Stage 1 – Denial: There’s no way a new regime that wants to make a fresh start can bring back Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez.
Stage 2 – Anger: If these symbols of Met ineptitude are still on the team, I’m not going to buy any tickets to games.
Stage 3 – Bargaining: If you cut Castillo today, I’ll buy tickets to three games. If you cut both Castillo and Perez, I’ll buy a five-game plan.
Stage 4 – Depression: Who am I kidding – I’m going to go to some games whomever is on the team. And the ballpark will be a ghost town, except for the huge line which will somehow still be there at Shake Shack.
Stage 5 – Acceptance: The Mets have made a good-faith effort to find alternatives, auditioning four other players. Maybe Castillo really is the best choice at second base in this group.
But once I get to stage 5, I remember that Castillo has played under 90 games two of the last three seasons, so the odds are good that the Mets will need another second baseman at some point during 2011. And the person they pick will be someone who was beaten out in spring training by Luis Castillo.
Now, as far as Castillo is concerned, I’m back to stage 4.
As for Perez, I’m still at Stage 2.
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