So what next? Willie Randolph’s head is on the chopping block, but I’d keep him (not much he could do with a broken bullpen). Omar Minaya deserves a lot of blame, too, for the bullpen, and the weird hiring of Rickey Henderson as coach.
But this was the players’ mess and the solution to it will have to come from a remodeling of the roster.
Some givens: Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran will be back. So will Carlos Delgado, though he has a lot to prove. The questions are Luis Castillo (depends on the price) and Moises Alou (I’d keep him, but make sure I have a good insurance policy).
That sets the infield and two outfield positions. My approach would be to use Lastings Milledge, unless he can be packaged for a top arm, Endy Chavez and Carlos Gomez to fill the rest of the at bats, along with an unknown power bat.
That means that Shawn Green is gone. Marlon Anderson and DAmion Easley? Not sure. They’re bench players and should be replaceable. I’d consider bringing Jose Valentin back, though, because he seems to have a positive influence on Reyes.
As for Paul LoDuca — I like his grit, but he is just not good enough either at the plate or behind it, nor is he the right age for the Mets to pay what it may take to keep him.
Pitching: Keep Pedro, Oliver Perez and John Maine, see what Mike Pelfrey and Philip Humber can really do, and then see what the market is for everyone else. I like Aaron Heilman, but if hca be packaged, move him.
As for Billy Wagner, I would have put him on the untouchable list but he showed his age at season’s end and his mouth may not be good for clubhouse chemistry. Read this. He maybe right about Randolph and pitching coach about the bullpen, but then the relievers have not exactly made things easy for Randolph and Peterson, either. (Randolph and Peterson were geniuses last year, when the bullpen shined — no complaints for Billy then, right?) There maybe few relievers on his level available, but he pulled this baloney on his way out of Philly, so maybe he’s part of the problem after all.
Perhaps the offseason will be more interesting than the last month of the regular season. It better be, or 2008 will be a long painful year.
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Hank Kalet 
A broken psyche, brought on by two sweeps at the hands of team without professional pitchers, might have helped. It just might have. Think about this: If the Mets would have one just one game against the Phillies in those last two series, it\’s a two-game swing. As it stands, the Mets have exorcised the previously thought of worst collapse from Philadelphia. Thanks!