About a week ago, we stated that this past series of games was one in which the Mets, if all played out well, could make a move in the NL East divisional race... Of course, we neglected to say that, playing how they had been, it was also a great chance to sink into an even deeper hole... Guess which one happened?

 The team skidded to a 2-5 mark, the high low point of the week being the 3-game sweep at the hands of the first place Phillies, much like the week before ended with a 3-game spanking by the Yankees.  The Mets now find themselves with three games under .500 and 4 games back, tied for third with the Braves in the division.  They will have today off before facing off Tuesday against the Dodgers... who swept them back in May during their first meeting.

After a confidence building 19-9 month of May and some first place time, the team limped out of June with a 9-18 mark... ouch.

If there is a silver lining... well, more of a tin lining... is that the Phillies were a less than awe inspiring 10-15 in June, which has kept the Mets afloat although letting the Marlins and Braves catch up.

The All-Star Break can't come soon enough, as it is clear this AAA version of the Mets cannot compete and they need their injured stars to return ASAP.  Unfortunately, that does not appear to be any time soon.  Granted, Oliver Perez will come off the DL and pitch against the Dodgers Wednesday, but truth is he has a worst record than the pitcher he will replacing in the rotation (Tim Redding)...

Still, the truth also is the Mets are well in the thick of it even after the horrendous, injury riddled June.  If someway, somehow, they keep sticking around... maybe, just maybe, we might still have a pennant race to cheer for by the time July is over... Keep your fingers crossed!

Interestingly enough, the Mets had 4 players selected to the All Star game, Wright, Beltran, Santana and Rodriguez, the most from any NL team...