New York Mets

CHICAGO— It's that time of year in Major League Baseball. Teams who are no longer in the race get a good look at what their future holds. For the Mets, it's no different.

Alive only mathematically in the NL playoff race, they will start a young pitcher for the first time in his career. 20-year-old Jenrry Mejia will get the call this afternoon, after impressing during his past three Minor League starts.

To me, the Mets being irrelevant in August is no laughing matter. Being an afterthought while the Yankees are thriving across town isn't a joke. Being laughed at by Phillies fans instead of respected and hated isn't a knee slapping good time for me, or any Mets fan that I know who cares about the team.

Even when the Mets’ bats finally wake up, they still lose. This afternoon against the Cubs, the team scored six runs, something they hadn’t done since August 24, but still could not earn the victory.

The Mets jumped out to an early lead with a David Wright two RBI double in the top of the first off Randy Wells. They added another run on a botched double play off the bat of Joaquin Arias to take a 3-0 lead.

Jerry Manuel gets criticized for many of the Mets' issues on and off the field. Fans get on him for his in-game decisions, which at times is deserved. But what I ask here is that the Mets give Jerry Manuel the opportunity he is owed to manage the team in 2011.

Since its opening in 1997, Turner Field, home to the first place Atlanta Braves, has seemed like hell to the New York Mets, with Bobby Cox playing the role of the devil. Even when the Mets have fielded competitive teams, they still have struggled in Atlanta.

In 116 contests over the course of 14 seasons, the Mets have won only 38 games while dropping 78 in the new "Home of the Braves."

Jeff Francoeur certainly has his free-swinging ways.

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Updated Post: 3:10 pm

Every spring, it is the same scenario. As the leaves bud into a beautiful, green bloom and thoughts of spring renew hopes of glory, there comes a revitalization of interest from each fan.

Well, Mets fans, we have endured another very difficult season watching our favorite team struggle night-in and night-out. Last night, the team saw their 2-1 lead be shattered by a seven-run Braves fifth inning, highlighted by Luis Castillo's error on a routine double play ball.

With the New York Mets season becoming more and more dreary at the days go by, the team made a few roster moves right before the waiver wire trade deadline. The trade and a few call ups will give the Mets a chance to see some young guys play the remainder of the year.