Being a Mets fan always seems hard with the Yankees across the city, but this season I was sure that we would both get to revel in the misery of vastly under-achieving baseball teams. It appears that I am wrong.

I figured that we are both in third place. We are both getting new stadiums next season. We both have a lot of money invested in fielding competitive teams. At least we are both suffering otherwise the summer of 2008 would be unbearable. Then the Yankees go ahead and start winning in interleague play. Now we can only hope for a similar resurgence by the beloved Mets.

Luckily, the Mets have a chance for a new start. Sure Randolph’s departure was quite unceremonious. It made the Mets front office look like hacks, but it also might work. The players were coasting under Randolph. Jerry Manuel might be just the under stated jolt the players need to break out of the funk.

Also, here in the National League East our competition is not quite as good. Florida and Philadelphia are entering mid-season dips that could allow the Mets to make a run like the ’69 Mets. That would be a great send off for Shea Stadium. Let the Yankee Stadium have the All Star game, we will take the World Series.

Sure I am getting a bit ahead of myself. Pedro Martinez still has not come back yet, and nobody has any idea if he will be delivering like his former self. He is 37, but he is also Pedro Martinez. If something like his old ace form comes back, the combo of him and Johan Santana could be like him and Schilling back in 2004.

Then the Mets cold jump out of the large shadow the Yankees have cast over Major League Baseball in New York. Remember the last time the Yankees went the World Series was in 2000. Sure they beat us, but they have not been back since and the Boston Red Sox have apparently taken over the crown in the American League for the best timing in sports.