Hallelujah, it’s all over. If ever there was reason to open champagne bottles and celebrate the conclusion of a lost season, this was it. But these being the Mets, somebody probably would have gotten hit in the eye with a cork and sent to the Hospital for Special Surgery.
The Mets settled for handshakes, backslaps and hugs inside the home clubhouse as many prepared to depart Citi Field for the final time in 2009 following a 4-0 victory over the Astros in the season finale.
“We’ve got to be very productive this offseason in determining the direction that we’re headed,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “We feel we have the players coming back. Health is a big issue and there are some things I probably need to make sure are addressed in spring training and then get ready to win a championship. I really believe we can do that.”
The Mets, who finished 70-92 — fourth in the NL East — could announce as soon as today if changes to the coaching staff are forthcoming. Pitching coach Dan Warthen and third-base coach Razor Shines are the most vulnerable.
Under Warthen’s guidance, the Mets posted a 4.45 ERA this season, which ranked 11th in the National League — albeit with Johan Santana and John Maine lost to injuries for long stretches. Shines frustrated the organization with his decisions sending base runners and his inability to convert Daniel Murphy into a legitimate outfielder.
As for Manuel and GM Omar Minaya, both seem safe given the money they are owed on their contracts. Manuel has another year at $1.5 million remaining and Minaya is owed $3.3 million over the next three years. In addition, owner Fred Wilpon told The Post in August that Minaya “absolutely” would return as GM next year. Minaya then made it clear Manuel would be his manager.
The heavy lifting will be done after the conclusion of the World Series, when the Mets look to shape their roster for next season.
“There are some things that have to be done,” Carlos Beltran said. “We need a little more pitching, maybe another bat.”
Left field, first base and catcher are positions at which the Mets will probably pursue upgrades while searching for a legitimate No. 2 starting pitcher. At the same time, Minaya and his staff will weigh the possibility of beginning next season with Murphy at first base and perhaps Angel Pagan in left field.
Murphy made a late-season surge to finish with a team-leading 12 homers, and his 63 RBIs were second to David Wright’s 72. Pagan’s 4-for-4 performance yesterday allowed him to finish with a .306 average in 88 games.
The hero yesterday was journeyman Nelson Figueroa, who fired a complete-game shutout, limiting the Astros to four hits. Figueroa (3-8) received a rousing ovation as he came to bat in the eighth inning. He and several teammates tossed their caps into the crowd upon the game’s conclusion.
Figueroa said the performance helped make his 2009 travails a little more tolerable, after failing to secure a spot in the rotation during spring training.
“I went down to Triple-A, didn’t gripe and pitched my butt off to get back up here,” Figueroa said. “Once I got the feeling that I wasn’t going anywhere and I was going to get an opportunity, I kind of calmed down and made pitches and got outs.”