Davidoff: Still time for Mets to make some progress

'Until you get out, out," Jerry Manuel said late last night, the extra "out" clearly standing for "mathematically eliminated," "you still feel like you can put a run together."

That's fantastic. I'm sure that will warm the hearts of Mets fans, after their club dropped a 3-1 snoozer to the Phillies at Citi Field. A game that Manuel referred to beforehand as a potential "jump start" to a win streak.

Sure, by all means, Manuel and his players can keep going at it night after night. The Mets manager (for now) speaks the truth when he says that his club isn't playing that poorly. They do start a two-city road trip Monday night against two worse teams, the Astros and Pirates.

But above the dirt, grass, clubhouse and (yikes) family room, ownership and the front office have to put 2010 in the rearview mirror and start focusing on 2011. Teams that are 58-59 and stand 10 games out of first place in their division and eight games out of the wild-card lead don't make miracle runs.

Mets CEO Fred Wilpon declined to speak with reporters Sunday, after crossing their path, and it would've been nice for him to say a few words, given how this season has turned. Yet the Mets need actions - and vision - far more than words.

This season can still bode positively for the Mets, even without a playoff berth. Given last year's 70-92 fiasco, a record of, say, 80-82 would denote progress. However, certain steps must be taken to ensure optimization of these final seven weeks:

1. Make sure the kids get playing time. On Sunday, Manuel rested second baseman Ruben Tejada (in favor of Luis Castillo) and corner outfielder Fernando Martinez (in favor of leftfielder Chris Carter). The worst possible scenario would be burying those guys on the bench.

If you want to play the veterans at the major-league level, at least until the Mets are literally done, then send Tejada and Martinez back to Triple-A Buffalo.

2. Start working the backchannels. If the Mets get a new manager (extremely likely) and general manager (somewhat likely), they'll likely come from inside the organization, with Wally Backman and John Ricco the leading candidates.

Howard Johnson has to go already. So why not see if impending free-agent hitting coach Kevin Long, now with the Yankees, would come over the RFK Bridge? He'd probably wind up using the Mets' interest as leverage to get a better deal from the Yankees, but it's worth a shot.

On the front-office level, since the Mets probably won't make a big score like Oakland general manager (and former Mets player) Billy Beane, how about a rising star like Athletics director of player personnel Billy Owens? Or former Dodgers GM Paul DePodesta, who works as the Padres' executive vice president? You could give either man a very good title and salary and have him work in conjunction with Ricco and Minaya, who will be a Mets employee next year regardless of his title.

3. Lay the groundwork. Castillo and Oliver Perez have to go. We all know that. Be realistic that these two men represent sunk costs, and that the only way to recoup any value whatsoever is to pay the freight for these guys.

So start making phone calls, and let teams know that whoever offers the best prospect - second-tier, third-tier, whatever - for a free shot at either guy will win the auction.

In the meantime, "We haven't played, lately, bad, but we haven't hit," Manuel said. Enjoy the close games, some of which you'll actually win. Appreciate the fact that you're not in the 2009 nightmare. This isn't much fun, but it's better.