GOING 3 & OUT

The choke is on in Flushing. The Mets again showed they have no heart with their horrible loss to a Cubs team that is just waiting for the postseason to begin. It’s gotten so bad that the Mets allowed a grand slam last night to Jason Marquis – the pitcher. The Mets are now 2.5 games out of the NL East race with the Phillies and hold just a one game lead over the Brewers in the Wild Card race. Imagine if the Brewers didn’t go into their own late-season collapse? Where would the Mets be then? If the Mets don’t win tonight with Johan Santana on the mound, then this could end very, very badly for the Mets. After the season, Jerry Manuel would be the first to go, probably the next morning. But the core of the team will stay the same, which is a problem, unless you bring in a disciplinarian as manager. There is no doubt the team needs an attitude adjustment and a strong-willed manager could change that. The organization blamed Willie Randolph for last season’s collapse – this year it’s on the players. There are no more excuses. Tonight will go a long way in figuring out the Mets postseason chances.

3 & OUT
1. Well, the Red Sox lost last night to the Indians, meaning the Yankees are still alive. If you read Monday Afternoon GameDay, you know what I’m thinking here. The Bombers are six games back in the Wild Card race with six to play. Again, if the Sox go 0-for-6 and the Yankees go 6-for-6, there will be a one-game playoff to determine the Wild Card winner. It’s unlikely, but stranger things have happened. If the Yankees win tonight in Toronto (and they should have something to play for with Mike Mussina trying to get to 20 wins on the season) and the Red Sox lose again to the Indians, this talk will heat up. Remember, the Yankees and Red Sox play each other in the final three games, making this longshot a possibility. With last night’s loss, the Yankees need the Red Sox to just go 0-for-3, while themselves going 3-for-3 to force a meaningful Fenway showdown. It is funny how I’m writing about this when probably more than a month ago I wrote the season off. I’m not saying the Yankees have a legitimate shot, but it would be an interesting end to the season if it did happen.

2. The Jets started off great last night, with a David Barrett interception return for a touchdown to open the game, but it went downhill quickly after that. The Chargers built a 17-7 lead before the Jets came back and scored a touchdown thanks to a long Leon Washington kick return. Brett Favre threw a TD pass to cut the lead to 17-14. But Eric Mangini decided to go for an onside kick and the Chargers recovered. Two touchdowns later, it was a 31-14 halftime deficit. I have no problem with gambling during a football game, but even I thought this was too early. That changed the game and the Chargers took full advantage. Favre played just ok, despite the big numbers. Kris Jenkins is awesome and hopefully he will be ready to play next week. In the beginning of the game, the Chargers got nothing on the ground. But then Jenkins got hurt and the Chargers suddenly had a running game. The secondary needs to play better, plain and simple. They will get a huge test next week against the Cardinals. Still, with all that said, a loss to the Chargers means very little. If the Jets beat Arizona next week, they would be 2-2 headed into the soft part of their schedule. After a bye, which will help Favre even more heading into the stretch, the Jets will play Cincinnati, at Oakland and Kansas City. The Jets could and should be 5-2 heading to Buffalo for a big AFC East showdown. After that it’s the pitiful Rams. 7-2 or 6-3 is a definite possibility. But the Arizona game is as close to must-win as a game can get this early in the season.

3. About 90 minutes before the Jets-Chargers game last night, I actually made the switch and started Darren Sproles over LaDainian Tomlinson in my CBS fantasy league (the big one). The injury risk was just too great to start LT, and being down by 10 points and going against Thomas Jones to boot, I couldn’t take the chance. But about 15 minutes before the game, after hearing that Tomlinson would start the game, I had a change of heart and decided to put him back in the starting lineup. Well, for probably the first and last time, I actually made the correct move. Tomlinson ended with 20 points (Sproles had 6) and Thomas Jones picked up 2 points. I ended with an 8-point victory. If I started Sproles, I lose, but I’m 2-1 and in first place. Took a little of the sting away from the Jets loss as well.

In my ESPN league, I had Brett Favre and Nate Kaeding going against Antonio Gates and a 12-point deficit. Ended up coming back to win this game as well as Favre had a big day in the second half. Favre ended with 18 points, Kaeding had 13, while Gates had 8. Beat Johnny Burnham’s team by 11 points. Another improbable victory, especially considering Gates got a TD to end the first half. My team moved into first place after improving to 2-1 on the season.

In my Yahoo league, the Chargers defense did their job to get me a big win. Antonio Cromartie had 17.5 points, Shaun Phillips had 5, and the Chargers defense had 17. My opponent had Gates, Calvin Pace and Darrelle Revis. Ended winning in a blowout. I’m 3-0 in this league, and have scored the most points overall.

Also, on the way out, I went 6-10 in my NFL picks this week. That makes me 20-25-2 for the season. Remember to check out my picks (for the Sunday games) in the Sunday Herald Press every week and right here for all my picks.

(AP photo, top, Mets pitcher Jonathon Niese looks down as Cubs' Jason Marquis rounds third base after hitting a grand slam in the fourth inning at Shea Stadium Monday.)