A Galaxy of Stars (And Losses) For Mets

The Mets wound up with more All-Stars than any other NL team

By JOSH ALPER

Updated 9:00 AM EST, Mon, Jul 6, 2009

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Worry not about your team's miserable weekend in Philadelphia or 39-42 record, Mets fans, because you're watching the most star-studded team in the National League!

When the rosters for the All-Star Game were announced on Sunday, just before the Mets wasted a strong Johan Santana start by getting shut out, the Mets landed four players on the roster. Santana is joined by Francisco Rodriguez on the pitching staff, while both Carlos Beltran and David Wright were voted into the starting lineup by fans.

You can't quibble with the choices of fans, even if Beltran isn't going to play in the game because of his knee injury, nor with the addition of K-Rod. Unless you were out of the country in June, though, Santana was selected on nothing but his reputation. His month finished with a 2-4 record, 6.19 ERA, and a nearly 1:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Bad numbers that coincided with the team's regression, and there are worthier choices among the Senior Circuit's hurlers.

Nevertheless, the news has to be greeted like a twist of the knives that the Mets have plunged into their supporters' backs over the last 10 games. Watching a team that alternates listless, airheaded play with straight-up poor play isn't tempered by the fact that a few individuals have had strong seasons. It's made worse, because those four All-Stars are a honking reminder that this Mets season was supposed to be much, much more.

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There are 81 games left for that to happen, and they aren't playing in a particularly robust division but is anyone really still expecting it to happen? Hard to imagine that there is. There's very little the Mets do well, outside of losing creatively, and only a masochist enjoys investing themselves into such exhibitions.

Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.