September 29 Newsday columnist Ken Davidoff "In a Mets clubhouse that emitted a mix of shock and deja vu, Scott Schoeneweis redefined "morose." Yesterday's losing pitcher wore the most pained of expressions as he staggered from his locker to Jerry Manuel's office, planted himself on a couch and stared into space. A few minutes passed before Omar Minaya entered, accepted Schoeneweis' hug and apology, and explained that Manuel already had left the ballpark. As the Mets head home early once again, coming up short in a 4-2 heartbreaker to Florida while CC Sabathia led the Brewers to a 3-1 victory over the Cubs to get the National League wild card, they somehow must find a way to avoid a third straight - yes, some of you might contend it's already three straight - traumatic demise in 2009. And it's pretty easy where that starts, isn't it? If Game 162 of last year spawned the Johan Santana trade, then this Shea Stadium finale should give rise to Francisco Rodriquez. "The bottom line is, we have to find a way to improve our bullpen," Minaya said shortly after hard-throwing former Mets prospect Matt Lindstrom finished off 2008 New York baseball. "We're going to sit down and we're going to do that. One thing about bullpens is that it's a hot-and-cold thing. There's some top, 'A' closers that are that, and then once you get beyond that, it's a hot-and-cold business." Hey, guess what? There just happens to be one of those "A" closers available! If there was anyone happier than the Brewers watching yesterday's Mets game, it had to be K-Rod. When Billy Wagner had Tommy John surgery this month, the Mets, still atop the NL East at the time, resolved that they wouldn't go after Rodriguez. They already had one risky contract in Santana, they thought. They didn't want another four- or five-year deal at $15 million per annum on top of that. But if ever there was a franchise sensitive to its fans' agita, it would be these Mets. They brought you Santana to front the starting rotation and change the conversation. And with Citi Field opening, the economy plummeting and angry customers complaining about sky-high ticket prices, they're going to need another conversation-changer. Now, about the offense and the supposed need to "blow up" the team's core: No. Did the Mets need some big hits this final, fatal week? Of course. But maybe all of the comebacks wore them down at the end. They finished the year 6-16 in games tied after six innings and lost 13 games when leading after seven. The offense deserves some blame; in late-and-close situations - plate appearances in the seventh inning or later with the batting team ahead by one, tied or the tying run at least on deck - the Mets put up a decent .352 on-base percentage and thin .377 slugging percentage for a .729 OPS. Their pitchers, in the same context, allowed a better .344 on-base percentage and much worse .429 slugging percentage for a .773." --

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