12 each, and you’re saving 24 games to play other opponents, which means you can just about play every American League team at least once a year.  Would any of you really rather see all those divisional games instead of that?  You’d have the chance to see, either at Citi Field or on TV (or of course, a road trip), almost every player in the majors at one point or another.

Of course, we all know too well that the suits in baseball move at the speed of a turtle that stepped in molasses.  If they won’t add instant replay on ground balls, they surely won’t add more interleague games.  But many of us thought we’d never see interleague play, so there you have it.  Who knows?

Meanwhile, it sure is nice watching the Mets these days against any team.  First place is now within reach.  Let’s go Mets!