It’s hard enough to endure the Mets when they are not winning. It’s harder when they are not winning against teams that are supposed to be the ones on the schedule that should be somewhat easy wins. Going even further, it’s painful to watch the kind of play that is expected of kids in t-ball, not professionals earning millions of dollars. But to sit through games watching scrubs and guys off the scrap heap…why even bother?

And that’s what is happening now…this early in the season. The calendar turned to May and already the Mets are hovering over the waiver wire and grabbing on to players discarded by other teams. How many times have we seen the Mets pick up players who were has-beens and are trying to hang on any way they can; or one-time prospects who never amounted to anything; or guys you never even heard of?

One guy who fits that first category was signed pre-season and is now in the Mets pen – Craig Kimbrel. Watching him is difficult because it is clear that he has nothing left and is simply trying to fool people. He ain’t fooling anyone. And the act of his dangling arm while staring into the plate is old. Stop already.

I remember some years ago when the Mets picked up Adrian Gonzales. The guy was a true All Star. Five-time All Star selection, 4-time Gold Glove winner, and 2-time Silver Slugger award winner. And then…just disintegrated. In 2018, the Mets took a chance…or “took a flyer” as they used to say…and it lasted all of 54 games and 169 at bats…and he was unceremoniously released.

In 2023 the Mets brought in Gary Sanchez…the ex-Yankee who was going to be the next Johnny Bench. He wore out his welcome with the Yankees and was cut loose after the 2022 season. The Mets decided to give him a try because of the injuries haunting the catching corps. And after three games, he was gone.

Some other “known” players who were brought in to give it a try were guys like Shawon Dunston, Jason Isringhausen, and James Loney. None of them lasted very long either. And then there are host of names that you might have to dig deep into the Baseball Reference site to find anything about them.

Is this what it has come to already? It’s like buying a ticket to see a Broadway show and rather than seeing Bette Midler you are watching Gennice Graham. And that’s not what I came to see, and certainly not what I signed up for.