Slamming the window

That loud, crushing sound Mets fans heard Monday was the final closure of their window of playoff opportunity.
John Lackey to the Red Sox?
Roy Halladay to the Phillies?
The Mets? They are seemingly sitting on their hands with their heads deep inside some other body part.
They lead the league in excuses, but little else these days.
This was a team built to win in 2006-2008 and they lost in the playoffs in 2006 and collapsed both other years.
Then age and injuries overtook them and 2009 was a disgrace, new ballpark aside.
Now, outside of the remaining possibility they will overpay for Jason Bay, it seems no impact players will be heading to Flushing this off season.
Who knows? Maybe everyone will get healthy and the Mets will compete for a time with what they have and a few low-profile additions.
But I wouldn't bet on it.
For the moment, this looks like the start of one of their 5-year periods of being uncompetitive and irrelevant.
Let's just say I'm not rushing to renew my Sunday ticket plan.